Boarding Schools  Grier School

Grier School www.grier.org

The Grier School is an all-girls boarding school for grades 7 to 12, located in Central Pennsylvania. Grier offers a well-rounded education in academics, the arts, and athletics with Advanced Placement programs, Elite Scholars classes, and a complete TOEFL/ESL program. Currently the school enrolls 263 students from 22 states of the USA and 11 foreign countries. 237 are full-time boarding students and 26 are day students. 90% of Grier’s students reside beyond a 100 mile radius of the school, so numerous activities are organized each weekend to make it truly a full-time boarding school experience. Grier provides students with a valuable education in a beautiful and safe environment.

The Grier School is committed to the philosophy that each of our students should have the opportunity to achieve her individual potential. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide a challenging curriculum with a nurturing, residential atmosphere where students gain knowledge, creative expression, responsibility, self-esteem, and leadership skills.

 Academics

It is the school’s philosophy that an active agenda helps to enrich the educational experience of young people. For this reason, all students are required to participate in academics, athletics and the arts. Grier’s academic day include seven academic periods, an afternoon sports time and required study hall in the evening. Squeezed into short periods in the day are times from involvement in clubs and special classes such as the Healthy Lifestyle Program or the Etiquette Class.

 Special Highlights

Horseback Riding Program. Riding at Grier School offers students the opportunity to develop skills through several programs designed to help riders achieve their equestrian goals. Anywhere from two to five days a week, students ride with Grier’s professional riding staff. The facilities include four barns, two outdoor rings, a heated indoor, and miles of trails. In order to accommodate all skill levels, the Grier School owns 50 horses which range from the quietest of horses up to high-level show-jumpers.

Spirit Days. Student Council declares days throughout the year to be “Spirit Days” when students are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing up in a particular theme. There are many Green and Gold days before varsity sports matches, but also holiday themes, dress like your favorite teacher, twin day, crazy hair day, etc. Some events are very competitive in hopes of winning prizes such as iPods, gift certificates, candy baskets, DVD players or items that parents may donate for these fun days.

 Top colleges attended by students

Penn State University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Howard University, Emory University, Purdue University, Suffolk University, Susquehanna University, Lehigh University, UCLA

 What the school looks for in students…

“Grier School seeks top students who have scored well on the math section of the SSAT test.”