Private Boarding School for Boys in Philadelphia Area, PA

The Phelps School, Philadelphia:
The Phelps School is a small private boarding and day school for boys in grades 7-12 and a few post graduates. Our safe campus is situated in Malvern, a quiet, rural setting just 22 miles west of Philadelphia and approximately two hours from New York City and Washington, DC. The School provides a unique college preparatory education within an academically supportive environment. We have a number of students from different parts of the world who add much to the life of the School, and everyone benefits from day-to-day contact with boys from other cultures. The Phelps School was founded in 1946 by Dr. Norman T. Phelps, fulfilling his dream of starting a boarding school for boys, in particular those who need extra personal attention to help them reach their potential. The School's motto has always been "Dedication to the individual boy."

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The Phelps School serves boys in grades seven through postgraduate, who are of average to above average intelligence. The School provides a unique college preparatory education within an academically supportive environment. The School was founded as a boarding school; however, students are also welcome to apply for the comprehensive day program.

The Phelps School's population is incredibly diverse. Many of the students struggle with "Executive Functioning" -- things like organization, time management, and decision making -- and this is a major emphasis of the educational program at Phelps. Some of the students have a diagnosed attentional issue or a minor learning difference; others have never had to undergo any type of psycho-educational evaluation.

Some boys come to Phelps from public schools where they may or may not have IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs); others have taken advanced level courses throughout their entire school careers. Phelps has recently graduated prolific writers, brilliant mathematicians, stellar athletes, gifted musicians and artists, and young entrepreneurs

Our mission is to create a nurturing and responsive climate which will bring out the best in each student, help him gain self-confidence and acquire respect for those around him. This effort is strengthened by the "family" atmosphere, small classes, and a strong tutorial component. We also work to achieve a proper balance between every boy's academic performance and his physical, social, and moral development.

Boarding Program; Day Program for boys from Grades 7 - 12. Academic Subjects include English; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; World Languages; Art; Physical Education; Woodshop; Athletics Program.

The family atmosphere at Phelps is evident in every aspect of daily life. The teachers and staff obviously care about the students and constantly offer constructive encouragement in conjunction with demonstrated support from parents. In fact, if you ask students to name one of the best things about the School, they will instantly answer, "the staff."

The Phelps School believes that activities beyond the classroom help to build character and self-confidence. All students are encouraged to take part in an after school project such as an organized team sport of an individual assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

We would like to welcome all of the residents, as well as their families. With an option of seven comfortable residences for our boarders, we strive to create a safe, friendly, and warm atmosphere, and many efforts are made to ease the homesickness many boys may feel at first help and to help them adjust to boarding school life. Games, movies, post-study hall treats, and our resident dorm dogs all contribute to our unique dorm identity. We hope to make our dorm a place in which your boys can feel "at home, away from home".

Boys of similar ages and interests are generally housed together, and dormitories are comfortable and relaxed, with senior leadership provided by house parents who also serve on the teaching faculty. The direction and personal attention supplied by teachers during the day is carried over into life in the dorms, and the positive bond that develops between a house parent and a student is a significant factor in each student's experience at The Phelps School.

Every year there are students who have noticeably matured while they have been at Phelps and are considered able to help their peers to do the same. A few of these boys are chosen to serve as student leaders or proctors to assist the house parents in each dormitory.

The Phelps School has always provided a structured and caring learning environment for students who may not be working up to their potential. We have pioneered in developing and offering a supplemental Academic Support Program (ASP) for boys who have diagnosed learning differences. Every new student who comes to Phelps with a specified learning difficulty is carefully evaluated, and a student profile is created to determine his individual needs. An instructional program is then designed exclusively for him. This usually means getting remedial help in reading, English or math and extra work on study skills. These boys can meet up to a maximum of four periods a day, in very small groups with specially trained teachers. For the remainder of the day they attend regularly scheduled classes.

The activity program is an important aspect of school life at The Phelps School. In addition to interscholastic and recreational athletics, other activities include photography, publications, music, ceramics, painting, chess, fitness training, martial arts, volleyball and bowling. Each student signs up for an activity during each of our three terms. The period set aside for the activity program is from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There are many activities for our students on the weekends. For example, boys have opportunities to attend social events with girls' schools, visit shopping malls, or go to the movies. Phelps also organizes field trips to museums, theaters, concerts and sporting events. Fortunately, the Greater Philadelphia area is particularly rich in these resources. In addition, our proximity to New York, Baltimore and Washington DC makes trips to these cities easy.