Boarding School in Pennsylvania for Girls

The Grier School:
Located in Birmingham, Huntington County, Pennsylvania, the Grier School is a private boarding school for girls in grades 7 through post-graduate year and admits girls regardless of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin. In addition to a college preparatory curriculum with AP courses and SAT and ACT college prep courses we also provide a learning skills program, an enriching arts program, an extensive athletics program, a horseriding program, a healthy lifestyle program, etiquette class, summer school, TOEFL and ESL programs.

Boarding Programs for Girls in Grades 7-12:

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. We offer a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with English, math, science, history, modern languages, the arts and athletics.

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 for involvement in clubs and special classes such as the Healthy Lifestyle Program or the Etiquette Class.

Grier offers a well-balanced educational program for girls in grades 7 through 12. In addition, a post-graduate program is offered on a limited basis. Generally speaking, the 7th and 8th graders are considered as members of our middle school.

Grier's high school program includes all students in grades 9 - 12. Core academic classes such as English and History may be grade specific meaning that a 9th grader would be in a 9th grade English class with fellow 9th graders. All other classes have a mixed enrollment, based on ability. It is not unheard of for a math class to have kids from three or four grades in the same room since a student's involvement is determined by academic ability and preparation.

Advanced Placement Courses:
Advanced students are able to take AP classes when qualified. AP courses not regularly offered within our scheduled classes may be taken "on-line" with a faculty member overseeing the work. AP classes offered this school year are: Art Portfolio, Calculus, Art History and Biology.

College Preparation Courses:
We offer SAT and ACT College Preparation Courses.

Learning Skills Program:
Students with learning differences or specific learning disabilities are scheduled into our Learning Skills Program for additional support. The average class size at Grier is nine students per teacher. Classes may be as small as two students or as large as fourteen.

English as a Second Language Program and TOEFL:
In a typical year, Grier's student population includes students from 15 or more foreign countries. Since many of these international students arrive with basic levels of English proficiency, Grier has developed an ESL program which works with other academic departments to meet the needs of its students. ESL is an intensive and comprehensive program.

However all students in ESL participate fully in the fine arts, math, physical education and extra-curricular offerings available at Grier. Cross-cultural guidance is offered by the teachers as an integral part of the program.

Athletics:
Grier School has a wide range of Athletics. We offer dance, basketball, volleyball, tennis, fencing and cheerleading.

Horseriding:
Riding at Grier School offers girls the opportunity to develop their skills through a daily instruction program. The facilities include a 40 stall horse stable, 2 outdoor rings, an indoor arena and a network of forest trails. There are school horses that range in ability from the quietest beginner mounts to advanced show horses.

The Grier equestrian program emphasizes classic hunt seat, dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Students may ride in the program two to four days weekly in a scheduled lesson. The versatility of our riding program allows for riders to be grouped with girls of similar abilities and interests.

We also offer:
- Healthy Lifestyle Program 
- Etiquette Class
- Summer School