Private K-12 School in Pittsburgh for Girls

The Ellis School:
The Ellis School, located 5 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an accredited, college preparatory, independent girls' school offering programs to students age 3 - Grade 12. The Ellis School is committed to a tradition of academic excellence as it prepares students for the future. A challenging program offers students opportunities for intellectual, artistic, physical, and personal growth within an energetic learning environment. Students are inspired to be active, curious, and independent learners who both respect and question tradition and who use information to pose and solve problems through interaction with teachers and peers.

Early Childhood through High School Programs: 

Early Childhood Education: Pre-K Cubs (3 year olds) Pre-K Tigers (4 year olds).
The Pre-Kindergarten program at Ellis allows girls to experience and make sense of the world around them. The program builds on the naturally strong verbal skills that girls have, as well as their need to learn in a social context, and focuses on the following skill set:
- Oral language development to support emergent literacy skills
- Knowledge and understanding of number, pattern, shape and color
- Using the vehicle of play to act out scenarios and problem solve
- Experiential learning program based on the developmental needs of individual learners

Lower School Program (Kindergarten - Grade 4):
A broad program of study is taught by both the classroom and specialist teachers and is complimented by a strong after school program that offers more options for extended day activities or for special classes in the arts or sports. A primary goal of the Lower School program is to provide a well-rounded education offering the girls opportunities to try many things, to take risks, to know themselves well and be confident in that knowledge so that they are ready for the challenges of Middle School.

Middle School Program (Grade 5 - 8):
- Computer Education
- English
- History
- Library
- Mathematics
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Science
- Visual Arts
- World Languages

The Middle School years are among the most exciting and challenging in a girl’s life. It is during this period that the foundations are laid to foster the “wisdom and courage to shape the future,” their own and that of their world. Their developing sense of the greater world around them and their place in it comes during these formative years.

Upper School Program (Grade 9 - 12):
- Computer Science
- English
- History
- Library
- Mathematics
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Science
- Visual Arts
- World Languages

In the Upper School, students pursue a rich and stimulating curriculum that offers breadth as well as depth of study, including fourteen AP courses and electives in all disciplines. Students have some flexibility in selecting a course of study over the four years that meets their individual interests, talents, and needs. Through carefully considered curricular decisions, Ellis students can receive the best education for girls today in the context of the School’s mission.

Summer Camps:
We’ve got a full slate of camps, academic programs and fun lined up for girls and boys of all ages. Each program is conducted on The Ellis School campus.