Lower Schoolers studying water organisms in the outdoor classroom
No One Knows Girls Like Agnes Irwin
The Agnes Irwin School celebrates 155 years of all-girls education and its recent ranking as the #1 All-Girls School in the Philadelphia area
By Nancy Smartt, Agnes Irwin Associate Director of Communications
An Introduction to The Agnes Irwin School
The Agnes Irwin School (AIS) was founded 155 years ago by Miss Agnes Irwin, a woman of unmistakable character, born of her determination and vision to shape girls’ education in a path-breaking way for her time. Today, it is one of the country’s oldest, continuously operating, non-secular all-girls PreK-12 college-preparatory schools, known for providing girls and young women with challenging academics in a nurturing environment.
Agnes Irwin boasts a rigorous curriculum, winning athletic teams, and a vibrant arts program. “We believe in the Agnes Irwin mis-
sion and magic,” shared Head of School Sally Keidel. “We acknowledge and respect the unique educational needs of girls. We know that the definition of success is changing, and we want our students to be prepared. The world needs more of what Agnes Irwin delivers – female leaders, skilled collaborators, critical thinkers who lead and problem-solve with great minds and big hearts.”
By the Numbers
Agnes Irwin is the academic home to 635 students from 71 zip codes, with over $5.4M in tuition assistance awarded each year. Only 10 miles west of Philadelphia, 17 miles from Collegeville, and 27 miles from Chester Springs, Agnes Irwin is situated on 26 acres in a beautiful enclave on the Main
Line in Bryn Mawr. Its student body is diverse in race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic background, and faith, with 27 percent of the student body identifying as students of color.
This fall, Agnes Irwin was named the #1 All-Girls High School in the Philadelphia area and the #10 Private High School in Pennsylvania by Niche Educators. “Each day, I am amazed at the thinking, learning, growth, and joy in our school,” said Keidel. With over 70 student-led clubs and organizations, and five student publications, girls are involved in debate, Honor Council, sustainable living, STEM, and everything in between. Girls produce five student publications yearly, compete on 14 varsity sports teams, create and display original art, and produce several
Photo credit: Bridgett Woody, Agnes Irwin Associate Director of Marketing
theatre performances each year. They also contribute over 15K hours of service annually with community partners. Girls graduate from Agnes Irwin ready to lead at many of the most selective colleges and universities in the country and around the globe. Twenty percent of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 are recruited athletes, and over 94 percent of students report they are attending one of their top-choice schools.
A Community of Support
A talented and dedicated faculty provides a rich learning environment which cultivates passionate, lifelong learning. With an average tenure of 16 years, Agnes Irwin’s teachers are all-in, with a palpable commitment to knowing their students and helping each reach her potential. Eighty-four percent hold advanced degrees and serve as intellectual role models to their students.
Following graduation, the general understanding of alumnae seems to be “Once an Irwin’s girl, always an Irwin’s girl.” From East Coast to West Coast, and New England to Florida, Agnes Irwin alumnae from their 20s to 90s come together multiple times annually to celebrate cherished traditions, visit with friends, and make new connections. On campus, a revolving door of alumnae return to their Agnes Irwin home to share their knowledge and expertise with current students, and to model one of the greatest lessons – women supporting women.
Agnes Irwin’s Adaptive Academic Approaches
Signature Agnes Irwin academic approaches help equip students with the confidence and skills needed to pursue goals in today’s evolving times. “Agnes Irwin promises to empower each girl to learn, to lead, and to live a legacy, and this mission will never change,” shared Dr. Elizabeth Rossini, Assistant Head of School. “We create meaningful and engaging learning where our students develop skills and competencies. And, we are equipped to help our students develop resiliency and well roundedness.”
#1 Signature Approach: Help Students Find Their Flow
Helping girls achieve full immersion and interest in their academics requires teachers to challenge students enough to hold their attention. If the activity is too easy, students may become bored; and if it is too challenging, they may become frustrated. To achieve this balance, Agnes Irwin differentiates instruction to pinpoint the sweet spot. “When we are clear about the learning
Sally Keidel, Head of School, celebrates Founder’s Day with students.
“Once an Irwin’s girl, always an Irwin’s girl.” From East Coast to West Coast, and New England to Florida, Agnes Irwin alumnae from their 20s to 90s come together multiple times annually to celebrate cherished traditions, visit with friends, and make new connections.
goals, provide immediate and ongoing feedback, engage our students with some level of ownership, and help them understand themselves as learners, they are likely to find their flow,” explained Rossini.
What’s more, the all-girls setting is organically flow inducing as it is tailored to meet girls’ evolving needs through Agnes Irwin’s Center for the Advancement of Girls. “We create the most responsive environment for every girl to become her best, most empowered self,” said Alison Monzo, Director of Programs in Agnes Irwin’s Center for the Advancement of Girls. “Part of our work includes professional development and providing our teachers with research so best practices for girls can be incorporated expeditiously into our classrooms.”
#2 Signature Approach: Build Upon Curricular Architecture from PreK to 12 Coherence across the curriculum from PreK to 12 is a top priority at Agnes Irwin –the more coherent the curriculum is across the grades and disciplines, the better learning experience students have. Transferable skills such as mathematical mindedness, artistic expression, scientific thinking, spatial awareness, literary analysis, and language acquisition, are taught in all divisions. Grade and course outcomes across Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions also include transdisciplinary skills such as re -
Middle Schoolers in a rousing production of Beauty and the Beast in the West-Wike Theatre
search, critical thinking, collaboration, selfdirected learning, leadership, relationship skills, and technology literacy.
#3 Signature Approach: Foster a Love of Learning
Girls’ social, emotional, and physical health are at the forefront of everything
at Agnes Irwin. “We are intentional about combining intellectual vigor with personal passions and wellbeing. A love of learning comes when students feel seen and known,” said Rossini. “Our days here feel purposeful and joyful. Laughter and motivational energy reverberate throughout our classrooms and hallways every day.”
“Part of our work includes professional development and providing our teachers with research so best practices for girls can be incorporated expeditiously into our classrooms.”
AIS’s beautiful campus in full bloom during the annual May Fair Celebration
Upper School students gather in the sun-filled Lenox Lobby.
Seventh-grader Aubrey McCants-Murphy says the best part of an Agnes Irwin day is “being with all your friends and figuring out who you are.” CCL
Join us for our Spring Open House April 10, 2025
The Agnes Irwin School
275 S. Ithan Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610.801.1869 visitais.org
A TRADITION OF VALUESBASED EDUCATION
Agnes Irwin’s core values help guide strong character development in each girl.
Strive for Excellence
Lead with Character
Nurture Passions and Wellbeing
Foster Trust and Community
Respect and Celebrate All
A joyous Class of 2024 on Commencement Day
Lower School student collaboration on coding in STEAM class
AGNES IRWIN ALUMNAE SAY IT BEST
“When things are presented to me in life, and I think I might want to try it out, I say to myself, ‘I want to go for that and here we go!’ And I do it. I am pretty unshakeable. I pray that my Agnes Irwin journey has, and will continue to inspire and encourage not just Black girls but all young people.” – Janine Stewart Baggett ’73, Agnes Irwin’s first Black alumna
“At Agnes Irwin, I was encouraged to speak my mind and speak up for others. That was something crucial to learn in my fundamental years that is now paying off where I’m in a leadership role.” Madeline Kaller ’17, United States Coast Guard Operations Officer
“At AIS, aside from your friends, there are few distractions. I always felt like the primary purpose was learning.” Carrie “Rye” Volpert ’13, Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
“Agnes Irwin gives girls confidence and teaches them how to go about their lives with a love of learning and a respect for others.” Mimi Wang ’05, U.S. Department of State
“At Agnes Irwin, the best person in the theatre was a girl. The best student in math was a girl. The best student in everything was a girl. I never questioned the truth that girls could be the best at something.” Shona Bhattacharyya de Foucaud ’01, Journalist