college
Blake Brown ’24 Tulane University
Angie Wang ’24 Georgetown University
Isabella Casey ’24 Bucknell University
college profile
Rich Schellhas Head of School
David Samson
Head of Upper School
Laura Martin
Director of Admission, Enrollment and Financial Aid
267-405-7284
laura.martin@germantownacademy.org
Karen A. Mason
Director of College Counseling 267-405-7268 karen.mason@germantownacademy.org
School Mission
Germantown Academy inspires students to be...
Independent in Thought Confident in Expression
Compassionate in Spirit
Collaborative in Action
Honorable in Deed
Enrollment
Upper School Enrollment Grades 9-12: 572
Total number of students PreK-12: 1,218
Class of 2024: 143
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Germantown Academy requires students to carry at least 5 credits in Grades 10-12 and 6 credits in Grade 9 (5.5 if the half credit is a performing arts course).
All courses are college preparatory; courses meet five out of seven days per rotation.
Minimum graduation requirements include 20 credits as delineated below plus 5 semesters of Physical Education:
English: 4 Credits
Science:3 Credits
History: 3 Credits
Math: 3 Credits
Language: 3 Credits
Arts: 1 Credit
Health: .5 Credits
Electives: 2.5 Credits
Other non-academic graduation requirements include a Senior Project, two significant extracurricular activities per year, and 45 hours of service-related activity either on or off campus.
Curriculum
Founded in 1759, Germantown Academy is a PreK through 12th grade nonsectarian co-educational independent day school located in Fort Washington, PA.
340 Morris Road
Fort Washington, PA 19034-0287 www.germantownacademy.net/admission 267-405-7070
Germantown Academy emphasizes 21st century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, experiental learning, and leadership training.
COURSE OFFERINGS
(H) Honors(AP) Advanced Placement
ENGLISH
Grade 9: English 9
Grade 10: English 10
Grades 11 and 12: Personal Essay Writing, Honors English, Semester Seminar Choices including African Literature, Fiction Writing, Feminism, and Graphic Novels, among others.
SCIENCE
Physics; Physics 1; Honors Physics; AP Physics
C
Chemistry, Honors Chemistry; Honors Organic Chemistry; AP Chemistry Biology; Honors Biology; Marine Biology; AP Biology
Anatomy & Physiology
Computer Science, Honors Computer Science, AP Computer Science
Honors Engineering
Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science
Forensic Science
Independent Science Research
Robotics
HISTORY
World History 1; World History 2; Honors World History
Honors US History
Honors Economics
Honors Electives including Women in American History, Philosophies of Justice, America’s Civil War, From Africa to America, The World Since 9/11, among others.
MATH
Algebra 1; Algebra B; Honors Algebra 2; Algebra 3/Trigonometry
Honors Geometry (H)
Honors Pre-Calculus (H)
Honors Calculus
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
Honors Statistics
CLASSICAL AND MODERN LANGUAGES
Accelerated and Honors options also offered
Latin 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Chinese 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
French 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AP French Language and Culture
Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AP Spanish Literature and Culture
Conversational German
ARTS
Singing Patriots; Honors 1759 Singers
String Orchestra; Honors Strings
Symphonic Band; Honors Band
Beginning Guitar; Advanced Guitar Honors Music Theory
Fundamentals of Acting Honors Acting Improvisation
Music Theatre
Honors Technical Theatre Production
Theatrical Design
2D Foundations
3D Foundations
Digital Media Foundations
Digital Songwriting and Audio Production
Photography Foundations
Contemporary Practices and Honors courses in Sculpture and Design, Painting and Drawing, Digital Media, and Photography
HEALTH
Physical Education Lessons in Wellness
Lifesaving
Athletics
Germantown Academy’s athletics program has a long and distinguished history of record-breaking seasons, league championships, and nationally recognized teams in a wide range of sports. Studentathletes have gone on to play and coach at the college level and participate in the professional ranks. At the same time, we encourage all of our students to take part
73%
in athletics to build skills, pursue fitness, experience the thrill of competition, and enjoy the unique satisfaction of being part of a GA team.
Team options in Upper School include baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
Grading System
Germantown Academy includes all courses in which homework and outside work are required in its calculation of students’ weighted grade point averages.
CLASS RANK
Because of our selective admissions process and small size, Germantown Academy does not rank its students or select a Valedictorian, but does provide a weighted, cumulative GPA. The Cum Laude Society recognizes up to ten percent of seniors for academic excellence at the beginning of their senior year based on GPA calculation, rigor of curriculum, and a faculty selection committee, and another ten percent of the class in the spring.
Nick Baron ’24
Florida Atlantic University and
Jared Smith ’24
Denison University
GRADE WEIGHTING
All Honors and Advanced Placement courses receive 1 GPA point of weighting.
High Honors distinction requires 4 major course grades in the A range and all grades of B or better while Honors distinction requires 3 major course grades of B+ or above and all grades of B or better. Honors and High Honors are calculated for the first semester and final grade (including exams).
84% of the Upper School faculty have graduate degrees of Upper School students play at least one sport
The Importance of Fit
By Karen Mason, Director of College Counseling
At Germantown Academy, we believe that educating the “whole” student is the best preparation for college and for life. Each academic challenge, intellectual risk, new extracurricular undertaking, or commitment to lead stretches students and develops rich layers to their personalities. When students have made the most of their time at GA, they can then, in turn, present their “best selves” to colleges.
Finding the “right” college no longer becomes the culmination of the high school experience if it is part of the journey through high school itself. This experience should be just one dimension of that educational journey; it is not a final destination. The college search stretches students to reflect on themselves (to identify colleges that may be good matches and to write essays that capture their essence), to test their developing decision-making skills (to decide on where to visit, where to apply, and eventually where to attend), to navigate the research tools of the college search process, and, ultimately, to envision a new milieu where they will be able to continue to grow academically, socially, and personally.
Too often today, both students and parents focus only on the end — college as the destination. At GA, we challenge students to view the college search as an educational voyage inward that will eventually lead them to a campus community where they can continue that journey. Suddenly, the college search no longer becomes about “the name,” “the bumper sticker,” or the “sweatshirt,” but about a process that will lead students to a place that will nurture who they are and who they want to become.
Standardized Testing, Class of 2025
85% of 2024 graduates who applied during Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Early Action Rounds were admitted.
GA College Counseling focuses on finding the right fit for each student. In tracking the educational paths of the 140 graduates of the Class of 2019 through the National Student Clearinghouse and the graduates, College Counseling has identified the college outcomes for 90% of the class.
86%
4-year College Graduation Rate (Class of 2019) *college years during Covid
89% graduated from their college of original matriculation
90% graduated from college in 5 years
National Average: 62% (NCES, 2021)
Experiential Learning Opportunities
Beard Center for Innovation
The Beard Center is comprised of an innovation lab for idea development and a state-of-the-art makerspace fully stocked with prototyping materials and manufacturing technologies. Providing a hub for innovative teaching and learning initiatives, this dynamic space encourages students to explore project-based learning and a collaborative, creative, problem-solving process.
Science Research
Students may elect to spend time designing and carrying out a scientific investigation in an area of interest and enroll in Independent Science Research Honors. Many compete in the regional Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) science fair and the Montgomery County Science Research Competition, which could place them at the state PJAS and/or Delaware Valley Science Fairs.
Academy Scholars Program
Students with a passion for scholarship, creative writing, visual or performing arts, or research have the option of engaging in a multiyear independent project that results in a substantial piece of original work submitted and presented to the Academy Scholars Committee.
International Programs
Partnerships with high schools in England, Beijing, Spain, Poland, and Germany, are slowly returning to provide students and faculty with reciprocal cultural and educational exchange opportunities. In addition, GA provides curricular guidance and college counseling to Capital Normal University High School through the Curriculum Partnership Program.
GAXP
The GA Experience Program provides learning opportunities in the form of educational trips. Students have canoed and camped in Maine, completed a musical tour of NYC, and visited the mural art of Philadelphia and created their own mural in the Upper School. Each year, students in 9-11th grades apply to be selected for these free trips to foster the GA Mission.
The Preserve and Nature Curriculum Committed to environmental education and stewardship, GA restored six acres around the Wissahickon Creek to wetlands and meadow and designed LEEDcertified buildings with a green roof, courtyard gardens, and an apiary. Hands-on learning opportunities abound for students and visitors alike.
A Unique High School Culmination Project
The Senior Project, a 25-hour per week commitment during the month of May, is a requirement for graduation. Senior Projects, driven by the student’s “Essential Question,” require students to independently design and live out their own multi-week experience based on an interest, passion, or curiosity and to share that experience with the GA community through an in-depth, compelling presentation. Students acquire an off-campus sponsor, with help from and approval of the faculty Senior Project Committee. Examples of successful Senior Projects have taken place with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), finance companies in New York City, national fashion chains, campaigns for political candidates, food services, mechanical engineering firms and public relations agencies – including many hosted by community members like alumni and parents of alumni.
Matriculations for Classes of 2020 – 2024
The 680 graduates of the Classes of 2020-2024 elected to attend 188 different colleges and universities.
American University
Amherst College
Arcadia University (2)
Arizona State University (3)
Auburn University (7)
Babson College
Barnard College
Baylor University (2)
Bentley University
Binghamton University
Boston College (5)
Boston University (5)
Bowdoin College (2)
Brown University (4)
Bryn Athyn College
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University (11)
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University (2)
Clark Atlanta University
Clemson University (5)
Colby College (2)
Colgate University
College of Charleston (8)
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia University (2)
Commonwealth University
Connecticut College
Cornell University (3)
Dartmouth College
Denison University (2)
Dickinson College (6)
Drew University
Drexel University (17)
Duke University (2)
Duquesne University
Eckerd College
Elizabethtown College (2)
Elon University (21)
Emerson College (3)
Emory University (2)
Fairfield University (3)
Florida A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University (2)
Fordham University (2)
Franklin and Marshall College (14)
George Mason University (2)
George Washington University (11)
Georgetown University (10)
Georgia Tech
Gettysburg College
Hamilton College (4)
Hampton University
Harvard University (3)
Haverford College (5)
High Point University (2)
Hobart and William Smith (4)
Hofstra University
Howard University (2)
Illinois Institute of Technology
Indiana University (5)
Ithaca College
James Madison University (4)
Johns Hopkins University (3)
Kutztown University
La Salle University (2)
Lafayette College (5)
Lehigh University (25)
Long Island University (2)
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland (5)
Marquette University
Maryland Institute College of Art
Miami University-Oxford
Middlebury College (2)
Millersville University
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Montgomery County Community College
Moore College of Art and Design
Morehouse College
Mount Holyoke College
Muhlenberg College (4)
Neumann University (2)
New York University (9)
North Carolina A&T State University
Northeastern University (16)
Northwestern University (3)
Oberlin College
Occidental College (2)
Ohio State University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Pace University
Pennsylvania State University (34)
Pennsylvania Western University
Pepperdine University
Princeton University (2)
Providence College
Purdue University (5)
Queens University of Charlotte
Rhodes College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rowan University (2)
Rutgers University
Saint Joseph's University (5)
Saint Michael's College
Salisbury University (2)
San Diego State University (2)
Savannah College of Art and Design (2)
Seton Hall University
Southern Methodist University (5)
Spelman College
St. John's University
St. Lawrence University
Stanford University (3)
Stetson University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Swarthmore College (2)
Syracuse University (18)
Temple University (11)
The Catholic University
The New England Conservatory of Music
The New School
The University of Alabama (4)
The University of Tampa (7)
The University of Tennessee (7)
The University of Texas at Austin
Thomas Jefferson University
Trinity College (3)
Trinity College Dublin
Tufts University (2)
Tulane University (11)
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy (3)
University of Arizona (2)
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-San Diego (2)
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Chicago (4)
University of Colorado (6)
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware (3)
University of Florida (3)
University of Hartford
University of Illinois
University of Kentucky (2)
University of Maryland (3)
University of Massachusetts (2)
University of Miami (10)
University of Michigan (11)
University of Mississippi
University of New Hampshire (2)
University of Pennsylvania (27)
University of Pittsburgh (17)
University of Rhode Island (2)
University of Richmond (4)
University of Rochester
University of Scranton
University of South Carolina (4)
University of Southern California
University of St Andrews
University of Utah
University of Vermont (10)
University of Virginia (2)
University of Wisconsin (7)
Ursinus College (12)
Vassar College (3)
Villanova University (17)
Virginia Tech (7)
Wagner College
Wake Forest University (7)
Washington University in St. Louis (3)
Webb Institute
Wesleyan University (3)
West Chester University (7)
West Virginia University (2)
Widener University
William & Mary (2)
Xavier University
Yale University (2)
Students postponed enrollment to complete a GAP year experience (2)
340 Morris Road
Fort Washington, PA 190340287
www.germantownacademy.net
2674057070
Caitlin Luviano ’24 Brown University
Celena Bagchi ’24 University of Florida
Alex Brereton ’24 Northeastern University