Malvern Preparatory School is an Augustinian School, Catholic and Independent for boys in grades
6 through 12, located in the Greater Philadelphia suburb of Malvern, PA. We are committed to the Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas, meaning Truth, Unity, and Love.
History
Malvern Prep is the direct continuation of the academy program founded in 1842 by the Augustinians as the preparatory school for what is now Villanova University.
In 1901, the academy was named St. Nicholas of Tolentine Academy, and in 1922 the college program was expanded. The decision was made to move the academy program from the college
campus. About the same time, the Rosengarten family of Malvern planned to sell part of its holdings located on Warren Avenue and Paoli Pike. Thus in 1922, because of the Augustinian need and the availability of 143 acres in historic Chester County, the academy relocated to its current setting. The academy changed its name to Villanova Preparatory School in the early 1920’s, which began the gradual phasing out of the old
academy. The school was soon renamed Malvern Preparatory School to reflect its geographical location and give the school its own identity.
In 2022 the school celebrated 180 years of Malvern Preparatory School being in existence and its 100th year at 418 South Warren Avenue.
SCHOOL OVERVIEW
Total Enrollment: ±650
Middle School: ±150
Upper School: ±500
Augustinian Friars in Residence: 4
Fast Facts
Average Class Size: 15-20
Full Time Faculty: ±85
Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees: 85% of Faculty hold Advanced Degrees
Student to Faculty ratio: 9:1
Accreditations
Malvern Prep is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The school holds membership in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), the National and Pennsylvania Associations for College Admissions Counseling, and the Augustinian Secondary Education Association.
Academics
The Academic Teams at Malvern Prep are constructed using an Academy Model. Each grade level is led by a Faculty Academy Leader (FAL) and Student Academy Leader (SAL). The goal of this model is to provide each student with a comprehensive and proactive approach to their success. Both the SAL and FAL work together to provide support for the students’ academic achievement, personal, and social development, as well as extracurricular goals.
Academic Highlights
Languages Offered: Spanish, Mandarin, and Latin
Advanced Placement Courses: 14
5 students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Based on 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Advanced Credentials
Advanced Credentials are the highest level of academic recognition available to students at Malvern Prep. They acknowledge when a student combines their character strengths, skill development, and their commitment to Augustinian values in a way that leads to a significant and positive social impact. Advanced Credentials are a celebration of the unique and distinct achievements of Malvern Prep students.
The following Advanced Credentials are currently available to Upper School students of Malvern Preparatory School:
Social Impact & Advocacy
Augustinian Leadership
Public Speaking
Inclusion & Belonging
Media Production
Design & Fabrication
STUDENT LIFE
Student Activities, Leadership, and Community Service
Clubs: Over 40 Clubs and extracurricular activities. A few of Malvern’s most popular clubs are:
The Friar’s Lantern - School Newspaper
Beekeeping Club
Robotics (Engineering Club)
The Malvernian - Yearbook
Environmental Club
Campus Ministry: Malvern Prep welcomes and celebrates students of all faiths and encourages all students on their own spiritual journey. As a Catholic Augustinian school, we offer students a number of opportunities to feed their faith, including daily prayer, weekly school-wide Mass, retreats, prayer services, and Eucharistic Liturgies for teams, classes, and special occasions.
Global Programming: As a school, we value engagement with other cultures and languages. Through our Global Programs, students have many opportunities to see the world, experience different cultures, and learn how to lead in a global society. Students and their families may choose from a variety of experiences such as hosting a student from an Augustinian school in another country, traveling abroad for a cultural exchange, or embarking upon a Christian Service Trip.
Christian Service: Malvern Prep students perform over 25,000 combined community service hours per year.
100% of students participate in Christian Service activities.
ARTS
At Malvern Prep, students have the opportunity to create, perform, and grow through our art programs. With a wide variety of courses and co-curricular activities to choose from, the arts at Malvern Prep not only cultivate thriving, well-rounded individuals, but also stretch and prepare students who are bound for creative professions.
Theatre
Curricular and co-curricular opportunities give students the knowledge and know-how to fully appreciate all that goes into a theatre production –from set construction and lighting to auditions and rehearsals. Through the Malvern Theatre Society, students learn alongside accomplished professionals while staging three major productions annually in our 585-seat theatre. Highlights of past performances include Les Misérables, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, West Side Story, and more.
Visual Arts
The School’s extensive Visual Arts program offers ceramics, graphic design, photography, sculpture, and studio art—all in the beautifully equipped spaces of the Duffy Arts Center. Coursework through advanced levels helps students interested in continuing their art education prepare college portfolios.
Music
From Classical Ensemble to Drum Line and Pep Band, Liturgical Music to Music Recording and Technology, a wide variety of music programs and courses give students the opportunity to explore their musical interests in our first-class facilities. The annual winter and spring concerts showcase students’ work and musical abilities in a variety of media.
ATHLETICS
Malvern Prep’s athletic programs recognizes the importance of physical conditioning and competition to enhance the school experience while keeping in mind that athletes are scholars first. As a member of the Inter-Academic Athletic (Inter-Ac) League, Malvern Prep embraces the philosophy that competitive athletics programs strengthen the excellent academic tradition of its member schools:
• Episcopal Academy
• The Haverford School
• William Penn Charter School
• Germantown Academy
• Malvern Preparatory School
• Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Athletic Highlights: 90% of Middle and Upper School students choose to participate in at least one sport.
• 15 Middle School Sports
• 18 Upper School Varsity Sports
• 15 Inter-Ac Championship wins in the last 5 years
Top-notch Athletic Facilities:
• Donald F. O’Neill Sports Center, which includes a basketball arena, squash courts, natatorium, golf simulator, an athletic training and rehabilitation facility
• Seven athletic fields
• The Pellegrini Athletic Complex, which includes a turf football field
• Melton Rowing Center (one of only two schools in the Philadelphia area with an indoor rowing center)
• Strength and Conditioning Center
• New baseball stadium and turf field
• New turf field for lacrosse, soccer, and intramural sports
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION
The student body of Malvern Prep represents 75 towns from Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster, and Philadelphia counties.
Many of our students are bused by the public school district in which they reside. State law requires the school district to bus if any part of the district is within 10 miles of Malvern Prep.
The following school districts bus to Malvern Prep:
• Downingtown
• Great Valley
• Lower Merion
• Methacton
• Owen J. Roberts
• Radnor
• Spring-Ford
• Unionville-Chadds Ford
• West Chester
• Garnet Valley
• Haverford
• Marple-Newtown
• Norristown
• Phoenixville
• Rose Tree Media
• Tredyffrin-Easttown
• Upper Merion
In addition to these bussing options the School offers five shuttle/van options from the following locations:
• Eastern Turnpike Shuttle
• Southern Chester County Shuttle
• Montgomery County Bus
• Delaware County Vans
• SEPTA Malvern Train Station
BERKS COUNTY
DOUGLASSVILLE - 1 GAP - 2
- 1
- 1
CITY - 2
BELL - 1 BOYERTOWN - 1
- 1
- 4
- 2
- 1
- 2
- 1
- 8
COLLEGEVILLE - 16
COATESVILLE - 12
- 4
CHESTER SPRINGS - 41 CHESTERBROOK - 1
- 2
- 9 EAGLEVILLE - 4
- 32
- 11
- 69
CHESTER COUNTY
COCHRANVILLE - 1
- 3
GROVE - 1 WEST CHESTER - 127
UNIVERSITY - 1
- 1
DELAWARE COUNTY
- 5
CHADDS FORD - 5
OF PRUSSIA - 2 KIMBERTON - 1 KENNETT SQUARE - 3
- 7
- 10
MAWR - 3 BROOMALL - 7
DREXEL HILL - 8
- 6
- 3 GILBERSTVILLE - 4 GARNET VALLEY - 4
- 4 AUDUBON - 1
MEETING - 2
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
HILL - 1
CYNWYD - 1 BERWYN - 33
- 1
- 1 ARDMORE - 4
- 3
- 20 DEVON - 14 COLLINGDALE - 1
MILLS - 15
- 13
- 1
CHESTER HEIGHTS - 1
WASHINGTON - 1 FOLSOM - 2
- 4
- 1
- 1
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
- 1
PARK - 1
Snapshot of Our Most Recent Graduates
24% enrolled at a Catholic College or University
63% attended a Private College 51% were admitted to a Catholic College or University
27% went on to play a sport in college
Malvern Prep graduates continue their education at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, earning acceptances to schools like Penn, Cornell, Harvard, and Dartmouth. They also matriculate to some of the top research universities and specialty schools including Cal Poly, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Berklee College of Music, and Savannah College of Art & Design. Our alumni also become leaders at some of the top liberal arts schools, including Bowdoin College, Williams College, and Middlebury College. Additionally, we are proud and honored that our young men go on to serve and attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy.
Below is a sampling of college acceptances over the last five years:
