HER VOICE
will always be heard.
HER INDIVIDUALISM will always be respected.
HER TALENTS
will always be nurtured.
HER DREAMS
will always be celebrated.
HER SPIRIT
will never be stifled.
The Ellis School is Pittsburgh’s only age 3–grade 12 independent school dedicated to the superior education of girls and young women. We continually innovate to ensure that all aspects of the Ellis experience are of the highest caliber and are tailored to encourage girls to thrive in school and excel in life. Since 1916, girls have enrolled here to come into their own and become outstanding women.
Our Mission The mission of The Ellis School is to prepare, empower, and inspire each and every girl through an excellent education in an all-girls environment.
Imagine a culture that challenges girls to rise above the norm. Imagine an environment that inspires hard work and rewards brilliant mistakes. Imagine a community committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders. Imagine a school that embraces diversity and seeks to make a difference in the world. These are the hallmarks of the Ellis experience. This is what empowers the Ellis student. We empower every girl with the resources and support she needs to discover her best self and unlock her unique potential—both as a student and a person. Here, girls are encouraged to dream big, lead with authority, and seize every opportunity.
“Ellis gave me the confidence I needed to succeed in college and beyond. But more importantly, it showed me what a supportive environment for women really is and how important it is to cultivate that support everywhere.” – Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU ’12
WHY AN ALL-GIRLS EDUCATION IS SUPERIOR
Every girl every day For more than 100 years, we’ve known that an all-girls education gives girls a distinct advantage.
We Believe in All-Girls Education The all-girls educational environment maximizes girls’ intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth. Ellis
Not only do Ellis students benefit from an exceptional academic program, they excel as they learn and grow in the company of other girls. In an accepting environment, they are free to try new things and discover their true strengths and passions. Research and our experience shows that girls learn best when their education is paramount. Without the constraints of others, and without the pressure of social stereotypes, girls can seek greatness in everything they do.
girls are empowered to take risks, work collaboratively, ask questions, and pursue their dreams.
“My teachers and fellow classmates at Ellis made each class, each day, engaging and inspiring. Ellis taught me to speak up when I had a problem, but also to thank others and give back when someone went the extra mile.” – Marina LORENZINI ’12
ANOTHER LEAP F
WHY AN ALL-GIRLS EDUCATION IS SUPERIOR
Giving girls an edge, in academics and in life A national study from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies shows solid evidence of the effectiveness of girls’ schools. The study shows the statistical edge that girls’ school graduates have over their coeducational peers.
“ Girls in single-sex schools perform better than girls in co-ed schools, regardless of socio-economic and ability levels.” The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools “The Benefits of Attending a Girls’ School”
According to the UCLA report— commissioned by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools—girls’ school graduates consistently assess their abilities, self-confidence, engagement, and ambition as above average and often in the top 10 percent. Compared to their coeducational peers, girls’ school graduates are more confident in mathematics and computer literacy. They’re more likely to pursue careers in engineering, engage in rigorous debate, and keep current with political affairs. Moreover, students view college as a stepping stone to graduate school.
FOR WOMANKIND
BUILDING CO
LOWER SCHOOL: PRE-K TO GRADE 4
Bursting with energy and enthusiasm for learning
The parent-teacher partnership is paramount in the Lower School.
The Ellis curriculum is rigorous and geared toward young learners. Girls develop skills and acquire knowledge through hands-on experiences, collaboration, and teamwork. Through a variety of developmentally appropriate resources and technology, students learn to understand concepts deeply and to apply what they’ve learned in individual subjects across the curriculum.
Teachers and parents work closely to ensure that each girl grows to meet her potential in every way. Spring Break Camp and Summer Camps enhance learning and encourage social growth. These rich programs are real confidence builders.
Girls in the Lower School are encouraged to be active problem solvers and agents in their own learning. Our talented faculty members encourage every girl to pursue her curiosity, express herself creatively and effectively, and to be daring. Girls learn to work collaboratively as well as independently and have practice applying their knowledge in novel situations within a familiar environment.
Girls develop genuine friendships and learn that leading and giving are integral to success. Girls in the Lower School experience a well-rounded education that affords them many opportunities to try new things, get to know themselves, and move up to the Middle School with confidence.
CONFIDENCE
LOWER SCHOOL: PRE-K TO GRADE 4
Building citizenship and strong character The corridors of the Lower School teem with laughter, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose inspired by the School’s commitment to character and citizenship. Our curriculum helps girls know who they are and understand that every girl, no matter how young, can make the world a better place. Lower School faculty utilize the Responsive Classroom approach, a way of teaching that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. Developed by classroom teachers, the approach consists of practical strategies to build academic and social-emotional competencies day in and day out. Character education is deeply embedded throughout the Lower School curriculum. Girls learn how concepts such as honesty, excellence, and integrity influence social studies, history, language arts, and sciences. Through written text, art, and role-playing, girls explore how to approach and respond to challenging real-life situations. Through daily meetings and regular assemblies, Ellis teachers and counselors mentor every girl, showing students how to apply these values to their lives in and beyond school. These lessons are supported by a rich service-learning program through which girls apply their knowledge in thoughtful ways. For example, Lower School students have participated in projects with the Bethlehem Haven emergency transitional shelter and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Girls learn that giving of their time and talents can make a difference in the individual lives of others and their community as a whole. These curricular and cocurricular experiences are complemented by a robust after school program that includes extended day activities, special classes, and athletics that encourage teamwork and risk-taking. Together, this combination of classroom learning and real-world practice teaches girls to develop courage, resilience, and character.
“Ellis absolutely changed my life. At Ellis, thinking was required and that made me aware of the power of having a brain.” – Carol OSTROW ’73
COMING INT
MIDDLE SCHOOL: GRADES 5 TO 8
Pursuing every dream A tradition of excellence Over two-thirds of Ellis Middle
The Middle School years are among the most exciting and challenging in a girl’s life. During this formative time, she develops an awareness of the greater world and she gains a realistic and positive sense of herself, which enhances her ability to learn.
School students qualified for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program for gifted and talented students by scoring in the top 5 percent nationally on
All students take core subjects in the areas of English, history, math, science, and world languages. They also take classes in visual and performing arts, computer applications, and physical education. In grades 7 and 8, students may choose from various electives in the core disciplines.
the Educational Records Bureau standardized achievement tests.
A close sense of community provides an intellectually and socially safe environment for Ellis girls. Here, trust, respect, honesty, and fairness are nurtured. Students abide by community expectations, an anti-bullying pledge, and a statement of personal integrity and academic honesty. Diverse leadership activities provide all students with opportunities to understand and collaborate with groups within the School and the community at large. Life in the Ellis Middle School is rich, exciting, and rewarding. Girls are asked to push the limits of their potential, with a constant eye toward the Ellis motto: Esse Quam Videri, or To Be Rather Than To Seem.
TO HER OWN Let’s get down to earthkeeping All students in grade 5 participate in the Ellis Earthkeeping Experience (E3). This interdisciplinary program is an Ellis tradition. In E3, students build awareness of their own importance to the environment. They explore the basic tenets of environmental sustainability: becoming more green and less wasteful. Each student recognizes her potential to better care for the environment through a personal commitment.
Middle School global initiatives
Off-campus trips Middle School trips are connected
Throughout the curriculum, students participate in an expanding global network of communication and information. Beyond work done in regular classes, Middle School students partake in many special multidisciplinary units during the school year.
to programs of study and are an important component of students’ learning experiences. In addition to day trips throughout the year, each grade takes an overnight trip to learn and lead outside the classroom.
Freedom of the press Middle School students are prolific
All eighth graders complete a capstone project. Working in teams, they research global issues such as poverty, access to education and healthcare, and equality for girls and women. They then present their findings to a mock Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
writers. Under the guidance of faculty, they produce Tiger Ink, the online Middle School newspaper and literary magazine, as well as various poetry and writing journals.
Learning to lead The Middle School Student Council
Global awareness is a central theme, informing a rich program of guest speakers, demonstrations, performances, hands-on projects, world-language learning, and lectures meant to increase cultural awareness and understanding. In global citizenship, a grade 7 and 8 elective, students learn about and deepen their understanding of global issues.
provides genuine opportunities to influence student life and the cocurricular program. Made up of elected officers and class representatives from each grade, the Council is guided by the principle that leaders are facilitators of positive change.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: GRADES 5 TO 8
THE POWER OF
UPPER SCHOOL: GRADES 9 TO 12
Cultivating tomorrow’s leaders In the Upper School, students pursue a rich and stimulating curriculum that offers a breadth and depth of study, including 13 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Also, 15 additional AP courses are offered online through One Schoolhouse. Students have the flexibility to select a course of study that meets their individual interests, talents, and goals.
Ellis Upper School students are encouraged to be critical thinkers who value the life of the mind and who can imagine and discover complex connections among many disciplines and ways of knowing.
This demanding curriculum is designed to build the leadership skills and intellectual confidence that students need in order to excel in college and beyond. The core areas of study—English, history, science, math, language, computer science, and the arts—provide the foundation of the Ellis academic experience. A student may design an independent study for enrichment or to further explore her love of a subject. Students pursue sequential math and language courses of study, and accelerated coursework is available in both.
The joy of learning is at the core of an Ellis education, and the Upper School exudes positive energy.
In the Senior Project program, seniors dedicate regular hours to off-campus externships in local organizations. Girls have done everything from conducting research for a robotics company to tutoring refugees in a local public school.
F KNOWLEDGE Learning by doing
The Integrated Studies program gives students the opportunity to discover who they are, what they love, and how they can give back to their communities. In the Voice & Vision course, freshmen develop habits of advocacy and citizenship. Making use of a diverse range of digital media and creative tools encourages students to construct project-based initiatives addressing water-related issues on both local and global scales. Partnerships with Powdermill Nature Reserve and The Bajaj Foundation provide opportunities to explore and pose solutions to questions and problems.
Culture in Context, a required course for sophomores, explores the role of visual culture in our world. With a strong grounding in the history of Western art, students explore relationships between a variety of art forms across history and place. Working in a collaborative setting, students develop an understanding of the connections between expression, power, religion, philosophy, and technology. What skills do leaders and social innovators need in today’s globalized world? In Global Leadership by Design, an interdisciplinary course for juniors, students enhance their global knowledge and essential skills to become effective, principled, and innovative change agents. Drawing on historical and present-day case studies of leaders from diverse occupations, students not only study and identify essential leadership characteristics, but also develop their own models and skill sets to affect positive change.
“Ellis instills in its students boundless confidence. We were taught— along with history, math, and English—that we could make of this world whatever we choose.” – Jane WOBB Gamble ’81
UPPER SCHOOL: GRADES 9 TO 12
Global initiatives Because Ellis is committed to preparing students for leadership in a global community, global topics are woven throughout the curricular and the cocurricular programs. Assembly speakers and special events complement classroom offerings. Each year, Upper School students organize Culture Jam, a student-led diversity conference that attracts more than 100 young women and men from area high schools. Session topics have included the racial achievement gap, gender identity, women and politics, religion, LGBTQ rights, and stereotypes in the media. Ellis offers educational trips to a variety of world destinations. During the March break and/or during the mini-course session in May, students travel with faculty members on journeys of discovery. Past trips have explored the ecosystems of Costa Rica, the Renaissance in Italy, and the art and culture of Spain. Girls have even walked in the footsteps of the Romanovs in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ellis offers an international student exchange program with Queen’s College in London, England, and St. Hilda’s School in Queensland, Australia. Exchange programs are open to students in their junior year. Ellis juniors have the distinct opportunity to apply for the Marcie WATERMAN Love ’56 International Travel Grant. Awardees of the grant receive funding to pursue an independent study-abroad project that empowers women in developing countries. Applicants learn how to design and research a project idea that must combine global themes and service learning. The work that Love Grant recipients initiate as juniors often influences their senior projects, and, in some cases, their areas of focus in college and beyond.
ACADEMIC E
ACADEMICS AND FACULTY
A culture of academic excellence Ellis provides an education that is rigorous, engaging, and forward-thinking. We innovate to ensure that all aspects of the Ellis experience are of the highest caliber and tailored to empower girls to excel. Our strong liberal arts curriculum encourages girls to fully explore and develop their abilities in all aspects of the arts and sciences. At every age, we promote critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving. At Ellis, girls are adventurous in the classroom, discover their hidden talents, and learn to tackle challenges. As students push their limits, they evolve from precocious girls into intelligent, engaged young women.
More than ready for college Ellis students go on to study at some of the world’s most competitive colleges and universities, majoring in fields such as biomedical engineering, mathematics, visual arts, pre-med, and film. At Ellis, college counseling is a personal and empowering experience. Our Director of College Counseling knows each girl, each Ellis family, and every college to which our students apply. Throughout the course of an Ellis education, students work closely with the Director to find the college that perfectly matches her interests, talents, values, and goals.
EXCELLENCE A highly regarded faculty Our exceptionally qualified faculty members bring a broad range of talents, interests, and perspectives to the classroom. Faculty members regularly present at national conferences on topics ranging from best practices in service learning to innovations in teaching science and engineering to girls. These dedicated professionals guide students from their earliest learning experiences all the way to Advanced Placement studies. Due to small class sizes, teachers know each student personally and teach to the individual, not the mean. At Ellis, students are personally connected to their teachers, and the faculty is vested in the success of every girl, every day.
ACADEMICS AND FACULTY
Rising to the STEAM challenge A successful education in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) provides students with key competencies and skills in all five disciplines, creates critical thinkers and makers, increases scientific literacy, and grows the next generation of innovators. Through community partnerships, Ellis is rising to meet the rapid change inherent in our fast-paced, technology-driven world. We’re constantly pursuing new learning opportunities and we make STEAM and maker education a top priority at every grade level. As an all-girls school, we understand and provide the 4Cs—communication, collaboration, creativity, and context—so that girls understand and get excited about careers in STEAM. These same cutting-edge skills have made Ellis graduates competitive in the STEAM workforce. Who will drive the world’s engine of scientific discovery? Who will concieve of tomorrow’s innovations? Who will fill the jobs of the future and move the world forward? Expect these leaders to be Ellis students—girls who have been shaped by a deeply personalized and creative experience that maximizes the use of meaningful technology.
RISING TO THE
ACADEMICS AND FACULTY
Engineering success Computer science education begins in the Lower School, where students become problem solvers and creators of their own content. They learn computer languages that prepare them to design their own programs and inventions.
“ Single sex schools contribute to higher academic achievement. Single sex schools raise girls’ confidence and contribution in the
The Ellis Middle School is known for shaping scientific minds. After two years of required computer science classes in grades 5 and 6, students may choose to take a mobile robotics elective where they learn to build and program robots. Girls are also introduced to FIRST LEGO League Robotics and participate in the Future City engineering competition, where they compete and collaborate as a team. Students compete in—and win—state and regional science competitions such as the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). The Upper School offers Advanced Placement classes in Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry. Introduction to Engineering, Introduction to Computer Science, and Computer Science II are also offered. Additionally, students are well-prepared to compete for a spot on the Girls of Steel robotics team offered through Carnegie Mellon University.
classroom, which can then lead to higher academic performance.” Eileen Flaherty Single Sex Education in Elementary and Secondary Public Schools
HE CHALLENGE
“At Ellis, I experienced what it was like to have no one treat me differently because of my gender—I saw many models for acting both feminine and competent and learned that I should not need to choose between the two.” – Jean YANG, PhD ’04
THE POWER OF S
THE ARTS
Unlimited license to be artistic
Visual arts offerings include drawing, painting, ceramics, video, photography, and digital media.
At Ellis, art is integral to a girl’s academic life. Every girl will graduate with the power to create and appreciate the arts for a lifetime.
Nearly 10 percent of all Scholastic Art Awards in the region go to Ellis students. This speaks to the excellence of our visual arts program and is a remarkable achievement for
We expose students to myriad expressions found in the worlds of dance, drama, music, and the visual arts. Girls are encouraged to discover the depths of their artistic abilities and develop their voices. New ideas and subject matter shape the learning landscape.
a school of our size. Performing arts offerings include dance, music, and theater in a creative and challenging environment. Girls develop their performance skills under the guidance of a dynamic faculty of professional artists dedicated to developing each girl’s abilities through a program that provides personal interaction with the subject matter.
SELF-EXPRESSION All eyes on the arts An arts education at Ellis goes beyond the studio and the stage. On-campus opportunities include schoolwide displays, portfolio exhibitions, performances, and visits by practicing artists. Off-site studio visits, exhibition opportunities, and field trips to local and regional visual and performing arts spaces further enhance the learning experience. Our sequential and thoughtfully designed program compels girls to mature as artists, performers, and visual thinkers. And who better to learn from than practicing artists? Our faculty members bring authentic, real-life experience to the classroom and the stage—giving students endless inspiration from which to draw. At Ellis, students learn that the arts are a dominant force in life, shaping and reflecting the values of society. By connecting with the arts of other cultures, Ellis artists increase their respect for diversity.
HEALTHY CO
ATHLETICS
Our teams
Staying ahead of the game
Middle School
Upper School
FALL Soccer Field Hockey Crew Cross Country
FALL Soccer Field Hockey Crew Cross Country Tennis
WINTER Basketball Swimming
WINTER Basketball Swimming
SPRING Crew Lacrosse Tennis
SPRING Crew Lacrosse Track and field Softball
The goal of our athletic program is to teach, coach, and encourage each girl to compete to the best of her athletic ability.
More than 70 percent of girls in the Ellis Middle and Upper Schools play junior varsity or varsity sports compared
At Ellis, girls gear up for 10 different sports. The focus is on developing a healthy appreciation for competition, inspiring confidence, and encouraging a love of sports, teamwork, and healthy living. We teach our students how to win and how to lose. We teach the importance of discipline and hard work. We teach that staying active is the key to lifelong health and wellness.
to approximately 40 percent nationally. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, “Girls who play sports are more physically and emotionally healthy, get better grades at school, and use sports to manage stress and work as part of a team.”
OMPETITION
“Ellis gave me the confidence to speak out, help others, and ask for help myself. It has prepared me for the work, but more importantly, the challenges and new opportunities that come with college life beyond Ellis.” – Brittany ELLIS ’15 Harvard University Class of 2019
FOLLOW TH
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
Bringing out her best At Ellis, girls aren’t expected just to do, they’re challenged to lead. Ellis gives them every opportunity to discover who they are and what they love through elected office, on the athletic field, on stage, in club activities, and through service learning.
Leadership and individual potential At Ellis, we know and nurture every girl through her personal journey. We provide each girl with the support she needs to know
The Ellis leader has integrity and high standards. She is accountable for her actions and is highly self-aware. She respects herself and others, acts as a responsible global citizen, and gives back to the community. Ellis leaders are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and CEOs. They are future Pulitzer Prize-winning authors and MacArthur Fellowshipwinning scientists. Ellis students seek to change the world. Ellis alumnae do change the world.
herself, pursue excellence, and reach her potential as a student and a citizen.
HE LEADERS
“Had Ellis and its amazing teachers, not taken a chance on me, I would not know the success and confidence I have today. I am deeply grateful and indebted to them.” – Cally WATTS ’06
THE GOOD
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS
A force for community good
All together now A selection of Ellis partners:
Ellis instills in its students a sense of responsibility to the larger community. We call this service learning, and it connects our classroom curriculum to opportunities for involvement with service agencies and initiatives across the region and around the world. Students choose to go out and do good in the world. The spirit of giving back is pervasive, and students are involved in service activities each year.
• Bajaj Foundation • Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) • Carnegie Museum of Art • Chatham University • Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh • East End Cooperative Ministry • Frick Environmental Center • Girls of Steel (CMU) • Global Switchboard • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank • Mattress Factory • One Schoolhouse
The world beyond the classroom is an invaluable learning space where students extend and apply their knowledge. This exposure ensures that students understand their capacity to make an impact.
• Phipps Conservatory • Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy • Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra • Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium • Powdermill Nature Reserve • Quality of Life Technology Center • Ronald McDonald House • Thrill Mill
OF GIVING • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
“All of us at Ellis are instilled with a sense of wanting justice for the world. It is not an elite school that insulates you from the world, but a place that inspires in all of us a connection to and awareness of the world.” – Carly REED, PhD ’02
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
More power to her Each girl emerges from our unique learning environment prepared, empowered, and inspired. She is confident, proud, and courageous. She is an independent thinker, a lifelong learner, and a doer. She has passion and purpose.
Associations and accreditations
At Ellis, every girl thrives— intellectually, physically, and emotionally. We offer a learning experience—and a life experience, that is second to none.
Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools
Experience Ellis We’re here to empower every girl to make the best educational decision for herself. We look forward to introducing you to our campus, academic programs, and people. To learn more or to arrange a campus visit, call 412-661-4880 or email admissions@theellisschool.org.
National Association of Independent Schools The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
Pittsburgh Consortium of Independent Schools
The Ellis School does not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, sex, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation in employment. We do not discriminate in student recruitment, admissions, financial aid, or any other aspect of the School’s program, except on the basis of age and sex in fulfillment of the School’s mission.
6425 Fifth Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15206-4499 | 412-661-4880 | theellisschool.org | admissions@theellisschool.org