About Shipley

Stats at a Glance

College Matriculations

View the 2008-2012 College Matriculations (PDF)

General

Coeducational, Pre-K–12 day school, founded in 1894.
Accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Steven S. Piltch, Head of School

Total Enrollment, 2011-12 838

Lower School - 298
Middle School - 196
Upper School - 344

Average Class Size

LS 12-18
MS 15-18
US 12-16 * due to course selection, some classes could exceed this total.

Faculty

120 full- and part-time faculty
61 percent with graduate degrees.

Student/Faculty Ratio 7:1

Tuition, 2012-13

Grades	Amount
Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten	$22,300
Grades 1-2;	$24,100
Grades 3-5	$24,800
Middle School (Grades 6-8)	$28,600
Upper School (Grades 9-12)	$31,375

2011-12
Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid	27
Percentage of Students of Color Enrolled	20

Academics

Until 2009 Shipley offered as many as 17 Advanced Placement courses in a wide range of subjects. After much consideration, we determined that it was in the best interests of our students to drop all but the Studio Art AP course and replace the APs with tailored Honors courses. This gives us much more flexibility, enables us to teach more challenging interdisciplinary courses, and allows our faculty to concentrate on critical thinking skills rather than teaching to standardized tests. Of course, students who desire to take AP tests continue to do so and to perform well on them. Over the last five years, Shipley students have received a score of 3 or more on 90 percent of the tests they took, qualifying them for advanced placement in college courses.

Number of Honors Courses 2011-12: 38

Advanced Placement

Over the last five years, Shipley students have received a score of 3 or more on 90 percent of the tests they took, qualifying them for advanced placement in college courses.
80 percent of students who have taken the Advanced Placement test in studio art have earned the highest or next-to-highest score.

Standardized Test Scores Range for Class of 2012

SAT	Mid 50%	Mean
Critical Reading	580-680	636
Math	580-710	643
Writing	590-690	649

National Merit Program

In the past five years (Class of 2007 – 2011), 25% of Shipley graduates have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as Commended, Finalist, and/or Scholarship Recipients.

Class of 2010
Commended	7
Finalists	5
Scholars	4
National Achievement Scholars	2

Class of 2011
Commended	5
Finalists	6

Athletics

Member, Friends Schools League

36 championships in the past five years, including boys' soccer, squash, and lacrosse; girls' field hockey, volleyball, and basketball; plus numerous city, local, and national crew and squash championships

Upper School competitive team sports:
- Fall – soccer, field hockey, tennis, cross country, crew
- Winter – basketball, volleyball (Independent League), squash (Independent League), swimming
- Spring – lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, crew, golf
Middle School competitive team sports:
- Fall – soccer, field hockey, tennis, cross country
- Winter – basketball, volleyball, squash, swimming
- Spring – lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis

Performing and Visual Arts

Full schedule of theater and musical theater productions, including a highly acclaimed Shakespeare program
2010 When Lilacs Last, an original production written by Shipley Theater director, Tony Morinelli, was selected for the New York and Philadelphia Fringe Festivals
Recent productions have included King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor, JB, Marriage of Figaro, The Mikado, and Into the Woods
Consistent awards in local theater competitions for best actor, best scene, best production
Art is offered as a major course, including AP Studio Drawing and 2-D Design
Consistent awards in the Annual Montgomery County High School Art Exhibition
Six select vocal and instrumental ensembles in Upper School, including strings, Jazz Band, chorus, hand bells, and two a cappella vocal groups, Madrigals and Madriguys
In 2009, two Shipley students earned Pennsylvania Awards for Creative Achievement in the Arts, one for visual arts in new media, one for music performance in violin

Service Learning

40-hour requirement for graduation
Three-week senior service project concludes the senior year; recent large group projects have been undertaken in New Orleans and West Virginia
All students participate in service learning projects throughout the year, including weekend events
Numerous voluntary special projects available with over 50 organizations
Social Impact Consortium course offered in grades 11 – 12
Pennsylvania Special Olympics bocce tournament hosted by Shipley each fall for over 100 athletes
Middle School students participate in Service Fridays each month throughout the school year
Ongoing partnership with the Brain Tree Primary School in Uganda
Partnership with educational organization in Haiti

Graduation Requirements and Recommended Course of Study

The majority of students take 3 years each of science and history. All students carry 5 major courses, with an option of 6, as appropriate.

Subject	Credits
English	4
History	2 (One must be US History)
Mathematics	3 (4 Years is Strongly Recommended)
Science	2 (1 Life, 1 Physical)
Performing Arts	1/2
Visual Arts	1/2
World & Classical Language	3 (Consecutive Credits in 1 Language)
Grade Level Seminars	1 Each Year
Physical Education/Athletics	1 Each Year
Community Service	40 hours over 4 years