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How many students are enrolled at Girard? |
| Student enrollment at Girard is 750: of these 280 are elementary school students (grades 1-5), 243 are middle school students (grades 6-8), and 227 attend the high school (grades 9-12). |
| How many faculty members are employed at Girard? |
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Girard employs a total of 127 faculty members: 71 are academic teachers and 56 are residential advisors. |
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What is the average class size at Girard? |
| Class sizes range between 12-20 students in the elementary school and 16-22 students in the middle school. In the high school, AP classes average about 9 students, honors classes 15 students, and regular classes 20-25 students. |
| What is the college placement rate at Girard? |
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Virtually 100% of Girard’s seniors are accepted into colleges and universities. Approximately 95% of Girard graduates continue on to some form of higher education. |
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What colleges and universities do Girard graduates typically attend? |
| Schools most frequently attended by Girard students include Drexel University, Pennsylvania State University, and Temple University. In recent years, top Girard students have enrolled at Columbia University, Cornell University, George Washington University, Howard University, New York University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Ursinus College, Villanova University, and Washington University. |
| How is Girard’s curriculum structured? |
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Girard’s performance-based curriculum was developed in accordance with national standards. All grade levels and subject areas have specific benchmarks and content standards that measure successful student outcomes and achievements. |
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How is Girard accredited? |
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Girard is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It also holds membership in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Association of Boarding Schools, and the Coalition for Residential Education. |
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How are scholarships to Girard awarded? |
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Girard College awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $37,000 to every child admitted to the school. This scholarship covers most of the costs of attending Girard, including tuition, room and board, books, and school uniforms. The scholarship is renewable yearly until high school graduation. |
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Who can apply for a Girard scholarship? |
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Applicants must be at least six years old, demonstrate good social skills and the potential for scholastic achievement, and come from a single-parent, lower-income family. Students living with a custodial caretaker such as a grandparent, other relative, or foster family may also apply. Girard enrolls students on the basis of school records, admissions testing, a visit, and interviews, without preference for race, gender, religion, or national origin. |
| Where do students live? |
| Students live in single-sex dormitories arranged by grade level. Residential advisors occupy apartments in the dorm buildings, creating a caring, familial atmosphere for students. |
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Since Girard is a boarding school, do all students live on campus at all times? |
| Girard requires that all students participate in the five-day program for the full benefit of our academic and residential curriculums. Many students whose families live nearby choose to go home on weekends. There are occasions where children stay on campus on weekends. Girard offers supervised weekend activities, such as sports, social events, trips, community service, study time, and tutoring. |
| May I call and visit my child at school? |
| We encourage families to stay in touch with their children by phone, e-mail, letters and regular visits, both formal and informal. In addition, parents frequently visit the campus for scheduled events, such as concerts, assemblies, and Founder’s Day; for conferences with faculty and residential advisors, and to participate in parent committees and other groups. |
| What steps does Girard take to ensure students’ safety? |
| Because Girard is situated in an urban environment, we take every precaution to ensure the safety of our students. The fact that our campus is enclosed enables us to maintain strict security controls, and to know who is on campus at all times. We also maintain 24/7 security for the benefit of our entire community. Parents constantly tell us that they feel their children are truly safe at Girard. |
| When can a child apply to Girard? |
| Girard welcomes inquiries at any time. The school strongly recommends that prospective students begin the application process one year before the September they wish to enroll. Tours, testing sessions, and interviews are scheduled throughout the school year. |
| Does Girard provide transportation? |
| No, but public transportation is plentiful and convenient. Several city bus lines stop at Girard’s front gate, and the 30th Street train station is just a short distance away. During holidays, Girard assists students with transportation to and from the airport, train station, or bus terminal as needed. |
| Is Girard affiliated with any church or religion? |
| No. Girard is an independent school that is open to students of all religious backgrounds. Twice a month at the beginning of the school day, all students attend nondenominational services in the school’s chapel, offering a forum for spiritual and moral development. |
| How may I see the campus and get more information or an application? |
| The best way to learn about Girard is to come for a visit. Our Open House dates are listed on this website. To request an application, go to this page on the website or call 215-787-2620 (877-3GIRARD). |
