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PENNINGTON The Pennington School | Grades 6—12 | Day & Boarding
transformation
Pennington is a place where happens — academically, artistically, athletically, and personally. We combine rigorous academics with character-building experiences in a close-knit, inclusive community.
Honor.
Virtue. Humility.
Excellence.
OUR MISSION
The Pennington School is committed to developing individual in all of its students.
excellence
FAST FACTS
Middle School
WHERE THE JOURNEY BEGINS Our focus is on the development of the whole child: •
100 students
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Dedicated Middle School faculty members
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Hands-on experiential learning
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Full Arts program: Visual Art, Drama, Instrumental, and Vocal instruction
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Physical Life Skills curriculum
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Middle School athletic teams; everybody plays!
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Faculty advisor and Junior Proctor mentoring programs
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Cultural trips
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Health and Wellness counselor and classes
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Full slate of after-school and extracurricular activities
Academics THAT ELEVATE Start your path with a bold academic foundation: •
Middle School curriculum designed just for Grades 6-8
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Middle School students can place into Upper School math or world language courses
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50 AP and Honors courses in Upper School
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Signature Programs •
NEW! Gateway Term in May: Explore your passions
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Cervone Center for Learning: Thrive with support
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Upper School Global Studies Certificate: Expand your world
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Upper School Applied Science Certificate: Innovate with purpose
All classes are small, discussion-based, and deeply engaging.
“It is believed that there are multiple intelligences, that learning should be a nurturing of success rather than a cataloging of errors.”
—Dr. Edmund Cervone, founder, Cervone Center for Learning
Arts THAT EMPOWER EXPRESSION Pennington’s Arts program connects students to the world through hands-on projects that exercise skills of inquiry, curiosity, correlation, response, and analysis.
Theatre
Scene Study Acting Directing Senior Seminar
Music
Instrumental Lab Vocal Ensemble Rhythm of the Sacred Music Technology Composition Music Theory Advanced Composition AP Music Theory
Visual Arts
Dramatic Society Gallery talks with visiting artists Music Collective (Tech) Open Studios Private Instrumental Lessons Private Voice Lessons Yearbook
Lens-Based Arts
All-Year Ensembles
Drawing Foundations Color and Design Art Studio, I, II, III, IV AP Studio Art Modern American: History & Art Ceramics, I, II, III Photography: Darkroom Photography: Digital Imaging Filmmaking
Arts Activities
After-school Music Study Art Club
Jazz Band Orchestra Pennington Singers SoundProof a cappella group Treble Tones vocal ensemble
Athletics THAT BUILD GRIT •
145 consecutive years of football
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Athletic leadership program for captains
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NCAA college recruitment program
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Member of MAPL League
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Separate Middle School athletics program Baseball
Golf
Basketball
Lacrosse
Cheer
Soccer
Cross Country
Swimming
r NEW fo7! Fencing 2026-2
Tennis
Field Hockey
Track and Field
Fitness and Wellness
Water Polo
Football
Winter Track
“Pennington's boarding life has been a great experience. It is an awesome way to meet new people, socialize, and make friends from all grades. Everyone is so welcoming and kind. I have become a part of the community and it's exhilarating!” —Helena C. '27
Residential Life THAT FOSTERS CONNECTIONS 10 residence halls | 150+ weekend activities each year •
Life skills for college and beyond
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Evening study halls and life skills workshops
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Access to faculty after classes end each day and on weekends Safe, walkable town center one block from campus Community weekends No Saturday classes
Monday night formal dinners
15 minutes to Princeton, 1 hour to NYC or Philadelphia 90+ extracurricular student-led clubs and organizations!
15
College Counseling THAT OPENS DOORS 4 full-time counselors | 1:27 counselor ratio 150+ colleges visit campus annually 94% of 2026 AP scores were 3 or higher Class of 2026: 746 acceptances from 269 colleges and universities in 21 states and 4 countries College Acceptance List Highlights*: American University Babson College Bard College Barnard College Bates College Baylor University Berklee College of Music Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Brigham Young University Brown University Bucknell University California Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Clemson University Colgate University Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Dickinson College
*from 2022-26
Drew University Drexel University Duke University Elon University Emory University Fairfield University Florida Institute of Technology Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Hamilton College Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Haverford College Indiana University Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lafayette College Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University Miami University Middlebury College Milwaukee School of Engineering Montclair State University Morehouse College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College Ohio University Pace University Penn State University Pepperdine University Pomona College Princeton University Purdue University Quinnipiac University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rutgers University Savannah College of Art and Design
Skidmore College Smith College St. Lawrence University Stevens Institute of Technology Stockholm School of Economics Swarthmore College Syracuse University Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University University of Arizona University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of Colorado Boulder University of Florida University of Georgia University of Maryland, College Park University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of Rochester University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Toronto University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin–Madison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University William & Mary
Innovative PROGRAMS WITH INTENTION NEW for 2026-27! Gateway Term •
Mini-mester in May for Grades 6-12
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Every student builds a personal portfolio of achievements and interests.
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Innovative experiential courses designed for each grade
Horizon capstone experience for seniors culminates with internships, travel, or independent projects that develop critical life skills and confidence.
Global Studies Certificate 2-year certificate program •
Students broaden their worldview and build the skills to engage with global issues in meaningful ways—developing into informed, compassionate global citizens.
Applied Science Certificate 2-year certificate program •
Unique opportunities for students to grow their STEM skills and knowledge, discover new passions, and explore areas of interest not available in the general program
1838
1853
1885
1917
SCHOOL IS FOUNDED!
COEDUCATION BEGINS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARRIVE
COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
• The Pennington School was founded as the Methodist Episcopal Male Seminary.
• Renamed the Pennington Seminary and Female Collegiate Institute, the School welcomed young women to campus.
• Students from Cuba, Mexico, South America, Asia, and Europe came to campus by boat and train.
• The School began compulsory military training; students wore military uniforms on campus during World War I.
• The first students enrolled in the spring of 1840, including the first international student (from Mexico).
A LIVING HISTORY OF
Inclusion
• A west wing was added to Old Main around this time to accommodate the growing student body.
• 150 Pennington students and alumni served in the war.
The Pennington School, with its roots in the Methodist church, has long been a place notable for its diversity and inclusion. Early on, the founders identified three guiding principles for the School: “the education of the physical, the training of the mental, and the grounding of the soul in character.” These principles reflected the vision of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who envisioned schools as places that cared for the whole individual. The Pennington School welcomes students from all religious, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and they have found it to be a warm and welcoming place to learn and live.
1934
1975
TODAY
PENNINGTON OPENS DOORS
DIVERSE LEARNING STYLES
PENNINGTON TODAY
• During the Great Depression, financial support was offered to students of modest means.
• The Cervone Center for Learning was established to offer additional academic support to bright students with learning differences within the traditional collegepreparatory curriculum.
• Over 45 countries and cultures represented by current student body
• This program, unique in 1975, became an exemplary model for other schools around the country.
• 100% of students spend over 5,000 hours involved in community service.
• John Wesley Sparks left the bulk of his estate to Pennington, enabling the School to build a gymnasium and to offer its excellent opportunities to young people regardless of their ability to afford the tuition. • During World War II, Pennington welcomed international Jewish students.
• 525 students (Middle and Upper School) • 33% of students receive financial assistance.
• Students create and participate in clubs with diverse interests. Scan below to check out the current list of 90+ activities and clubs!
QUESTIONS? Get in touch!
OFFICE OF ADMISSION pennington.org
E: admiss@pennington.org P: 609.737.6128
APPLY NOW! SCAN HERE
The Pennington School admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or
expression, physical disability, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, employment policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
The Pennington School®, Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Our commitment to our students goes far beyond learning in the classroom to include their continuing development as thoughtful, ethical, and curious young people who don’t just acquire knowledge but who seek truth and ask incisive questions.”
—Dr. William S. Hawkey Head of School
Honor • Virtue • Humility The Pennington School
Office of Admission
112 West Delaware Avenue
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
pennington.org