| Solebury School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Solebury Township |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Independent |
| Established | 1925 |
| Head of school | Tom Wilschutz |
| Grades | 7 - 12 |
| Enrollment | 230 total |
| Campus | Rural |
| Website | www.solebury.org |
Solebury School is a co-educational college preparatory day and boarding school located on a 90-acre (36 ha) campus in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania (near New Hope, Pennsylvania). There are currently 230 day and boarding students enrolled. Tom Wilschutz is the head of school.
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Solebury School was founded in 1925 by Laurie York Erskine, Julian Lathrop, Robert Shaw and Arthur Washburn whose shared vision was to create an environment that would foster good learning relationships, in which there would be a close connection between teachers and pupils, in which there would be a respectful exchange of opinions and ideas, and in which the student would be well prepared for both college and their real-world responsibilities and pursuits.
Solebury School's mission is "to create an environment of educational excellence that prepares students for college and beyond. In the Solebury community, we strongly value intellectual challenge and academic achievement, creative and independent thinking, mutual respect between students and teachers, deep respect for each individual, and diversity."
Solebury's curriculum consists of Advanced Placement courses, Honors courses, and electives. Teachers are encouraged to bring their passions for a subject to the students. Nine AP courses are offered: AP American Studies (which prepares for the AP US History Test), AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP English, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, and AP US Government & Politics.
Eleven Honors courses are currently offered: Biology, Chemistry, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, Ethics, French 4, History Thesis, Physics, Pre-calculus, and Spanish 4.
A Learning Skills Program assists approximately 30 students who have learning differences in the basic language areas.
For international students, English as a second language (ESL) programs are offered during the full year, and summer. With small classes of eight students, Solebury’s goal is to help students develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
- Solebury students are required to participate in a sport or activity every trimester each year.
- Fall: Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer, Cross Country, Field Hockey
- Winter: Boys and Girls Varsity and JV Basketball, Varsity Wrestling
- Spring: Varsity Baseball, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Track and Field, Lacrosse, Tennis, Golf,
Solebury’s students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles that are integral to the day-to-day functioning of the school: students run our twice weekly all-school assemblies; students serve with faculty on our Judiciary and Academic Committees; older students act as Peer Leaders and Peer Tutors for younger students; students act as Tour Guides for our admission department; students start and lead their own clubs and organizations (such as Amnesty International and the Solebury Literary Arts Magazine); students also participate in a wide range of competitive sports and other traditional activities.
A majority of Solebury’s approximately 230 students come from Pennsylvania and New Jersey; in the past three years, students have come from 7 states and 8 foreign countries.
All school computers use the Windows 7 platform. In the library and computer room, there are 25 desktop computers with Internet T-1 hookups. A color printer, laser jet printer, and scanner are also available. All campus computers have Internet capabilities and are connected to the Solebury network. Both the Science and Math departments have a networked IBM-compatible system. The Science and Foreign Language departments each maintain a computerized laboratory containing 16 wireless laptops for use in classes, while the Math department has use of two laboratories containing a total of 39 computers. Computers for student use can also be found in the English as a Second Language Suite, Learning Skills, and the girls and boys dormitories.
Solebury high school students are required to complete 10 hours of community service per year. Middle School students are required to complete 5 hours of community service each year.
For the 2010-2011 school year, Solebury tuition costs $42,900 for high school boarding students and $28,900 for high school day students, and $25,900 for Middle School students in grades 7 and 8. Approximately 30% of students receive some financial aid.
Summary Statistics: Of the graduates in the past three years, 98% have gone to four-year colleges; the remaining 2% attend community colleges, pursue a post-graduate year of high school, or take a “gap” year.