Germantown Academy

PO BOX 287

Fort Washington, PA 19034

34 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by student on May 24, 2024

As a current student at GA, I can say that the journey I have been through has been quite a wild one. I started back in Kindergarten and loved lower school. The teachers were great, and it was a fun environment to be in. The High School right now has a pretty balanced learning strategy with not too much, but not too little amounts of work to do. I say that if you are looking to apply to GA in the middle school, then this is a perfect review for you. In middle school, the teaching is pretty average. The homework is none to little, and have very little support standing from going up from 5th to 6th grade. Also I have not talked about the kids themselves. At GA, there is this sheet called the mission statement. It is supposed to say things like 'confident in expression' and 'honorable indeed'. The whole point is to make the kids at GA not only be well reached and have information on how to change the world, but also to be compasionate to others. And it... doesn't work. Sure the kids will act that way to adults like teachers and parents, but to each other, they are vicious. Like no joke this may be one of the worst schools you could consider if you want your kid to have an enjoyable time in middle and upper school socially. My younger sister has changed schools because there are so many kids in her grade that just bully other kids and have no feeling for others. Most of the time, unless illegal activity it going on, teachers and administrators will take 0 action to the students in the wrong besides giving them a 'talk'. And the parents are also not great either. My parents have really hated a lot of the parents because they are not very kind towards others. There are some very kind parents that my parents do really like, but most of them are rich snobs as some would say. Recommending this school would be pretty bad because as a student, little action is ever taken at GA. To the parents, it may feel a lot better to send your kid to a fancy, prestigious private school, but in reality, it's actually a terrible school to ever talk to people. The kids at schools are so important, that it is mind boggling how little the adults care about them. I think that if you want to put your kid here for lower school, then that would be fine. But in middle school it is a definite no-no. This is coming from a student that has been here 11 years. I'm truly disappointed in the lack of empathy that the school so desperately wants, but won't supply.
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2023

My daughter began GA in the 6th grade and attended from 6th -8th grade when she was diagnosed with POTS and had to unenroll for health reasons. She attended 2 months at cyber school. She wanted to go back so badly. We attempted to reenroll her for 9th grade but missed the deadline and had to attend her public school for one year. She absolutely hated it and wished so badly that she never left GA. We are in the process of reenrolling her for 10th grade at GA so she can be truly happy again. Aside from an amazing community and family engagement that made it feel like everyone was part of the whole, it is ultimately about how my daughter felt when she was part of it. Everyday she looked forward to going to school. She loved her teachers, her friends, the school, and the clubs. It was always more than just a school. It was truly preparing her for a successful future. They treat their students differently. They are prepped for how successful individuals move forward in life. They are taught that human life is valued and appreciated across all walks of life regardless of background, where you come from, and how you got there. There is a common goal, and that is moving forward together with love and respect and success. Germantown Academy is one of the best decisions we ever made for our daughter and we are proud to be part of it. We would absolutely recommend GA to anyone considering. Take a tour. Spend a day. You'll see why.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2022

We have been part of GA for 6 years and we couldn’t be happier with the progress our children have made. They have thrived academically and socially in many ways. The teachers are fantastic and go out of their way to make sure all is up to par with their students. All of the teachers my kids have had have always been very responsive to all my concerns social and academic ones. We couldn’t be happier to be part of this community!
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2022

The teachers at Germantown Academy truly care about your child. My son's Spanish teacher gave him the assignment to write a Spanish Rap song. He loved the idea, and mentioned something to his band teacher who stopped everything he was doing, to help my son come up with music to play behind the rap. It was a moment my son will always remember.
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2022

GA has been our home for six years now - my son started in pre-k and each year gets better. This is a special community - it is more than an academic institution it like a home away from home. My son has thrived both academically and socially at GA. There are so many things that make it special - the campus is among the best and the way the school utilizes the space to allow for hands-on learning is amazing. The focus on areas beyond pure academics including the arts, a sense of social responsibility, and being a good citizen of the school, the community at large and the world is so important. And the staff, there is really something special about the teachers at GA - this is a school with many traditions but also so open to embrace the changes in the world around us. I am so grateful to be part of this community and looking forward to watching my son continue to grow and thrive in this nurturing environment,
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2022

We joined GA in high school but wish we would have joined sooner. The education is exceptional. There is strong community and the college prep and counseling is like no other.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2022

There’s just something about Germantown Academy. As a parent of two teenage boys, every time I visit the school I leave in a better mood than when I arrived. The education is first-class we are 110% satisfied. As a native Brit - I have lived in this country for 20 years - Germantown Academy is the most authentic, honest, and excellent organization/institution I know.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2022

It's better than most schools today, but far from perfect. The US is ranked 26 in the nation, so we can't expect much. Forced masks on children, so sad. If you want to wear a mask, please do so. Forcing children to wear masks makes no sense. They need better leadership and they need to focus on the basics, Math, Reading, Science (chemistry, biology, physics) History, physical education. I.m black, my parents are from South America and have gay and transgendered family members and loved ones, but I don't want that to be the focus of my children's education. TEACH THE BASICS ONLY! I will teach my kids morality and spirituality. My son had to read a book about a black young girl in middle school. I'm a black woman who grew up in the '80s and '90s in NY and I couldn't stomach the book. They should expect good behavior and respectful students, but not force their ideas and ideologies on our children. I'm looking into homeschooling, as most schools aren't better.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2020

The school has a wonderful vibe and the teachers are extremely engaged and effective. I do however think it offers too few honors/AP classes. They do not push the students to higher level courses on the belief that their standard course are challenging. This does not fair well when competing against other private schools nationally who have much more to offer. The HS math program is way behind other private schools
Submitted by parent on February 29, 2020

Highly recommend for academically driven students who want a college like high school experience.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2019

My experience at GA has been outstanding. The small class size, personalized attention, superb teachers, and the campus are unparalleled. Couldn’t be happier.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

Couldn't be happier in all categories! It get's better everyday.
Submitted by other on June 04, 2015

GA was the perfect school for my kids! I couldn’t be happier. Sending my (bright) kids to GA was not all about how many honors classes and AP classes they could fit in their schedules, rather GA’s focus on the “whole child”. One thing that parents don’t realize is that when colleges look at prospective students, they don’t compare the student’s course load and grades from one school to another (apples to oranges). Colleges take a close look at the academic offerings at each school to see how the child is excelling and challenging himself. (There are some excellent schools out there that don’t offer any AP classes!) It was so refreshing to be a GA parent who didn’t have to check GradeLink daily to know how my children were performing. Because of the small student/teacher ratio and the excellent faculty, I would know right away if there were any concerns. GA makes kids accountable for their work. They create an environment where learning is desirable, not cut throat, which translates into kids reaching their highest potential. Additionally, my kids all became excellent writers, a skill that is needed in every profession these days. GA lives by their mission (read it when you get a chance) and graduates kids that are more than ready for college, and more importantly, ready for life.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2014

As a parent of a GA graduate, I agree with the comments about the excellent faculty and their dedication to the success of the their students. The faculty is what makes GA special. I do feel however, the limited Honors courses offered in the Junior year is a major disappointment. Now that early decision deadlines are in November taking Honors or AP the Senior year is unfortunately often too late to have a major effect on GPA. Although my graduate is content in college, other high schools do offer more AP or Honors classes that are not as limited and the requirements to take these coursed are not as restrictive. Do to this my son's GPA was considerably lower than his friends from other competitive schools despite scoring hundreds of points higher on his SAT. I am hoping with the announcement of the new Head, my daughter will have greater opportunity to show her abilities.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2014

There are many ways that Germantown Academy stands apart from other public and independent schools in the Philadelphia area. The average class size is 12-15 students, so there is lots of individual attention for each student. The quality of the faculty is outstanding. My daughter graduated from GA in 2006 and she is still in touch with many of her teachers. Finally, the school sits on 110 acres of woods, fields, and wetlands, so there are many opportunities to learn both in the classroom and outdoors.
Submitted by other on September 01, 2014

Contrary to many of the parents on here, the quality of the GA education is astounding, and you completely get out of it, what you put into it. Too many parents come on here to vent about administration, and its unfortunate that they don't interact enough with the administration to even make a comment on it. That being said, while the price tag is high, the price tag is worth it. Just because GA does not have as many AP courses, does not mean that GA does not have a comparable honors course that allows you to take the AP in that subject. Unfortunately, many parents are short sighted in the sense that the numbers matter too much to them. What makes GA the best, is not the new building, or the new fields, or the new location, its the teachers and administrators that bring that sense of community and togetherness. The teachers care more about the students than the parents will ever know, and they will go to great lengths to help their students succeed. The quality of education is unparalleled here. As a recent alumni, I am forever indebted to my parents for sacrificing so much to send me here. It is well worth it.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2014

Your money is better saved for college! My child would have gotten into an equally competitive college coming from Wissahickon or Upper Dublin High School than GA. I don't think my child is better prepared for college than our neighbors who use the public schools. In fact, the public schools in the area offer more advanced placement and honors courses than GA. If you want to go to an Ivy league school or competitive university, you may have a better chance coming from public. Before spending the money, think twice. I wish I hadn't, I would have had more money saved to support my child's graduate work.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

We had three "lifers" - two girls and a boy. We were in the GA community from 1996 till the last one graduated in 2013. All three had wonderful experiences. They were given many outlets to try so many different learning, sport and artistic experiences. Not every day was "perfect" - which was great because they learned problem solving skills, conflict resolution which are life long tools. I often said when they had disappointing moments - "you don't want to peak in high school" and as they are all in college, they certainly understand. GA equipped them to handle life on life's terms. The connections they made with so many of their teachers, I know will last. The small classes and individual connections allowed their teachers to create a learning environment for all in the class. Wonderful!
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2014

GA is a nurturing environment that tailors to your child's strengths. Kids get the best of all worlds, academics, the arts and athletics. Campus is beautiful also.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2014

One of my favorite things about GA is the way the students are taught. They learn by having hands on experiences and by not just being taught with textbooks. Students are engaged in round table discussions in most classrooms which creates a much better atmosphere to delve into more meaningful topics. Students become comfortable with expressing their opinions and really come out of their shell. If your child is shy they also benefit with the smaller number of students in each class. GA also has an outstanding community of parents. There is a great outpouring of volunteerism whenever needed. I find faculty, staff and parents are very approachable and want to be helpful. We are extremely fortunate in that we are able to send our kids to this school.