Perkiomen School

200 Seminary Street

Pennsburg, PA 18073

21 Reviews

School District
Grade

6-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by teacher on May 13, 2021

One of the most ill managed, disorganized, systemically challenged places I have ever worked. No support for faculty, so morale is very low. Practices are pedagogically incorrect or old fashioned, and there is no transparency. Staff endures pay cuts and the fear of not having contracts renewed if you rock the boat. We are all warned to "keep our heads down." Parents pay for students to get good grades - I have been asked to change Ds to Bs because the school hoped it would encourage students to enroll again the following year. Sports are emphasized over academics. The school passes all students, even those who did not attend class or do work, to be able to boast it's 100% graduation rate. For a school that costs so much, it does precious little to prepare students for the academic rigors of college or to prepare them for a world outside their little privileged bubble. There are no dangers of consequences at Perk (unless you fail to pay tuition). There are also racist undertones everywhere. The school celebrates a white supremacist with an awards show named after him, and the "Black History Month" menu in the dining hall consisted of fried chicken and okra. They tokenize students in their press and show a false image of what the school really stands for. A lot of work needs to be done to examine this school and it's institutional practices. Working here has been a real disappointment and embarrassment.
Submitted by other on January 03, 2015

The school is warm and welcoming. They know the meaning of community. When I asked the students what they appreciated most, many if them quickly spoke of the school's diversity. They enjoy making connections with kids around the US and around the world.
Submitted by other on February 05, 2014

I am in my second year at perkiomen school, and I have been at many in the past. The teachers care about the students, and a 45 minute confrence period is provided for those who wish to have free tutoring help. The AP classes offered here are numberous, and the student life is amazing as the campus is beautiful. The students here are diverse, while the majority are White it does not mean that they are local. Food is top notch, and the classes have most students making honors or high honors. The enviornment feels like a second family, and the only downside is the outrageous pricing for a year, but compared to other schools it still is pretty standard
Submitted by parent on December 29, 2013

What a fantastic year this has been for our child who is in the second year at Perk Middle School. We could not be happier with the program, people, and opportunities. Reading some of the negative comments here, we were a bit worried, but experiencing the school ourselves has told us that those negative comments are just plain wrong. From the science teacher who takes the time to utilize real world examples to explain things, to the history teacher who is passionate about his topics and willing to spend as much time in extra help as needed to fully grasp a concept to the music teacher who engages and excites our child about singing and learning the fundamentals to the "signature trips" that push students outside their comfort zone we could not be happier. Watching the number of students -- boarding and day -- grow to the upper 300s we looking forward to the eventual transition to upper school where our child can continue German. To think that our child will be in German III as a freshman is remarkable. The teacher is exceptional. Keep up the great work, Perkiomen, we are lucky to have you in our community.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2013

I am extremely pleased with the level of professionalism exhibited by the faculty and administration of the Perkiomen School community. Fall family weekend was a huge success! The faculty at Perk provides a perfect balance of support and structure while also allowing students to truly, "risk becoming their best." I particularly enjoyed the weekend speaker, Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg and the talk he gave on parenting and building resilient children. In addition to academic success, my son has exhibited true signs of maturity. He completes his homework on his own, interacts positively with his peers and loves going to school in the morning. He is learning to be a team player on the soccer field, he is utilizing the amazing talents of his teachers and most importantly, he is developing "people skills" that will last a lifetime. All of this in less than two months! We are thrilled that our son has been accepted into this wonderful family and school community!
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2013

We have two children who attend The Perkiomen School, and they are both very happy. We are pleased with the education that they are getting, with the friends that they have made, and with the opportunities that abound at Perk in the arts, on sports teams, and in leadership. Not every school is the right fit for every child, but we have found the right place for our children. Perk is student and future focused. The college list is impressive, and Perk's three college counselors (a great student to counselor ratio) know the students well and send the graduates to good schools that fit each person. Please do your research; the information is available online and speaks for itself.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2013

My child has been attending Perk for 3 years and we could not be happier with the product. Middle and high school can be a difficult time for adolescents and Perk has gone to great lengths to ensure that students have the best possible education, both academically and socially. I have found that the support for students comes in all shapes and sizes from every member of the community and I could not be happier that my child has been granted an opportunity to develop in such a caring community. My child and I are both looking forward to beginning the college counseling process and already plan on meeting several of the college representatives, from competitive schools, who come to Perk in droves. This is an exciting time as a parent and I find comfort in the fact that the Perk Community shares in this journey. Thank you, Perk, for all that you do for my child.
Submitted by other on July 22, 2013

Parents get over yourselves please. The school is doing a phenomenal job. As a CURRENT student I understand there are some issues with relationships but guess what, we are teenagers and we have feelings. Therefore it is inevitable to not have secret relationships and though some of us think no ones knows. Everyone knows. The school is small and the dean handles these things easily, he also is accepting and forgiving. In most cases. I do agree though a few students have gone to far, therefore deserved to be punished, like any other student would be. So let the school do there job and if you're unhappy don't let your kid come back. They'll probably hate you but hey it's high school, we're suppose to hate our parents.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2013

Ahh, more Internet graffiti, and from a fellow parent, sad. Sounds like your child made some poor decisions and acted inappropriately, and now you are projecting your own anger onto the school's staff. Stop lying about the dean, who is one of the finest people we know, and stop disparaging teachers/school. Along with many friends from the Lehigh valley and beyond whose children went to feeders like swain and wyndcroft, we chose Perk over other schools. This past year alone, our child had the chance to meet up to 100 college reps vs only about 40 6 years ago. Back then, we would have skipped Perk, but today the faculty come from colleges we would want our own child to attend. I can't say enough about all the opportunities given to our child, from 28 APs to an environment where students are treated with respect and compassion. Can the school improve? Yes. Is everything perfect? No. Is our child challenged, finding success, and supported by teachers? Most definitely. Stop the attacks on our school -- if Perkiomen is such a terrible place, move your child so ours can be left to focus on school work and success without your family issues interfering.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2013

I had to laugh at the well choreographed comments before mine that were attempting to defend Perkiomen. Although the school is marketed as a prep school, few colleges are eager to accept Perkiomen students. Perhaps it's because so many of the students were asked to leave previous schools due to behavior or academic problems. The parent who challenged a teacher to, "come out of the shadows and talk to the Dean" about the inappropriate relationships brought up in their comments shows how well things are hidden at Perkiomen. The Dean is well aware of the inappropriate relationships and the school obviously chooses not to bring them up. There are still a small number of dedicated teachers left at Perk but as someone accurately said, most of them left in droves. Unfortunately, few students return after graduation or contribute to the school's annual fund. The bottom line is that Perkiomen is a substandard school and it is wise to stay away.Be aware that this school likes to compare themselves to top prep schools. Don't fall for it! Almost any school is better than Perkiomen.
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2012

Is any school perfect? No, but what do you want in a school? I am a parent of a graduate and a current student and we could no be happier. My children we given the opportunity to excel in the classroom and on the athletic field. The teachers care and consistently go above and beyond what we would have expected. Is there faculty turnover? Yes, but being a product of a Prep school I know this happens but Perk does a great job of hiring qualified teachers that understand the mission of the school. Again, what do you want from a school? My eldest was not one of the top students in their class (it was a very strong class) but he is now attending a top 50 college and doing very well so I know he was well prepared. If you have any questions about the school go and spend some time on the campus, I have and the feeling you get will let you know this is a very special place.
Submitted by teacher on June 12, 2012

Who is qualified to speak about an independent school such as Perk? Would it be someone who is a former parent, or maybe a faculty member, or maybe someone whose family history spans over a half of a century of attending independent schools? I am such a person, one who not only graduated from a well-known independent school but has many years of experience working in independent schools. What can I say about Perkiomen School? Well - plenty. As dorm parents, we witness the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day life of our students. Most achieve a GPA that puts them on the honor roll; they are well rounded citizens achieving success in one or several of the arts and team sports, not to mention their tremendous personal growth. When Perkiomen School says that it educates student's mind, body and soul, it WALKS ITS TALK! The position that we take with our students is the perfect illustration of the Latin phrase in loco parentis (in the place of a parent), which implies that we do as much, if not more, as any parent would do for a child.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2012

Reflecting on my education at The Perkiomen School is an emotional endeavor. Beyond the consideration of a solid academic preparation for college, are the relationships. The connections with teachers, my advisor, staff, and a very accessible administration have guided me since I was in 7th grade. The relationships with fellow students have provided life-long friends and a truly global perspective. I was prepared to succeed in college, graduate school, and in life because of my experiences. Thank you to everyone at PERK for the immeasurable contribution to my success and happiness in life! -Alumnus
Submitted by teacher on June 09, 2012

How sad to hear a colleague demean our school. I wonder how this supposed colleague views him-herself, considering the remarks. I have been here for four years and have only seen marked improvements across the board. Stronger students, a focus on hiring great people to push kids do to their best (to quote from the mission). The school has invested significant funds into professional development, much more than in the past, and several people have completed masters or are on their way to completing them. While we want to see some new dorms built -- and the school has a master plan to move this forward -- the new student study lounges, renovated library, upgrades to theater, pool, and gym all indicate a school moving in the right direction. Some of my colleagues have retired, resigned, left to get married, or gone off to get their PhDs. That IS all normal -- some people also were not ready for the increased expectations of a head who wants the students to be safe, secure, and prepared for selective colleges. So, I don't know if the teacher is actually a colleague or someone claiming to be, but as I sit around the lunch table, I don't hear such things from true colleagues and friends.
Submitted by teacher on June 09, 2012

As a graduate and employee, I am intrigued by the comments from the supposed parent and teacher. We just celebrated 40-year, 30-year, 20-year, and 2 10-year anniversaries, it is amusing to hear that people "leave in droves." When people give up their evenings and weekends to work with students who need help, I conclude that the students are safe and secure. When alumni come back back "in droves" to visit the people who served them as teachers, it is clear that we have done good work. To know that we have several alumni working here -- including 2 with degrees from Yale and 1 from UPenn, I again conclude that we have done great work AND our program is demanding as students prepare for college. It is true that some students struggle to meet the expecations of the school -- the faculty bend over backwards to help them, as advisors and teachers. Some students, though, don't make it -- we hate when that happens, but we understand that not everyone is meant for a program that, while incredibly supportive, is "challenging". As a Perk student, I had my own struggles, but with the help of faculty, I graduated and have returned to work with the people who make this place so wonderful.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2012

Perk is indeed a great school! My child has flourished here and has gained no only wonderful knowledge from her teachers, but has gained self-confidence and pride in her accomplishments both in the classroom and on the athletic field. The faculty is caring and supportive while demanding high quality and effort. Most of her teachers have Masters degrees in their subject areas and all of them are passionate about their work. We could not be happier with the school.
Submitted by teacher on June 08, 2012

As an educator, I have found Perkiomen to be a excellent place to teach and live. Faculty members stay here because we are fulfilled by what we teach, because we love to work with students, and because we are supported by the school and the community of like-minded administrators, teachers and parents. A Perkiomen education is challenging and encourages students to ask questions. We offer honors and AP programs in more than 25 different courses in addition to an English as a Second Language Program and a Learning Center. Our students learn by doing and by meeting high but realistic espectations. Please look though our website for great information and call us if you have questions. Arrange for a tour of campus if you live locally. Perk is amazing. Is it without flaws? No, of course not. However, there is always a genuine and honest spirit on campus, and we try to make this experience the best that it can be, just as we push our students to risk being their best. And by the way, Perkiomen is accredited by the Middle States Association, the same association that evaluates UPenn and F&M.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2012

There are many things to think about when you consider private schools. Class size, quality of the faculty, programs available to help develop your child outside the classroom, quality of curriculum, forward thinking of the administration and so much more... The Perkiomen School excels in many of these areas. What's more is they have a team of administrators that continually looks to improve existing programs and add new classes and programs that the kids really love. My son is excited about the newly revamped robotics program for next year and really loves the attention the faculty shows him.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2012

As a parent, I am thrilled with all that my child has experienced at Perkiomen. it is clear that the last two comments were posted by the same person posing as a parent and a teacher when, in fact, they are from the same person who is merely disgruntled. It is too bad when people have to trash a school, its teachers, its students, and support staff. The people at Perk work amazingly hard every day. The middle school head is like a Den Mother to our child -- always there and always willing to go the extra mile. We can't wait to work with the college counseling office, since they are completely focused on the students and helping them gain entrance to great schools. Of course not every child will be accepted to an Ivy League School, but then not every child is destined for one! My child loves spending weekends on campus -- since there is so much to do and because supervision is excellent with teachers in all the dorms, on the trips, in the library, and in the student center. Oh, yes, and there are check-ins all weekend to ensure safety and security. As for the ridiculous comment about "inappropriate relationships" -- come out of the shadows and talk to the dean. We love Perk!
Submitted by teacher on June 06, 2012

My personal experience here speaks volumes, but what I feel more comfortable doing is directing interested parents to investigate some solid facts before entrusting their children to Perkiomen. Know what questions to ask. What is the teacher turnover like? You may be told that teachers leave because it is a boarding school, because they are in the middle of nowhere, because they are going to get married, etc. Yes - all schools experience that type of turnover to some degree. But if teachers are leaving in droves, why is that? What experience and specific degrees do the teachers have? How are children supervised in the dorms? Ask to see a college admissions list that shows not what schools students have gone to over the years, but where the students from the LAST CLASS matriculated. Ask to see sample essays. Speak to students at random, not just ones that the admissions department has chosen. Ask to see accreditation reports. Investigate the groups that have issued these accreditations. This is not a challenging school, but parents will want to consider issues even more fundamental (such as safety) than academics when considering Perkiomen, especially for boarding.