The Phelps School

The Phelps School was founded in 1946 by Dr. Norman T. Phelps, fulfilling his dream of starting a boarding school for boys — in particular those who need extra personal attention to help them reach their potential. The School’s motto has always been “Dedication to the Individual Boy.” Phelps is a small school with an enrollment of 120 boarding and day students in grades 7-12 as well as some post-graduates. Our safe campus is situated in a quiet, rural setting just 22 miles west of Philadelphia and approximately two hours from New York City and Washington, DC. We have a number of students from different parts of the world who enrich the life of the School, and everyone benefits from day-to-day contact with boys from other cultures. We base our educational model on the fact that no two of our students are exactly alike, and no two have exactly the same needs. From the very first visit, we focus on getting to know each student well so we can help shape a course of study for him that will enable him to enhance his strengths and improve his skills. Our mission is to create a nurturing and responsive climate which will bring out the best in each student, help him gain self-confidence, and acquire respect for himself those around him. This effort is strengthened by the familial atmosphere, small classes, and a tutorial block at the end of the academic day that students can utilize to get one-on-one time with their teachers. We also work to achieve a proper balance between every boy’s academic performance and his physical, social, and moral development. The Phelps School adheres to a longstanding policy of admitting students of any race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin. We take pride in our diverse population, which is represented by students from many different states and countries.