Mercersburg Academy

The curriculum is rich (about 150 courses), with diverse sports and arts programs, as well as unique offerings like global travel and outdoor education, emphasizing character and community spirit.
Located in a small town in southern Pennsylvania, the pace of life is slower, the community atmosphere is close-knit, and the support from the community is very strong. Most families report that Mercersburg cultivates independence and comprehensive abilities, allowing students to balance academic and personal development.

Mercersburg Academy was founded in 1893 and is located in Mercersburg, a famous historic town in southern Pennsylvania, covering an area of 300 acres. The school offers free Test Prep tutoring courses specifically for students preparing for standardized tests; students can attend by simply registering and making an appointment.
The school offers over 170 traditional courses and two types of capstone projects, as well as 26 sports activities such as track and field, tennis, basketball, and rock climbing. Students can also participate in extracurricular activities like ceramics, drama, ballet, and music. A capstone project is a comprehensive course offered by American universities for senior-level students. Students complete application-oriented internships, primarily to enable them to apply previously learned knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. It's somewhat similar to a university's graduation project, with high demands on students in various aspects.
The school's capstone projects are divided into two types: MAPS and Springboard. MAPS is a two-year course that students need to apply for. The course starts in 11th grade, and at its conclusion, students are required to submit a 35-page thesis and deliver a 45-minute presentation, where professional professors will ask questions, evaluate, and grade them. Springboard is similar to MAPS but slightly less difficult. It requires students to deeply research a topic, conduct investigations, and engage in critical thinking, which can be done through volunteer activities or alumni interviews, followed by a presentation display, with experts providing evaluation. Students must complete one of these two courses to graduate successfully.

Principal Zhan's Review: Mercersburg is a school that genuinely cares for its students, and the school administrators pay particular attention to student engagement. The selection of academics, sports, arts, and various programs and activities is incredibly rich, focusing on students' balanced development.
It is very suitable for students who excel academically but have not yet decided on their future direction, allowing them to find more friends and explore various possibilities in a warm and friendly environment.
In terms of cultural heritage, the 300-acre (1821 mu) campus is exceptionally beautiful. The British-style chapel is ancient and rich in cultural atmosphere, intertwining with modern classrooms to create a peculiar harmony.
Regarding academic cultivation, the school offers a total of 170 courses, fully ensuring that students can experience subjects they are interested in. Humanities courses primarily utilize the roundtable teaching method, where communication and discussion allow children to both learn knowledge and speak freely, fostering initiative, self-awareness, and critical thinking.
In terms of community building, 85% of students live on campus, and children get to know, look after, and care for each other. The school establishes positions for students on campus such as exam proctors, ushers, club representatives, and academic center ambassadors, to promote community integration and develop their leadership skills.
For emotional support, the school's Rutherford Health and Wellness Center not only provides 24/7 physical care for students but also offers short-term licensed mental health counseling services for students seeking growth and development assistance.

Mercersburg Academy also has strong sports programs. Each year, approximately 75% of Mercersburg students participate in at least one of the 27 sports offered, with over 45 teams including varsity, junior varsity, and third teams. Participation in these sports fulfills the school's physical education and co-curricular activity requirements. Art is a rich component of Mercersburg's history. Students continue the alumni tradition by participating in various performances and exhibitions. From choral and instrumental ensembles to dance, theater, and gallery exhibitions, the works of student artists have always been highlights on the school calendar.

Mercersburg's alumni network is very strong, sending most of its students to Princeton University each year. Among Mercersburg graduates are 9 Olympic gold medalists; 7 Rhodes Scholars; 4 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients; and 1 Nobel laureate (Burton Richter received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976). Former New Jersey Congressman Stewart H. Appleby; former Maryland Governor Harry Hughes; former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh; former U.S. Ambassador to Romania and former CEO of Advance Auto Parts (a major American auto parts retailer) Nicholas Taubman, among others, are all outstanding Mercersburg graduates.