The Hill School

The Hill School (a.k.a. The Hill) is an historic American prep school for boys and girls in grades nine through twelve. Since its founding in 1851, The Hill has been considered one of the United States' most prestigious boarding schools. Historically, many of The Hill's graduates entered the Ivy League or elite colleges and universities. The Hill is located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about forty-five minutes west of Philadelphia.

History

The Hill School was founded in 1851 by the Revered Matthew Meigs as "The Family Boarding School." The Hill was the first school in the country to have students live with faculty on the school's campus rather than in a boarding house nearby. At the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865, The Hill adopted school colors of Blue and Grey to symbolize the re-unification of the United States. School alumni fought on both sides of the conflict.

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For nearly its entire history The Hill has maintained 500 students per year from which the school song "A Thousand Hands" is drawn. The Hill was an all-boys institution until 1998. As of 2005, the ratio between boys and girls at the school is 60:40. The Hill continues to attract legacies, who make up roughly one-third of the student body.

Related Topics:
1998 - 2005

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Owing to its age, The Hill has a campus rich with historic architecture. The Hill's all wood-paneled Dining Hall houses a valuable collection of paintings by the famous American illustrator N.C. Wyeth, father of the notable American painter Andrew Wyeth. A photo of the Dining Hall interior is the cover of Tobias Wolff's novel, Old School.

Related Topics:
N.C. Wyeth - Andrew Wyeth

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