Breadcrumbs

About Us

Lower School students taking a group photo together.

Penn Charter is the fifth oldest school in America and the oldest Quaker school in the world. Our core principles—mutual respect, equality, community—are endlessly renewable and fearlessly modern.

Penn Charter is a pre-K to 12 coed Friends school. William Penn and the Religious Society of Friends established the school in 1689. Originally located in Old City, the school moved to Philadelphia's East Falls neighborhood in the 1920s and now enjoys all the benefits of a green, 47-acre campus.

We are close to nearly everything, but not in the middle of it. We have lawns and playing fields; separate buildings for Lower, Middle and Upper Schools; and state-of-the-art facilities for academics, arts and athletics.

Explore Admissions

Explore Academics

Fast Facts

156

classroom teachers, 86% with advanced degrees

4

world languages taught: French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

40

Advanced courses, 3 Certificate Programs and countless Independent Studies

44

Clubs and Activities