Frequently Asked Questions

Despite the name, Penn Charter is not a charter school. We are a pre-K to 12 independent private school founded in 1689 by William Penn, and we are the oldest Quaker school in the country. Our name comes from our original charter, granted by William Penn himself, and reflects our long history—not a connection to the public charter school system that many people are familiar with today.

Penn Charter’s 47-acre campus is in Philadelphia’s East Falls neighborhood. It is easy to reach from Center City, Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, the Northeast, as well as Montgomery County, Delaware County and even South Jersey. Our students come from more than 100 zip codes each year. 

The address is:
3000 West School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144

Yes, please visit our tuition & financial aid page.

Penn Charter generally starts around 8:00 a.m. and ends around 3:00 p.m., depending on the division. 

• Lower School: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Lower School offers free morning care starting at 7:30 a.m., and after-school and enrichment options in the afternoons until 6:00 p.m. 
• Middle School: 8:10 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
  • Middle School after-school activities end at 4 p.m. We provide a supervised after-school option for middle school students until 5:30 at no additional cost.  
• Upper School: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
  • Upper school sports and arts practices generally conclude around 6:00 p.m. A few music ensembles occasionally practice before the school day begins. 

Students come to Penn Charter in a variety of ways, including carpools, school buses and public transportation.

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While each division has their own academic building, we love that our campus houses all three divisions, allowing for plenty of cross-divisional collaboration. Lower school encompasses grades pre-K through 5, middle school comprises grades 6-8, and upper school spans grades 9-12. Our total enrollment, pre-K through 12th grade, is slightly over 1,000 students. The Lower School has about 320 students, the Middle School has approximately 230, and the Upper School has about 470 students. Our average class size is 16 students across all divisions.

All PC parents and caregivers are considered a part of the Penn Charter Family Association (PCFA). It is an inclusive group that works to support and strengthen our school community. They plan events and activities designed to build connections–both among adults and across entire families. We believe that when families are engaged and supported, students thrive.

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By September 1, children should be 4 years old to begin in our pre-K and 5 years old to begin in our kindergarten. Age is just one factor in our process, as we will consider each child’s overall readiness and the makeup of the class cohort to ensure the best possible placement.

PC has two school nurses who provide in-person assistance. Please contact the admissions office if you would like to be connected with our school nurses.

Yes, we have Learning Specialists in each division. The school learning specialists, counselors, and nurses work with teachers and parents to provide support for academic, social and health needs. 

Penn Charter also has both a Writing and Math Center for students in grades 9 through 12, and a science peer tutor system.

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Our college preparatory program is rooted in the breadth of the arts and sciences as well as new fields of inquiry and skills such as environmental issues, global awareness, commitment to community and technology. Students have the opportunity to pursue in-depth ideas that push past the boundaries of what feels safe and come naturally. 

Penn Charter's rigorous advanced courses go beyond the AP; teachers develop curricula aligned with students' interests. It's a collaboration between teacher and students, and students can take ownership and self-direct their learning.

PC's advanced courses allow teachers to be pedagogically creative, flexible and independent of a prescribed program. Our advanced learners can think critically and creatively, develop skills key to success in college, and beyond.

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Our College Counseling team guides Upper School families through the entire college process, including researching programs and priorities, identifying best-fit schools, and completing applications. During the second half of their junior and first quarter of their senior years, students will attend a required college seminar course and become increasingly responsible for managing their college search.

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Middle School

• All students participate in at least one seasonal sport per year. 
• Sixth graders are required to participate in chorus and band. Seventh and eighth graders can join chorus, an a capella group, band and/or jazz band. 
• All students can join student-led clubs and activities that meet twice a week.

Upper School

• Each year in the Upper School, students are required to participate in two A40-hour activities. An A40 activity is defined as an activity based on academics, arts, athletics, or acts of service that includes at least 40 student hours of participation. Of these two A40 activities, it is required that one of them include an athletic or arts component. Students will learn more about fulfilling their A40 during orientation and are encouraged to take advantage of these varied offerings. 

As a Quaker school, we are rooted in values such as integrity, simplicity, peace, community, equality, and stewardship. These principles shape our educational philosophy, our community culture, and the way we care for and support students.

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At Meeting for Worship (MFW), our community gathers together for silent meditation and to listen to their inner voice, believed by Quakers to come from the Inner Light, within each of us. Often a person will share a query to guide the thoughts of the group. Each person has the opportunity to rise, break the silence and share a message. MFW closes with a handshake and we return to the world, renewed in spirit. There is no clergy person or sermon, and attendees may share their feelings with others if moved to speak. Each school division pauses mid-week in the Meeting Room for a Meeting for Worship.

At Penn Charter, pre-K students meet for about 10 minutes; Lower School students for 15 to 20 minutes; Middle School students for 30 minutes; and Upper School students for 40 minutes.

Throughout the year, parents and caregivers gather for Meeting for Worship. Once a year, the entire school comes together for the All-School Meeting for Worship. In the spring, seniors and their families attend a final Meeting for Worship days prior to Commencement.

While Penn Charter is a Friends School, our students, faculty, staff, and parents come from diverse faith backgrounds.

Learn more about Quakerism

As the oldest Quaker school in the world, Penn Charter cultivates a community representing diversity in race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation – as well as learning style, perspective and geographic background.

Learn more about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging