School Profile 2020-2021
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511 Montgomery Avenue • Merion Station, PA 19066-1214 Phone: 610.664.6655 • Fax: 610.664.6322 • www.merion-mercy.com CEEB: 392575 Mrs. Laura Farrell, Head of School 610.664.6655, Ext. 141 • [email protected] School Profile 2020-2021 Class of 2021: At A Glance GPA: • Independent Catholic all-girls high 98 Students school • Cum GPA (mid-50%): 3.51- 4.06 < 3.1 10 • Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in • Cum GPA (Average): 3.66 3.1-3.39 14 1884 • Weighted 4.3 scale, Highest GPA: 4.35 (weighted) 3.4-3.59 12 • College prep curriculum 3.6-3.79 18 • Enrollment in Grades 9-12 is 437 3.8-3.99 19 students 4.0-4.19 18 • Students represent more than 79 ZIP 4.2-4.35 7 Codes Class of 2020: • Diversity: 26% non-Caucasian SAT Scores (mid-50%): EBRW: 570-670 | Math: 520-670 • 100% of graduates attend a 4-year ACT Scores (mid-50%): 23-28 college/university • One mile from Philadelphia Grading System (Merion Mercy does not rank its students.) • 45% of students receive financial aid Report cards are issued twice each year in January and in June. Letter grades are assigned according to the scale below. A grade of D or better is passing. Mission Merion Mercy Academy, an independent, Grade Range Grade Points (GP) Catholic, college preparatory school A+ 97-100 4.3 sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, offers A 93-96 4.0 a holistic education which encourages academic and personal excellence. Its A- 91-92 3.75 curriculum stresses mercy spirituality, B+ 88-90 3.5 global awareness, and social responsibility. B 83-87 3.0 Within a nurturing community, Merion B- 81-82 2.75 Mercy Academy educates leaders: young women who live mercy and seek justice. C+ 78-80 2.5 C 73-77 2.0 School Motto D 70-72 1.0 Live Mercy. Seek Justice. F 69 & below 0.0 Increment Accreditation and + 0.2 to each GP for A-level courses | + 0.4 to each GP for AP courses Affiliations Mobile Merion Mercy Pennsylvania Association of Mobile Merion Mercy was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Independent Schools (PAIS) March 2020, we moved to remote learning with a full schedule of virtual classes. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Students continued their education with a normal workload, and traditional National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) grading continued throughout the rest of the school year. Classes were not Association of Delaware Valley Pass/Fail. For the 2020-2021 school year, we have developed plans for a hybrid Independent Schools (ADVIS) model of instruction. Mercy Education System of the Americas National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Mrs. Theresa Yerger Mrs. Sally McGovern Pennsylvania Association of College College Counselor Assistant to Counseling Admission Counseling (PACAC) 610.664.6655, Ext. 114 610.664.6655, Ext. 124 [email protected] [email protected] CONTACTS PAGE 1 OF 4 School Profile 2020-2021 Graduation Requirements Theology 4 Social Studies 3 Science 3 Effective Writing .5 Electives 3.5 English 4 Mathematics 3 Foreign Language 2 Health/Phys. Ed 1 The academic year is divided into two semesters, with 1.0 credit granted for successful completion of year-long courses and .5 credit granted for semester courses. 24 credits are required with a minimum of 6 per year. Merion Mercy Program Highlights Diocesan Scholars Program Holistic Education Merion Mercy allows 3 seniors to take up to two classes Merion Mercy provides many opportunities for our each semester at local universities, such as Villanova students to shine both in and outside the classroom. Our University and Saint Joseph’s University. promise of a holistic education offers more than 70 clubs, activities, and sports—everything from A Cappella to the Community Service STEAM Club. Our students are further empowered to While Merion Mercy does not have a service requirement, discover and develop their unique talents through our our students are always active in finding ways to help roster of co-curricular activities, from the award-winning underserved communities. Each year, every junior Mock Trial team to the state champion Field Hockey team participates in a planned day of service at one of several to our Rowing team, which was a national champion last sites across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our rising year. Adding to our opportunities for enrichment and seniors, along with many faculty/staff, volunteer at Mercy collaboration is our newly formed Advisory Program, Volunteer Program (MVP) sites throughout the area for a where students work together in small groups with week each summer. For the last 27 years, MVP has designated faculty to craft their learning and development committed to working with diverse cultures, allowing our journey throughout the school year. participants to bring the values of Mercy to underserved communities. STEAM Learning We understand the importance of hands-on STEAM Diversity, Equity & Inclusion learning in helping our students thrive in today’s world, Merion Mercy strives to strengthen our community and and we value the work our faculty does to provide broaden our vision and understanding of living mercy and opportunities for students of every level to thrive beyond seeking justice to build a truly authentic and inclusive the classroom. By fusing disciplines and encouraging community. Guided by our Mercy mission, we deepen our students to apply their knowledge in innovative ways, they understanding and appreciation of a diverse community can take greater ownership over their work, learn how to and recognize the ongoing opportunities in listening to think critically, and discover new passions that will last a and learning from one another. lifetime. Honors range from Science Week accolades to our physiology students’ group dissertation at Lankenau Praxis Project Hospital to awards from the Philadelphia Area National During the junior year Social Justice class, Merion Mercy Center for Women & Information Technology. students participate in a Praxis Project, where they learn how to apply the "see-judge-act" method of social action Travel Abroad Programs to a current social problem in our greater community, Merion Mercy offers many opportunities to immerse in construct a case study based on the principles of Catholic cultures around the world through our travel abroad Social Teaching, and engage in an intentional action program. Recent excursions have included trips to Italy, response. Ireland, London, Costa Rica, Peru, Portugal, and Spain. Technology Excellence in Writing All students at Merion Mercy benefit from one-to-one The art of communication is integral to our Merion Mercy learning, allowing our faculty to create a more personalized, curriculum. We provide all our students with opportunities student-centered curriculum that encourages technological to perfect their skills as critical thinkers and writers, by literacy and makes it possible for everyone to engage in requiring everyone to take an Effective Writing class blended learning throughout the school year. sophomore year in addition to their literature classes. Because the art of communicating well is essential in any career and throughout life, communication skills are also taught through required oral and written presentations in all academic disciplines throughout the year. With a Merion education, our girls gain the tools and the confidence to express themselves in whatever they do. PAGE 2 OF 4 School Profile 2020-2021 Program of Study For entering freshmen, placement in some courses is dependent upon testing and previous achievements. For students entering grades 10-12, placement in all Honors level classes and in all AP courses, requires teacher recommendation and/or department approval. THEOLOGY (semester courses) MATHEMATICS SOCIAL STUDIES ART Hebrew Scriptures (9) Algebra 1, 2 Cultures in World History (9) COLLEGE PREP ELECTIVE Christian Scriptures (9) Geometry (S) Modern United States Foundations of Digital Design 1 (S) Church History (10) Probability, Stats, Analytical History (11) Principles of Design 1, 2 (S) Sacraments (10) Geometry (S) U.S. Government (12) (S) Make Art History (S) Christian Ethics and Morality (11) Pre-Calculus (S/Y) † Economics (S) Drawing (S) Social Justice Leadership (11) Statistics Introduction to Law (S) Christian Spirituality (12) Personal Finance (S) Psychology (S) HONORS Spirituality in Praxis (12) Sociology (S) Art Major 1, 2, 3 HONORS Themes in U.S. History (S) ENGLISH Algebra 1, 2 World Geography (S) MUSIC Foundations in Writing (S) Geometry COLLEGE PREP ELECTIVE Literature and Writing (9) Pre-Calculus HONORS Choral Music American Literature (10) Advanced Pre-Calculus U.S. Government (S) Acting Effective Writing (10) Calculus Themes in U.S. History (S) Musical Theatre British Literature (11) Probability, Stats, Analytical Orchestra AP Contemporary Literature (S) Geometry (S) Acting 1,2 (S) AP U.S. History (11) Dramatic Literature and the Renaissance Revels (S) AP AP U.S. Government and Theatre (S) Opera Theatre (S) AP Calculus AB Politics (12) Fiction and Poetry Writing (S) AP Calculus BC AP Human Geography HONORS Gothic Literature (S) AP Statistics AP Psychology (new 2020- Music Major 1 Speech and Contemporary 2021) Issues (S) SCIENCE AP World Mythology (S) AP Music Theory Scientific Methods, Applications, WORLD LANGUAGES HONORS Reasoning, and Theory (S) Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4 TECHNOLOGY, Literature and Writing Biology French 1, 2 COMMUNICATION, AND American Literature Chemistry HONORS MEDIA British Literature Biotechnology & Bioethics French 1, 2, 3, 4 Introduction to Coding (S) Contemporary Literature