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 4.4 scale, Highest GPA: 4.43 (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 4.2-4.43 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 Mrs. Theresa Yerger, College Counselor Admission Counseling (NACAC) 610.664.6655, Ext. 114 • [email protected] Pennsylvania Association of College Ms. Mary Jane Greene, College Counselor Admission Counseling (PACAC) 610.664.6655, Ext. 136 • [email protected]

Mrs. Sally McGovern, Assistant to Counseling CONTACTS 610.664.6655, Ext. 124 • [email protected]

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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.

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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 (S) (S/Y) † § Latin 1, 2, 3, 4 Introduction to Computer Jane Austen (S) Earth Science (Y) § Environmental Science (Y) § Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4 Science (S)

AP Physics Innovation and Information in AP AP English Literature and our Digital World (S) AP Latin Composition (12) HONORS Media Production (S) AP Spanish Language AP English Language and Biology AP Composition (new 2020-2021) Chemistry AP Computer Science Principles Physics Physiology (S/Y) †

AP AP Biology § AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science § (S) = Semester; (Y) = Year; (S/Y) † = may be taken as a semester or a full-year course; § = offered in alternate years

Advanced Placement Online Courses Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) are not open Students with academic interests not specifically offered enrollment. Students must be recommended by their within our regular curriculum can enroll in online courses prior year teacher based on their success in the through Laurel Springs or other approved online providers. preceding course along with factors such as work ethic, These courses are scheduled into their roster. maturity, class participation, and critical thinking skills. Freshmen are placed in Honors courses based on their middle school transcript curriculum. Students are strongly encouraged to limit the number of AP classes they take in an academic year. Students who enroll in an AP course are required to take the corresponding AP exam. During the 2019-2020 school year, 132 students took 240 exams. PAGE 3 OF 4 School Profile 2020-2021

University and College Acceptances Class of 2020 (Bolded names represent matriculation.)

Albright College King’s College Stony Brook University Allegheny College La Salle University Syracuse University American University Lafayette College Temple University Arcadia University Lehigh University Catholic University of America Arizona State University Lincoln University The College of Saint Rose Art Center College and Design Loyola Marymount University The Ohio State University Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Loyola University Chicago The University of Alabama Boston College Loyola University Maryland The University of Tampa Boston University Loyola University New Orleans The University of Tennessee Bucknell University Manhattanville College Towson University Cabrini University Marist College University of Arizona California College of the Arts Marquette University University of California, Berkeley Chestnut Hill College Maryland Institute College of Art University of California, Davis Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Marymount Manhattan College University of California, Irvine Citadel Military College of South Carolina Marymount University University of California, Los Angeles Clark Atlanta University Marywood University University of California, San Diego Clark University Merrimack College University of Colorado, Boulder Clemson University Michigan State University University of Connecticut Coastal Carolina University Millersville University of Pennsylvania University of Dayton College of Charleston Misericordia University University of Delaware College of the Holy Cross Monmouth University University of Denver Connecticut College Morgan State University University of Florida Cornell College Mount Holyoke College University of Hartford DePaul University Mount St. Mary’s University University of Iowa DeSales University Muhlenberg College University of Lynchburg Delaware Valley University Neumann University University of Maine Dickinson College New Jersey Institute of Technology University of Maryland, College Park Drew University New York University University of Mississippi Drexel University Norfolk State University University of New Haven Duquesne University Northeastern University University of North Carolina Wilmington Eastern University Nova Southeastern University University of North Carolina at Eckerd College Oberlin College Greensboro Elizabethtown College Old Dominion University University of Notre Dame Elon University Otis College of Art and Design University of Pennsylvania Endicott University Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Fairfield University Pratt Institute University of Puget Sound Fashion Institute of Technology Princeton University University of Rhode Island Florida Atlantic University Providence College University of Richmond Florida Institute of Technology Purdue University University of San Diego Florida International University Quinnipiac University University of San Francisco Florida State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Scranton Fordham University Ringling College of Art and Design University of South Carolina Franklin & Marshall College Rochester Institute of Technology University of Southern California George Mason University Roger Williams University University of Vermont George Washington University Rosemont College University of Virginia Georgetown University Rowan University University of Washington Georgia State University Rutgers University University of the Sciences Gettysburg College Sacred Heart University Ursinus College Gwynedd Mercy University Saint Joseph’s University Villanova University High Point University Savannah College of Art and Design Virginia Commonwealth University Hillsdale College School of the Art Institute of Chicago Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Hofstra University Seattle University University Holy Family University Seton Hall University Virginia State University Howard University Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania West Chester University of Pennsylvania Immaculata University Smith College Wheaton College Indiana University Bloomington Spelman College Widener University Indiana University of Pennsylvania St. John’s University New York Wilkes University Ithaca College St. Thomas University Xavier University of Louisiana James Madison University Stockton University Jefferson Stonehill College

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