The Hill School

History

The Hill School was founded in 1851 by the Rev. Matthew Meigs as the Family Boarding School for Boys and Young Men.However, it soon, acquired its current name from the mansion in which the school was originally located in which was known as The Hill.

The School opened on May 1, 1851, enrolling 25 boys for the first year. According to Paul Chancellor’s The History of The Hill School: 1851-1976, “He [Meigs] wanted to stress that he was not founding still another academy, but a type of school quite new and rare in America. There is a tendency to think that the boys’ boarding school as we know it existed as long as there have been private schools. It has not. Most of the 12 to 15 schools generally considered the “core” group were established in the last half of the nineteenth century. Of this whole group of schools, The Hill was the first to be founded as a "family boarding school" (a school where the students lived on campus), as opposed to boarding with families in the town. "In the thirty-five years of John Meigs' administration 'The Hill,' as it is known to all its boys, has become one of the great secondary schools of the country. It might be said to bear the same relation to the English public schools of Rugby and Eton and Westminster that the American college bears to the English universities. It has the traditions of scholarship, good breeding, and moral ideals characteristic of the English-speaking race, and with them it has the spirit of American democracy."

Fires

Three fires occurred during the school's history in 1884, 1890, and 1973

After the fire of 1890, electric lights were installed in every room, which was a first for an educational institution in the United States

Co-education

The school became coeducational in 1998. with the admission of 88 girls

Wyndcroft School

In 1918, faculty created an open air school for children which has become the The Wyndcroft School.

The Hill School camp

In 1910, several teachers purchased the Rust family farm in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire to establish a summer academic program called the Hill camp. The program included environmental biology courses, developmental and remedial reading, and review and preview work in secondary school subjects, and was open to applicants from all schools Grades 7 to 12.. It also offered water sports, and other outdoor activities, and hired teachers from other prominent schools, and attracted students from both the US and abroad. The camp is currently independently run by the Wolfeboro Camp School.

National Historic District

Areas of the school are included under the High Street Historic District

School life

Each grade at The Hill is known as a form, which is consistent with the English schooling term. Ninth grade is called third form, tenth grade is called fourth form, and so forth. The School’s academic year is divided into trimesters.

The Hill maintains a formal academic dress code that requires boys to wear a coat and tie and conservative trousers and girls to wear a blazer and appropriate collared dress shirt with trousers or skirt or a conservative dress during the school day and for special events and activities. Casual academic dress and casual dress codes apply at other times.

Two required nondenominational Chapel services are held during the school week. Voluntary worship services are offered each weekend during the school year.

Pipe Club

The pipe club used to be an club for 5th and 6th formers for the purpose of smoking tobacco during leisure time. It operated by charging a membership fee, as well as from the sale of cigarettes. Playing cards was permitted in the Pipe club on Tuesdays and Thursdays only at the club.

The pipe club no longer operates today, and students may not be in possession of or use tobacco or nicotine products including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, vaporizers, chewing tobacco, and dip. Indoor smoking with a lit flame is also grounds for immediate dismissal

DECA

The Hill is one of the only private schools in the United States to have a DECA club, which was founded in 2011. Unlike at other schools, this is an independent activity, as The Hill does not offer vocational courses in marketing. Despite this, several students annually make it to the international level.

Ellis Theatre Guild

The Ellis Theatre Guild was created in 1979 by the establishment of the Ellis Dramatics Fund through the pledge of an annual donation from Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ellis. The Guild presents a musical (winter) and non-musical (spring) theatre production each year (a fall play is performed some years as well). Since its inception, the Guild has produced two to three plays each year.

Corporal Punishment

In the earliest days of the school, corporal punishment was frequently use as a corrective measure. This is no longer permitted today.

Alcohol

During the earliest days of the school, the consumption of alcohol was prevalent, and it was common for boys to visit a neighbouring inn for a drink. However, during the Second wave temperance this was prohibited. Today, any Hill student found in the consumption of alcohol, or in an inebriated state is required to withdraw.

Honor Code

The Hill School maintains a strict honor code. In order to enforce the Honor code, there is a Honor Council, and at the start of every year a honor code signing ceremony is held in which every student and master commits to this code

Harry Widener Swim test

All new girls and boys must take a swim test near the beginning of the school year.

Sixth form coffee

Sixth form coffee is an weekly meeting in which sixth form students and faculty can enjoy each other's company after seated dinners and are served hot drinks in the Saunders room. Traditionally, in the last sixth form coffee of the year the book Oh, the Places You'll Go! is read.

Blue Book

The Blue book is a publication that includes the student and faculty directory, as well as the detailed rules and regulations of the school.

School tie and scarf

The Hill School necktie is blue with gray stripes in groups of three, similar to that of Harrow which is of stripes in groups of two. It is presented to all students at the Alumni Association brunch. It was designed by Hobart (Hobie) G. Weekes, Hill class of 1919, who while a graduate student at Oxford first ordered ties in the design in 1924, having copied the practice of English boarding school graduates. Since the move to coeducation, female students receive a scarf of the same design.

Major H

The Major H award is awarded to Hill athletes who have participated in a varsity sport for the term by the Hill Athletic Association.

The Major H Blanket Award is given to athletes who have been awarded nine or more Major H awards

Songs

The school has a variety of school songs, including Dear old Hill ,A Thousand Hands, The Hill School is my home, Upon a Hill our city stands, Lord through changing days

Fitness Challenge

Towards the end of the school year, a fitness challenge is held. 3rd form students may also compete in the Borger Mile

Commencement

Commencement marks the end of a student's time at The Hill. Two speeches are given by students, the Class Day Speaker and the Arbor Orator.

Dell Jump

After the commencement, Hill students jump into the Dell which is a pond located on campus. The tradition was started sometime in the 1980's

Commencement Special Prizes

Prizes given during commencement include

Academics

The Hill has traditionally been a feeder school for Princeton University; in previous years a prominent "The Hill School Club" operated at Princeton for the benefit of Hill alumni studying there. The prevalence of Hill alumni, as well as those of Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss, Exeter and Andover at Princeton led F. Scott Fitzgerald to lament that it was those of 'lesser' preparatory schools which were more prepared for the fray. . The admissions process was relaxed for Hill School students, with cases including George Garrett, Princeton '1952 who was admitted when he confessed that he liked the striped football uniforms. At one point, Lawrenceville and Hill sent more students to Princeton than all public schools combined

The Hill School offers classes in each of its nine academic departments and offers 28 Advanced Placement courses.

Admissions

Admissions for places at The Hill has always been competitive.

In 1960, there were 743 applicants for 130 places.

Woodworking

Woodworking is offered at The Hill

Chinese

The Hill operates a Confucius Institute center.

French

French is taught up to post AP level.

Spanish

Spanish is taught up to post AP Spanish Literature level

Arabic

Arabic was introduced to The Hill in 2015.

Classical languages (Latin and Ancient Greek)

Every year, students take the National Latin Exam.

Russian

Russian is no longer available.

German

German is no longer available.

Charterhouse

The Hill School has had a relationship with Charterhouse School in the United Kingdom since 1994 that includes instructional trips, along with exchanges of extracurricular programs and teachers.

Maru-a-pula

The Hill is linked with the Maru a Pula School in Botswana

School Year Abroad

The Hill is one of 26 independent schools to participate in the School Year Abroad Program.

King's Scholars

The Hill is a destination for King's Scholarship (Thailand) recipients.

Naval Academy Foundation Prep Program

The Hill is a participating school in the Naval Academy Foundation Prep Program.

Athletics

In the early days of the school, boys played shinney, town ball, football and cricket. Matthew Meigs, who was not an athlete, yet allowed for sporting pursuits to be pursued at his school, unlike his contemporaries such as Samuel Taylor of Andover. During the time John Meigs was headmaster, organized and interscholastic sports at The Hill School began. Tennis became the dominant sport during this period, unlike baseball at other schools.

The Hill is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), which the School joined in 1998. The Hill was a charter member of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA), which became an officially sanctioned organization in 2011. In 2014, The Hill received associate membership in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC).

The Hill’s rivalry with Lawrenceville dates back to 1887 and is the fifth-oldest high school rivalry in the United States. Originally an annual football game, the schools now compete against each other in all of the fall sports on either the first or second weekend in November.

Peddie School also maintains a "Hill Day" during which several teams from Hill and Peddie compete.

Participation in athletics has been considered a key part of a Hill education, in 1934, the school's facilities were listed as 7 baseball fields, 6 football fields, 4 basketball courts, 9 hole golf link, 2 swimming pools, and 30 tennis courts. All third and fourth form students are required to participate in at least two seasons of interscholastic sports, and all fifth and sixth formers must play at least one interscholastic season. Students may fulfill a season requirement by serving as a student athletic trainer or team manager.

Javelin Ball

J-ball is a intramural sport commonly played during the spring term, and study hall is shortened during this term in order for the game to be played. There is debate on the origins of the game, including theories speculating if it was created by Sidney Wood or in the late 1960's It is played with a codified system of rules regulated by a commissioner

Boy's Soccer

Boys’ soccer won the 2013 and 2014 PAISAA Championships. In 2013, the team was Top Drawer Soccer’s #1 ranked Prep team in the nation, and was the #2 ranked prep team in 2014. Colten Habecker ’14 was named 2013 Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year. The Soccer team also regularly plays against foreign teams and schools including Eton, Charterhouse, and Real Madrid Academy teams

Girls’ soccer

Girls’ soccer at The Hill dates back to the fall of 1998

Basketball

Boys’ basketball won the 2014 PAISAA Championship and was Max Preps #2 ranked Prep team in the nation.

Baseball

Baseball has been a varsity sport since 1886, where it was first played on the main quad.

Football

The football team has traditionally had a strong rivalry against the Hotchkiss School, and traditionally Hotchkiss football players were required to have played against Hill in order to receive a letter The football team has produced NFL players including Sam Horner.

Swimming

The swimming team has produced Olympians including Alberto Mestre. It was voted national prep champions in 1979 by Swimming World Magazine.

Ice hockey

Several alumni have gone on to play in the NHL

Shooting sports

Skeet shooting is popular at The Hill School, and a Gun Club operates on campus.

Girl's Water Polo

Boy's Lacrosse

The lacrosse team has produced professional players including Ken Clausen Alumni have been involved in NCAA National Championship teams including in 2003, 2006, and the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship with Team Canada.

Facilities

The school has a number of facilities for the use of students

Dormitories

The school has a number of dormitories,

Hunt Upper School

The Hunt Upper School is 12,000 square feet in size. It is a 6 storey structure, with the top floor unoccupied and the bottom floor used as space for a Business office and medical center. Its renovation received an Award of Excellence from the Delaware Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors

Marjorie Potts Wendell Dormitory

Marjorie Potts Wendell Dormitory's namesake was a direct descendant of John Potts, founder of Pottstown, and wife of James Wendell. It is the only dormitory to be named after a woman.

Center for the Arts

Includes the Boyer Gallery, and a 720 seat auditorium, art rooms, private practice rooms, group practice rooms, classrooms, cantilevered sound and lighting booths, projection booth, theatrical lighting, fly tower 2,000 square feet stage Orchestra pit, Glass walled two-story lobby, and offices.

Classroom Building

The classroom building was originally located on the site of the current memorial hall as a medical center.

Academic Center

Built on the site of the former Middle School, it is the main academic building.

Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall houses the John P. Ryan Library, The Humphrey Family Writing Center, Levis '45 * Alexandre '75 Center for Humanities, and The Hill School Archives.

The John P. Ryan Library holds over 50,000 print volumes in 34,300 square feet of room.

Dining Room

Constructed in 1914 in the English Renaissance style, the school's dining hall is where all meals are kept. It's walls are adorned with paintings by N. C. Wyeth

Alumni Chapel

Built in 1904 of sandstone

It includes the Keith Merrill Memorial Organ, a gift from the Merrill family in memory of Keith Merrill, Hill Class of 1906

Widener Arts & Crafts Building

Named after Harry Elkins Widener. This building includes the Jon Silverstein '09 Electronic Media Studio, Woodshop, and meeting space.

Widener Science Building

Named after Harry Elkins Widener after a $300,000 donation from his mother Eleanor Elkins Widener.

Sherrill Guest House

The guest house building was originally built in 1939 to house the School’s nurses. The Guest house has seven rooms for visiting guests.

Class of 1960 Alumni House

A house located on 715 High St. operates as the Alumni house, and includes offices of the Alumni Association.

Lehrman '56 Pavilion

Completed in 2014, the Lehrman Pavilion is named after Lewis Lehrman, Class of 1956. The project architect was Richard McElhiney, Hill Class of 1971. The facility includes two team changing rooms, restrooms, the Ram Shack snack bar, and a 360-degree upstairs viewing balcony. Wohlsen Construction Company, the Lancaster, Pa.-based construction firm that built the Pavilion, received an Award of Excellence from the Associated Builders and Contractors (Keystone Chapter) for the Pavilion in the category “Institutional Construction Under $2 Million.”

Far Fields

The far fields refer to the 2 softball, 2 baseball, and 6 lacrosse/soccer fields that are used for sub-varsity and intramural competition. They are also frequently used by other organisations. "Far Fields Football" is a commonly used phrase to refer to Junior Varsity football at The Hill.

Sweeney Gymnasium

Constructed in 1931. While originally the main gymnasium for use in basketball competitions, it is today used only for intramural competition. Recent renovations have allowed the facility to be used to host wrestling competitions

Brookside Country Club

The country club was built after a second attempt by the school to build a course, in conjunction with local Pottstown residents. Construction of the course began in 1916 and opened for play in 1917. Hill students and faculty are allowed to use the facilities without charge after a competency examination.. The club owns 9 of the holes outright and 9 of the holes are leased by The Hill for 50 years.

Culture

The Hill has been described as different in style and spirit from its counterparts in New England, and has been described as strict. Indeed, one of the most common complaints originating from its founding has been its efficiency and demanding nature. It has also been described as conservative compared to society as well as other schools.

Alumni Oliver Stone described his experience at The Hill: "I hated the Hill School at the time. It was monastic. Horrible food, no girls. It was truly one of those Charles Dickens’ types of experiences.. And I really hated it. Years later I came to appreciate it. I think the inquiry and above all the discipline, of studying and concentrating and sitting down and doing it. It was embedded very strongly at the Hill School ... I also liked the camaraderie... I went there when I was 14 and I had the shock of my life. I was competing with kids from across the United States."

The Hill has been criticised, alongside other East Coast Protestant schools, of promoting 'snobbish', undemocratic, and 'un-American values'

E. Digby Baltzell's book The Protestant Establishment identified Hill as one of the "select sixteen" best boarding schools in the United States.. Indeed, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two of the 21 richest Nouveau riche families sent their sons to The Hill.

Film

The school was used as a filming location in the 2009 movie The Mighty Macs

Peter Quinn is a fictional alumni of the The Hill and Harvard

Books

Alumni

Hill alumni include some of the most notable families in the United States and internationally, including the Pullmans, Mayos, Firestones, and Weyerhausers.

Fullbright Scholars

Headmasters

Notable faculty

Nude posture picture involvement

It has been alleged that The Hill took part in posture pictures, a since discredited science which involved the picturing of naked men and women at Ivy League and Seven Sisters colleges

1995 defamation lawsuit

Wendell Chestnut, a former English master and squash coach at The Hill was awarded 10.25 million after the headmaster allegedly issued defamatory statements.

In 1997, the ruling was overturned

2000 tax exemption ruling

A ruling on the tax exempted status of The Hill School in 2000 was the first to designate a single sex institution as a public charity in Pennsylvania, and was a significant precedent setting case in the Commonwealth.

2010 indecent assault scandal

Former Spanish teacher Carlos Ortega was charged by Pottstown Police for sexually assaulting a female student at the school. Ortega was subsequently sentenced to 3 to 23 months in prison.

2013 intoxication incident

In 2013, an unidentified faculty member was terminated after becoming intoxicated and making inappropriate comments to several students during a school trip to Italy