Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy Explained

Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy
Established:1943
Schooltype:Private school
District:Springfield Township School District
Grades:PK-12
Address:35 Hillcrest Avenue
City:Erdenheim
State:Pennsylvania
Zipcode:19038
Country:USA
Information:215-233-0782
Head Of School:Todd Mangum
Campus Type:Suburban
Mascot:Falcon
Colors:Blue and White
Publication:The Signet[1]
Yearbook:Philotheon
Homepage:https://www.phil-mont.com/

Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy, commonly known as Phil-Mont Christian Academy, is a selective private Christian school serving grades PK-12.[2] Phil-Mont was founded in 1943 by Cornelius Van Til and others.[3] Phil-Mont's curriculum is rooted in a Christian worldview, the principles of the liberal arts, and uses some features of a classical education model. Phil-Mont currently resides in the former Springfield Township High School & Hillcrest Junior High School building, built in 1923/24. Phil-Mont purchased the unused building and restored it to working order for grades 7-12 in 1979. The property was originally part of Chestnut Hill Park/White City Amusement Park, part of which is now also Springfield Township's James A. Cisco Park and Hillcrest Pond.

Athletics

Over half of the student body participates on a team each year and several of the school's alumni return to serve their alma mater as coaches. Starting back in the 1960s, Phil-Mont was a member of the Keystone Scholastic Athletic Conference. This was a close-knit league made up of smaller-sized private schools within the surrounding counties. During their tenure within the KSAC, Phil-Mont won championships in boys' soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, and tennis. Girls' championships were achieved in field hockey, tennis, basketball, and softball.

In 2007, Phil-Mont became a Class A member of the PIAA District One and joined the Bicentennial Athletic League.[4] This new league, comprising both private and public schools, provides strong local competition along with the opportunity for teams as well as individuals to advance into District, Regional, and State Championships.[5]

League and District Championships Since 2007

Soccer (B) '07 -'08, '08 -'09, '09 -'10, '10 -'11

X-Country (B) '07 -'08, '08 -'09

Basketball (B) '10 -'11, '13 -'14, '15 -'16

Basketball (G) '13 -'14, '14 -'15, '15 -'16

Fine Arts

Art

Art class at Phil-Mont runs from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and includes AP Advanced Placement Art.[6]

Drama

Phil-Mont hosts 3 stage performances a year, including a Fall Musical*, Winter Play**, and a Spring Fine Arts Festival*.

*Middle and High School combined

**High School only

Music

Music is taught at Phil-Mont at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Elementary K-5th GradeMiddle School6th-12th GradeHigh School9th-12th Grade
InstrumentsCore*Core*Other**Core*Other**
LessonsYesYesIndependent Study
ClassesES BandMS BandHS Band
ElectivesNoneJazz BandMS Worship TeamJazz BandHS Worship Team
ConcertsChristmasSpringChristmasSpring

ACSI Arts Festival

Christmas

Spring

ACSI Arts Festival

History

In 1939, Dr. Cornelius Van Til gave a series of lectures at Calvary Pres. in Willow Grove, regarding the responsibility of Christian parents to train their children apart from the state schools. He was instrumental in leading a small group of families to start the Christian School Society of Willow Grove. Regarding the school's mission, Van Til wrote in the Presbyterian Guardian, "First of all, the instruction will be based entirely upon the assumption that the Christian religion is true. There will be prayer in this school, and Bible reading and catechism study.”[7] [8]

In September 1943, the first classes of the Willow Grove Christian Day School began with 1 teacher and 17 students in three elementary classes. The school met in the basement of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Willow Grove. The school grew to K–8 by 1955.

In 1956 the Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian High School began with 3 teachers and 34 ninth and tenth graders. The students met at the First Reformed Church of Germantown until the newly acquired Wyncote Elementary building was fixed up in preparation for grades 9–12.

In 1964–65, the elementary and high schools merged, becoming Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy.In 1969 a new school facility, to house grades K–12, was built on a 20-acre site in nearby Dresher. In 1979 the former Hillcrest Junior High School was purchased to house the junior high and high schools (7-12).In 2006–07, the elementary, middle, and high schools merged on the Hillcrest campus.

Press

In 2012, Philadelphia Magazine included Phil-Mont Christian Academy in their list, "Guide to (45) Great Private Schools" which ranks "the region’s best performers."[9]

In 2021, nich.com ranked Phil-Mont #22 (out of 343) of Pennsylvania's most diverse private high schools,[10] ranked Phil-Mont #14 (out of 82) of Pennsylvania's best Christian high schools,[11] and ranked Phil-Mont #29 (out of 98) of Pennsylvania's best private K-12 schools [12]

Notable alumni

Notes

  1. Web site: Signet Archives - Phil-Mont Christian Academy. www.phil-mont.com. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161211123535/http://www.phil-mont.com/wp/about-2/publications/signet-archives/. 11 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Independent Private Schools ranked by 2015-16 school year enrollment . 2017-09-12 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170912193044/https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/subscriber-only/2016/09/02/independent-private-schools.html . 2017-09-12 .
  3. Web site: Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Phil-Mont Christian Academy. en-US. 2016-07-22. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160717211645/http://www.phil-mont.com/. 2016-07-17.
  4. Web site: SCHOOL DETAILS: PHILADELPHIA-MONTGOMERY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY . Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. . July 5, 2023.
  5. Web site: Home . balsports.org.
  6. Web site: Phil-Mont Art Classes - Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Phil-Mont Christian Academy. en-US. 2016-07-25. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817012112/http://www.phil-mont.com/wp/arts/art/. 2016-08-17.
  7. Web site: Today in OPC History: Willow Grove Christian School . Orthodox Presbyterian Church . July 5, 2023 . September 7, 2021.
  8. Alumni Bulletin: Eric H. Sigward . Harvard Magazine . 1998 . 101 . 90 .
  9. Web site: The Philadelphia-Area Private School Guide - Philadelphia Magazine. 27 September 2012. phillymag.com. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930120645/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/private-school-guide-2012/. 30 September 2017.
  10. Web site: 2022 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Pennsylvania. Niche. 12 October 2021.
  11. Web site: 2022 Best Christian High Schools in Pennsylvania. Niche. 12 October 2021.
  12. Web site: 2022 Best Private High Schools in Pennsylvania. Niche. 12 October 2021.
  13. Web site: Home // Christian Smith, PhD // University of Notre Dame. ENR // Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre. Dame. Christian Smith, PhD. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170901111320/http://christiansmith.nd.edu/. 1 September 2017.
  14. Web site: Maine House of Representatives: Lawrence E. Lockman. Clerk's. Office. legislature.maine.gov. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170520034339/http://legislature.maine.gov/house/hsebios/lockle.htm. 20 May 2017.
  15. Web site: Rep. Larry Lockman. 19 December 2014. mehousegop.org. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212128/https://mehousegop.org/reps-l-p-2/larry-lockman/. 3 August 2017.
  16. Web site: Charlie Gerow. www.quantumcomms.com. 14 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012118/http://www.quantumcomms.com/quantumcomms.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=202. 4 August 2017.

External links

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