Welcome from the Head of School

Welcome to The Pennington School! I invite you to explore this website to learn more about all we have to offer students in grades six through twelve. Even more important, I urge you to make an appointment to meet us and to visit our beautiful campus so that we can share the Pennington experience with you in a more personal way.

The Pennington School has been making a difference in the lives of our students since 1838. We welcomed girls in 1853, at a time when most private schools were male-only. In the 1880s, we opened our doors to international students from around the globe, and in 1975 we were one of the first traditional college-preparatory schools in the country to create a program for bright students with learning differences—our own Cervone Center for Learning.

Our mission states, "The Pennington School is committed to developing individual excellence in all of its students." Our faculty members continually strive to bring out the best in every student—guiding them to each reach their true potential, both academically and personally. Character and integrity are just as important to us as academic achievement.

The people who make up our Pennington community—teachers, students, alumni— are determined to make a difference in the world. As Robert Kennedy said, “The purpose of life is to make a difference by helping to make things better.” In my worldview, making a difference can happen on many levels, from the personal to the global level. Each of us can make a difference on any of these fronts.

At Pennington, there are no required hours for community service. Rather, we believe that service should come from the heart, without pretense or qualifications. I am proud that Pennington students and faculty members participate in all types of service as part of their lifestyle and not as a duty to fulfill in order to earn credits. This compassion is one of the characteristics that distinguishes our community from others. Our core values of honor, virtue, and humility are part of daily life at Pennington.

But don’t simply take my word for it—come and visit for yourself, and find out why so many families fall in love with The Pennington School.

Sincerely,

Dr. William S. Hawkey
Head of School