Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy

Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy, commonly known as Phil-Mont Christian Academy, is a selective private Christian school serving grades K-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 the classical education model.

Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy
Address
35 Hillcrest Avenue Erdenheim , Pennsylvania 19038 United States
Information
School type	Private school
Established	1943
School district	Springfield Township School District
Principal	Suzy Liegel
Grades	K-12
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Blue and White
Mascot	Falcon
Publication	The Signet[1]
Yearbook	Philotheon
Information	215-233-0782
Website	https://www.phil-mont.com/

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 member of the PIAA District One and joined the Bicentennial Athletic League. 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.[4]

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.[5]

Drama

Phil-Mont hosts 4 stage performances a year, including a Fall Musical*, Winter Play**, Night of One Acts** 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 Grade	Middle School 6th-12th Grade	High School 9th-12th Grade
Instruments	Core*	Core* Other**	Core* Other**
Lessons	Yes	Yes	Independent Study
Classes	ES Band	MS Band	HS Band
Electives	None	Jazz Band MS Worship Team	Jazz Band HS Worship Team
Concerts	Christmas Spring	Christmas Spring ACSI Arts Festival	Christmas Spring ACSI Arts Festival

*Core Instruments: Clarinet, Flute, French Horn, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion

**Other Instruments:Baritone Horn, Tuba, Saxophone

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.

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 middle and high schools (6–12). 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."[6]

In 2017, nich.com ranked Phil-Mont #6 (out of 113) of Pennsylvania's most diverse private high schools,[7] ranked Phil-Mont #14 (out of 55) of Pennsylvania's best Christian high schools,[8] and ranked Phil-Mont #46 (out of 158) of Pennsylvania's best private high schools [9]

Notable alumni

• Christian Smith - American Sociologist, and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame.[10]
• Lawrence E. Lockman - Representative (R) for District 137 in Maine's House of Representatives.[11][12]
• Charles R. Gerow - Prominent American strategic communications professional, and CEO of Quantum Communications, a Harrisburg-based public relations and public affairs firm.[13]

Notes

References

1. "Signet Archives - Phil-Mont Christian Academy". www.phil-mont.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2017-09-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Phil-Mont Christian Academy". Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
4. http://www.balsports.com/
5. "Phil-Mont Art Classes - Phil-Mont Christian Academy". Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
6. "The Philadelphia-Area Private School Guide - Philadelphia Magazine". phillymag.com. 27 September 2012. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
7. "2018 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
8. "2018 Best Christian High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
9. "2018 Best Private High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
10. Dame, ENR // Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Home // Christian Smith, PhD // University of Notre Dame". Christian Smith, PhD. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
11. Office, Clerk's. "Maine House of Representatives: Lawrence E. Lockman". legislature.maine.gov. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
12. "Rep. Larry Lockman". mehousegop.org. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
13. User, Super. "Charlie Gerow". www.quantumcomms.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.

External links

• Official website