GA is...
Nonsectarian
At Germantown Academy, we wholeheartedly welcome, embrace, and support students of all faiths. As a nonsectarian school, we recognize all individuals’ rights to practice their beliefs without privileging one over the other. As a community of diverse learners since our founding, we honor the spectrum of beliefs throughout our curriculum and programs and teach students to celebrate, understand, and respect difference.
Independent
Germantown Academy takes great pride in being an independent school and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. Instead of being confined or defined by state-mandated testing, our teachers focus on growing our students as individuals and as scholars so that they may become innovative thinkers and leaders in the world. From the time of our very founding, our goal has been to hire the most talented teachers to craft our programs to meet the needs of our students in order to prepare them for rich, interesting, successful lives. As our Mission attests, GA inspires students to be ‘independent in thought’; by creating our own curriculum and setting our standards appropriately high, we also create a school culture which thrives on questioning, thoughtful risk-taking, and healthy intellectual and ethical debate.
Creative
“Confident in Expression” is a key pillar of our mission, and one of the major ways GA helps inspire and grow this facet of our students is through the arts. Our PreK-12 vertically integrated performing and visual arts curriculum and extracurricular programs are renowned for the extensive opportunities available to students of every age to develop their capacity for creative expression. Whether its learning printmaking in Kindergarten, creating STEAM projects in 4th Grade, playing cello in the Middle School string ensemble, or singing the showstopper in a stage production in Upper School, all students can hone their personal voice and mind’s eye in our arts program. There are a multitude of ways to let your creative spirit show how anything is possible starting here.
College Prep
One hundred percent of GA graduates attend college, and they can heartily attest to how prepared they are to thrive at institutions of higher learning around the world. Their preparedness stems not only from teachers who challenge them to think deeply, but also from peers who share their passion for attaining the best education possible. Outstanding readers, writers, and thinkers, GA students learn to balance a wide-range of rigorous academics with their extracurricular commitments, and they learn early on how to advocate for themselves and for others. Our graduates are equipped with the skills and drive needed to be life-long learners, to truly succeed in college, and to ultimately become their best selves.
Engaged
Students learn best when doing, when they can put theory into practice and make knowledge unfold before their very eyes. GA distinguishes itself as a leader in student engagement, and one excellent way to engage young minds is to give them myriad opportunities at every level to participate in hands-on learning. We use our entire campus as an experiential learning lab, from the classrooms to the Beard Center for Innovation, from the Tinker Lab to the Nature Preserve. Through interactive field trips, meaningful service learning activities, study abroad at one of our partner schools around the globe, in-depth independent research, and individually designed Senior Projects, our students use the world beyond our campus as their classroom.
Coed
At GA we educate the whole child as we prepare students not just for college but for life. Part of this developmental journey from PreK through twelfth grade includes encouraging students to grapple with and understand the core facets of their own identities as well as those of others. By providing our students with a coeducational environment throughout, we have the freedom to nurture each part of their identity while also giving them an opportunity to know, appreciate, and understand their classmates and to learn with and from them on a daily basis.
Competitive
GA’s athletic program has a long and distinguished history of record-breaking performances, league championships, and nationally recognized teams in a wide range of sports. Student-athletes have gone on to play and coach at the college level and participate in the professional ranks. At the same time, we encourage all students to take part in athletics to build new skills, pursue fitness, and experience the thrill of competition. That’s why we offer nearly 30 varsity, junior varsity, and club programs through 88 teams during the school year. Get into the spirit of GA and have fun realizing that anything is possible starting here.