Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy

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 6-12 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.

Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy
Address
35 Hillcrest Avenue

Erdenheim
,
Pennsylvania
19038

United States
Information
School typePrivate school
Established1943
School districtSpringfield Township School District
PrincipalSuzy Liegel
GradesPK-12
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Blue and White    
MascotFalcon
PublicationThe Signet[1]
YearbookPhilotheon
Information215-233-0782
Websitehttps://www.phil-mont.com/
A Phil-Mont science classroom

Athletics
The Phil-Mont gymnasium

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
A Phil-Mont performance of The Pirates of Penzance

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 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
A Phil-Mont school hallway
An early childhood classroom at Phil-Mont

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 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."[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
  • 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.[13]
  • Lawrence E. Lockman - Representative (R) for District 137 in Maine's House of Representatives.[14][15]
  • Charles R. Gerow - Prominent American strategic communications professional, and CEO of Quantum Communications, a Harrisburg-based public relations and public affairs firm.[16]

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. "Independent Private Schools ranked by 2015-16 school year enrollment". Archived from the original on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
    3. "Phil-Mont Christian Academy". Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
    4. "SCHOOL DETAILS: PHILADELPHIA-MONTGOMERY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY". Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    5. "Home". balsports.org.
    6. "Phil-Mont Art Classes - Phil-Mont Christian Academy". Phil-Mont Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
    7. "Today in OPC History: Willow Grove Christian School". Orthodox Presbyterian Church. September 7, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    8. "Alumni Bulletin: Eric H. Sigward". Harvard Magazine. 101: 90. 1998.
    9. "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.
    10. "2022 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
    11. "2022 Best Christian High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
    12. "2022 Best Private High Schools in Pennsylvania". Niche. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. "Rep. Larry Lockman". mehousegop.org. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
    16. "Charlie Gerow". www.quantumcomms.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
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