Public and private education options in Jenkintown Borough and surrounding Montgomery County
The Jenkintown School District (jenkintownsd.org) serves the borough exclusively and is one of the smallest public school districts in Pennsylvania, with typically 700–900 students enrolled across all grades. That small scale is one of the district's defining characteristics: small class sizes, teachers who know students by name for years, and a tight community identity that extends from kindergarten through graduation.
The district operates two campuses on Rydal Road:
Serves all elementary grades within the borough. Small enrollment creates a close-knit classroom environment. The school is routinely cited by families as a reason they choose Jenkintown over larger surrounding districts.
The combined middle and high school shares a campus. Graduates leave Jenkintown having been educated in a district where they are known individuals, not numbers. The school offers AP coursework and extracurricular programs competitive with larger suburban districts despite its small enrollment.
The district's size is both a feature and a consideration. Students get individualized attention and genuine community belonging. The tradeoff is a narrower range of electives and sports programs compared to larger districts like Abington or Cheltenham.
Abington Friends School, founded in 1697, sits on Meeting House Road in the Jenkintown area and is one of the oldest Quaker schools in the country. The school emphasizes community, social responsibility, and independent thinking alongside rigorous academics. It is fully independent, co-educational, and enrolls students from across the region.
Germantown Academy is located in Fort Washington but serves a wide regional draw, including many Jenkintown families. It is one of the oldest independent schools in the country, founded in 1759. Notable alumni include Bradley Cooper, who grew up in Jenkintown and attended GA before pursuing an acting career. The school offers rigorous academics and strong athletic programs.
For families seeking a Catholic secondary education, Archbishop Wood in Warminster is the most common choice from the Jenkintown area. Strong academics, faith formation, and competitive athletics. Accessible by car from Jenkintown in approximately 20 minutes.
All-male Catholic prep school serving students from across the greater Philadelphia area. Jenkintown families choosing a Catholic education for sons sometimes commute to Holy Ghost Prep.
Jenkintown's SEPTA rail access is a practical advantage for families whose students attend private schools in Philadelphia. The Jenkintown-Wyncote Station connects directly to Center City in roughly 35 minutes, putting a wide range of Philadelphia independent schools within commuting reach: Germantown Friends, Penn Charter, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, La Salle College High School, and others.
This rail access is a meaningful consideration for Jenkintown families evaluating the tradeoff between remaining in the public Jenkintown district versus enrolling in a Philadelphia private school.
The school district is frequently cited as a reason families move to Jenkintown rather than surrounding communities. The small district means students are genuinely known by staff from early grades through graduation. Class sizes are smaller than comparable suburban districts. The sense of community extends from the school into the borough itself.
For families who might otherwise choose a private school but want the social fabric of a tight public school community, Jenkintown School District offers something genuinely distinct in the region.