Abington Friends School
Encyclopedia
Abington Friends School, founded in 1697, is a K-12 private Quaker secondary school in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
(a northwestern suburb of Philadelphia). It is the oldest primary and secondary educational institution in the United States
to operate continuously at the same location under the same management. Based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, it is bounded by both Meetinghouse Road and Washington Lane. The still-standing school had been in existence for about 79 years when George Washington
marched his troops down Washington Lane. Abington Friends is founded on Quaker beliefs, emphasizing on peace, stewardship, and equality.
There is an eighteenth-century farmhouse near the meetinghouse, and another nearer the rest of the school, which is now mostly on the other side of the campus. The administration building is Victorian. All classes, however, are held in postwar buildings, which were originally separate but with the school's vast growth in the last decades are now completely interconnected. Much of this area was once the other nine holes of Abington Golf Club, on lease from Abington Monthly Meeting.
There is a large cemetery behind the meetinghouse, with many eighteenth-century stones.
Students can enroll beginning in preschool, in the toddler room, and attend all the way up through 12th grade.
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. "Jenkintown" is also used to describe a number of neighborhoods surrounding the borough, which also are known by names such as Rydal, Jenkintown Manor and Noble...
(a northwestern suburb of Philadelphia). It is the oldest primary and secondary educational institution in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to operate continuously at the same location under the same management. Based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, it is bounded by both Meetinghouse Road and Washington Lane. The still-standing school had been in existence for about 79 years when George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
marched his troops down Washington Lane. Abington Friends is founded on Quaker beliefs, emphasizing on peace, stewardship, and equality.
The campus
The cornerstone on the meetinghouse reads 1697, although only the northwest corner of the current building was constructed at that time.There is an eighteenth-century farmhouse near the meetinghouse, and another nearer the rest of the school, which is now mostly on the other side of the campus. The administration building is Victorian. All classes, however, are held in postwar buildings, which were originally separate but with the school's vast growth in the last decades are now completely interconnected. Much of this area was once the other nine holes of Abington Golf Club, on lease from Abington Monthly Meeting.
There is a large cemetery behind the meetinghouse, with many eighteenth-century stones.
Students can enroll beginning in preschool, in the toddler room, and attend all the way up through 12th grade.
Notable alumni
- Kathryn WalkerKathryn WalkerKathryn Walker is an American theater, television and film actress. She was with Douglas Kenney for many years until his death in 1980 at the age of 32, and was married to singer James Taylor from 1985 to 1995...
, class of 1961? - Joey LawrenceJoey LawrenceJoseph "Joey" Lawrence is an American actor, R&B-singer, and TV-host. He is known for his roles in the TV-series Gimme a Break!, Blossom, and Melissa & Joey.- Early life :...
, class of 1994 - Amy Wynn PastorAmy Wynn PastorAmy Wynn Pastor is best known as a carpenter on the TLC reality shows Trading Spaces and Trading Spaces: Family Edition. She is currently under contract with the DIY Network, starring in two shows, Backyard Stadiums, hosted by Michael Strahan, and Make A Move...
, class of 1994 - Michael-Hakim JordanMichael-Hakim JordanMichael-Hakim Jordan, also referred to as Michael Jordan , is an American professional basketball player with Phoenix Hagen of the Basketball Bundesliga....
, class of 1996