Mercyhurst Preparatory School 538 East Grandview Boulevard, Erie, PA 16504, USA +1 814 824 2323

aorlando@mpslakers.com www.mpslakers.com

School type	Co-educational Day
Founded	1926
Status	Private
Principal	Tom Rinke
Language of Instruction	English
Co-ed Age Range	13-18 years
Number of pupils	441
Authorised IB Programmes	IBDP
Diploma Coordinator	Nicole Wojciechowski
Associations	IB

Mission

Mercyhurst Preparatory School (MPS) is a four year coeducational Catholic secondary school founded by the Sisters of Mercy to prepare students from all religious and ethnic backgrounds for a successful, productive, and compassionate life in an ever-changing and interdependent world. A Mercyhurst Prep education is based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Mercy charism, and a modeling of Judeo Christian values. We strive for excellence in academic and co-curricular programs, promote service to our local and global communities, and foster the dedication and active support of the students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni of the Mercyhurst community.

Community

Mercyhurst Prep is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie in the USA where students experience seasonal change and access to numerous outdoor activities in this safe community of 200,000. Erie, Pennsylvania has easy access to major US cities - Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh - as well as Toronto, Canada.

Curriculum

As a college preparatory school, the curriculum is rigorous. 98% of graduates matriculate to post-secondary institutions. The school offers a wide range of courses at the college prep, honors, and International Baccalaureate (IB) levels. Implemented in 1985, the International Baccalaureate programme is geared towards knowledgeable and caring students who are motivated to succeed in a well-rounded interdisciplinary curriculum, which leads to IB certificates or the IB diploma.

Students take eight courses in each of the school's three terms. Our block schedule classes are ninety minutes long. We encourage every student to study at least one IB course.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math in the Classroom)

One-to-one iPad deployment provides a tremendous blending of cutting-edge classroom technology with best educational practice. MPS faculty receives extensive ongoing training. Faculty and students are supported by two full-time technology experts. Technology integration occurs across the curriculum.

Creative Arts

The school offers 54 courses in the performing and visual arts taught by a faculty of active award-winning artists. Students exhibit and perform year-round in the school's nationally recognized musical theatre, dance, and choral groups.

Collaboration with Local Universities

Academically advanced students may begin college course work or pursue a subject in greater depth at Mercyhurst University. Some students may complete freshman year of college and senior year of high school simultaneously. The two schools are adjoined by a walkway, making each easily accessible to the other. Students also earn college credit at Gannon University and Penn State Behrend.

Athletics, Activities, and Clubs

A wide variety of extracurricular programs meets the interests of our students and helps them develop time management skills, hone their ability to prioritize, assume responsibility for learning and social events, and compete in ventures that highlight their talents. Athletic teams include football, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball, basketball, swimming, softball, cheerleading, baseball, rowing, cross country, track, and bowling. MPS teams regularly win district, regional, and state titles with a program philosophy that emphasizes dedication, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.

Boarding Opportunities

While 95% of the students are day students, the school also serves international students from countries such as China, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Russia. A partnership Christian Boarding provide dormitory housing for international and American students who board full-time as well as weekdays. Visit mpslakers.com/boarding for more information.

A small sampling of colleges attended by Mercyhurst Prep grads includes:

• Boston University
• Brandeis University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Case Western University
• Dartmouth University
• New York University
• Penn State University
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Rutgers University
• Swarthmore College
• University of Notre Dame
• Wake Forest University
• Villanova University

Faculty

60% of our faculty/administration hold postgraduate degrees. The student to faculty ratio is 11:1. Besides in-depth expertise in their specific fields, our faculty embody the Mercy charism, an attribute that makes them unique and exceedingly qualified to work with teens. Many teachers travel extensively during breaks and summer vacation, bringing an international mindset to instruction.

Admissions Policy

Mercyhurst Prep admits students of any race, creed, color, or national origin without discrimination. When any student applies for admission, every effort is made to determine whether the school offers an educational program which will allow that student to develop intellectually, socially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Future Ready and Engaging

The Bill and Audrey Hirt DREAM Lab and Room 201 serve as learning environments where the infusion of new digital tools and technology can enhance the learning process. Teachers utilize proven and emerging teaching strategies while students learn fundamental concepts like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

Examples of our technology include: 9 Touchscreens, 2 Video Walls, 40 Lenovo Intel Laptops, 16 Makerbot 3D Printers, 3 Workstations with Touchscreens, Drones, 3 Oculus Rift Immersive Virtual Reality Systems, 12 zSpace Combined Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Systems, 12 Oculus Quest 2, 5 DJI Robomaster S-1, 15 Sphero Bolts, 10 Lego Mindstorm Expansion Kits, 8 Lego Spike Expansion Kits, 24 Lenovo Laptops, 15 Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Kits, 6 HP Omen Gaming Computers.

Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Our-newly renovated PAC boasts a cutting-edge flying system, acoustics, lighting, and climate control. These improvements will help prepare our students for the creative endeavors of a 21st century actor, dancer, vocalist, musician, lighting designer and technician.