Private schools in Philly - any recommendations?

I'm exploring private school options in Philly and feeling a bit overwhelmed. What are some of the best schools, and how do they compare in terms of community and academic rigor? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Philadelphia has a variety of excellent private schools each with a unique set of offerings. Here are a few you might want to consider:

The Baldwin School: This is an all-girls school, renowned for its STEM and humanities programs. The community is very close-knit, and the curriculum is quite rigorous. Families choose Baldwin not only for the academics but also for the school's focus on character development and extracurricular offerings.

William Penn Charter School: This is a co-ed Quaker day school. It's well-known for both its academic rigor and strong athletics programs. The community's Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship are reflected in the school's academics and extracurriculars.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH): SPRCH is a co-ed option with a strong balance of academic rigor and focus on the individual student's development. The school also boasts excellent visual/performing arts and athletics programs. While academically challenging, there's a strong focus on innovation and experiential learning.

Haverford School: This all-boys school has a great academic reputation and strong athletics programs. It's known for promoting leadership among its students and high college placement rates.

Agnes Irwin School: An exemplary all-girls school with an emphasis on preparing students for leadership roles. Its rigorous curriculum and commitment to nurturing leadership skills make it a compelling choice.

In terms of community and academic rigor, compare how these schools align with what your family wants out of your student's education. Considerations might be single sex versus co-ed, religious versus secular, class size, chances for leadership and extracurricular activities. As you're looking into different schools, don't forget to also look into their accessibility and inclusivity practices, potential for parent involvement, and take note of the size and diversity of the student body as these factors often contribute to the community ethos.

This oversimplifies the process, to some extent, since there are many other considerations—like the school’s focus (STEM, humanities, etc), existing relationships with colleges, or their support for students with special needs. Most of these schools offer tours and open houses for prospective students, so that could be a good place to start.