Purnell School

The Purnell School is a progressive private all-girls boarding high school located in Pottersville, within Bedminster, New Jersey, about an hour and one-half west of New York City, and two hours north of Philadelphia. Purnell School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.[2] The school has been accredited since 1973 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools.[3]

Purnell School
Location
51 Pottersville Road

Pottersville
,
(Somerset County)
,
New Jersey
07979

United States
Coordinates40.716°N 74.718°W / 40.716; -74.718
Information
School typePrivate, All-Girls, Boarding
MottoFides Et Fidelitas
(Faith and Fidelity)
Religious affiliation(s)Nonsectarian
Established1963 (1963)
FounderCarroll Boynton; Lytt Gould, President; Hap Johnson, Treasurer; Sis Gould, Secretary; Ethel Stringfellow
NCES School IDA0701539[1]
Head of schoolAnne M. Glass, Ed.M.
Faculty15 FTEs[1]
Grades9–12 and Post Graduate
GenderAll Girls
Enrollment57 (as of 2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio3.8:1[1]
Campus size83 acres (0.34 km2)
Color(s)Red and blue    
MascotGriffin
Team nameThe Griffins
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools
TuitionBoarding (7-day): $73,400
Boarding (5-day): $70,700
Day Student: $53,800
Graduates1,375
Websitewww.purnell.org

As of the 2017–18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 57 students and 15 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 3.8:1. The school's student body was 61.4% (35) White, 26.3% (15) Black, 7.0% (4) Hispanic and 5.3% (3) Asian.[1]

History

In December 1963, Purnell was established as a not-for-profit corporation by: Lytt Gould, President, Sis Gould, Secretary, Hap Johnson, Treasurer, and Ethel Stringfellow as the corporation's original Vice President. Carroll's contacts within the Bernardsville community led to the purchase of the 83-acre (340,000 m2) Bassett Farm in Pottersville.

After renovations, primarily by the Gould family, the Founders and their friends, began recruiting the first students to Purnell. The new Headmaster hired eight teachers.

In September 1965, Headmaster Lytt Gould and Associate Head Sis Gould greeted the first entering class of 18 student and Purnell celebrated its first graduation in June 1968.

Today Purnell has over 1,375 alumnae.

Academics

Graduation requirements include 4 years of English, 3 years of math, science and history, 2 years of foreign language, and classes in performing and studio arts.

In addition to traditional classes, students also participate in the Affinities Program, as an additional class and a set of seminars designed to help students find and use their strengths.

Each February, traditional classes are suspended and the school has Project Exploration, a mini-term during which students choose one class to focus on for the entire three-week period. Recent Project Exploration courses have included trips to France, Mexico, Costa Rica, the school's musical production, Culinary Arts, Mass Media, Equine Studies, Animals and Society, Maritime Studies, Interior Design, and many more.

Athletics

Purnell offers a variety of competitive and non-competitive sports throughout the year. Competitive sports include soccer, volleyball, tennis, dance synthesis, basketball, lacrosse and softball. Non-competitive sports include horseback riding, circuit training, dance sport, personal conditioning, yoga and golf.

Purnell competes in the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association - Division B

Arts

The Johnson Art Center hosts classes in drawing, collage, pastels, ceramics, photography, oil painting and fashion design.

The Carney Center for Performing Arts is a 179-seat theater. Student performing groups include Ad-libbers, Dance Synthesis, and Shoots and Strawberries, the choral group.

References
  1. School data for Purnell School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  2. Member Directory, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  3. Purnell School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed October 28, 2020.
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