Moravian Academy | Moravian Academy & Swain Partnership

Stronger Together
Moravian Academy and The Swain School Become One

To the Moravian Academy and Swain Community:

We know at the foundation of our school is a signature culture, an immersive lifestyle for students that propels each child toward extraordinary and inspired learning. This culture connects generations together through timeless values, shepherded, and adapted for each time period. This culture explains the reasons why education, life-long learning, and our school are so important to each one of us. These are many of the essentials that unite us as a community.

We also believe now is an important time to uncover and articulate these essentials, as we contemplate the future as a newly united school. Our school spreads across three campuses, from Swain to Moravian, from 3-year-olds to 18-year-olds, and from east to west. We share a common foundation, known to all excellent independent schools, formed in small classrooms with inspiring relationships, excellent teaching, and a commitment to learning. Within our school, there is also room - and a need - for different educational philosophies and practices to match the range of learners and families that are within our community.

We want to see clearly what unites us as well as what differentiates us.

You can hear more about this initiative in our video message and by reading more information below.

Sincerely,

Jeff Zemsky Armistead Webster
Head of School Head of School
Moravian Academy The Swain School

Previous Communications

Community Letter 8.7.20

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 5 items.

Why is this partnership happening?

Such a partnership could bring tremendous opportunity for our schools, our communities, and for the state of education across the Lehigh Valley. Our two schools share values, a commitment to excellence in education, and a shared belief in the benefit of educational options for families. The educational landscape is changing, and it is those schools that act boldly and embrace change that will thrive. While the details of the partnership are still taking shape, we are confident that we have the potential to be even stronger together.
Is this considered a merger or an acquisition?

While our schools will be merging, we see this as a true partnership of like-minded schools. We approach this agreement not from a position of necessity, but from a position of strength. The Moravian Academy of today is itself the product of a similar partnership, so we know without question that joining makes us stronger, especially among such aligned institutions.
Will tuition increase?

This partnership is about student experience, not finances. Should the agreement be finalized, we do not anticipate our families will experience any substantive changes in tuition, aside from our normal annual tuition increases. This partnership will not change tuition for the 2020-2021 year.
What, exactly, is changing?

Our students and families will experience very few changes. Moravian will continue to operate its two campuses in Bethlehem, and Swain will continue to operate on its existing campus in Allentown. Each school will retain its name and its cultural, experiential touchstones, such as Moravian’s Church-inspired traditions. Class sizes will remain intimate, as our families value. School calendars for next year are set and will remain in place.
Will the schools’ Boards of Trustees merge?

If the process moves forward, the governing body will comprise current Trustees from both Moravian Academy and The Swain School.