Ellis School

Do not send your girls to this school. Both the board and the administration have demonstrated a benign neglect for educational excellence that suggests a motive of wanting to ultimately shut down the school. The administration alienates its faculty and continually erodes it's own educational standards by pandering to the whims of the few remaining wealthier parents.
--Submitted by a parent

From the perspective of a lifer (Ellis' word for a girl remaining from K/1 12), I can only say that my parents and I both admit to being tricked to attend with rather false advertising. Difficult academics, strict uniforms, and a single sex education, already should strike perspective students as a warning. Both the students and teachers refer to this type of environment as The Ellis Bubble. Here, girls come to loose sight of the world and the broader image I have seen girls cry when receiving a B+ on a Math test. . On the whole, most of the students here have no social skills around the opposite sex (even in grades 11 and 12). Yikes! This can be an issue in college Which by the way, Pittsburgh Public School students gain admissions the same ones. Although its graduates come out of Ellis with many memorized facts and numbers; personal style, socialization, and self-understanding do not exist.
--Submitted by a parent

Ellis is awesome. Ive been here since kindergarten and am about to start 6th grade. The teachers are great and really take time to help you. There is sometimes a lot of homework and it can be stressful, plus, if your like me and don't go running off to paris every weekend, it can make you feel a little bad, but overall, a great place!

Ellis is a friendly and cozy place. Students are encouraged to pursue their interests as well as try new things. I graduated last year with more knowledge and skill relating to art, culture, and history than most of my peers at MIT. The science curriculum at Ellis could be a little more rigorous, but motivated students will generally find challenges if they seek them.
--Submitted by a student

Ellis... you get such a great education, the teachers are wonderful, and the students are ok. Not all of them are very nice to some kids, and it always makes me feel bad. I do recommend it if you want your daughter to have a good education, but if she wants to have fun, send her to another school
--Submitted by a student

From a student's point of view, The Ellis School for girls is one of the most stress inducing schools that I have attended. When I first arrived to Ellis in kindergarten, I remember thinking how much fun I was going to have here. Unfortunately, I was very wrong. I am currently in 9th grade, and I must say that Ellis is very stressful. There are many projects and papers to write, and many of them are all due in the same week. There are also unbelievably high expectations of the students. Many teachers expect us to be able to complete projects and reports, and write essays and other papers, many due on the same day. Overall, I would not recommend sending your daughter to The Ellis School, unless you want her to rip all of her hair out from stress.
--Submitted by a student

I don't know about other students' thoughts, but Ellis is amazing. I'm in seventh grade, and a lifer. That means I've been here since kindergarten. The student-teacher relationships are fantastic, and the sports are amazing too (I'm in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse). Ellis has definitely prepared me for life situations in so many ways. I recommend sending your daughter here: You won't regret it!
--Submitted by a student

Ellis is an excellent school and I can honestly say that it has changed my life. I used to attend a not so good public school and bad influences were coming at me from all directions. When my parents first decided to send me to Ellis I was really reluctant, but then as I spend more time here, I just realize how wonderful of a school it is. The opportunities that we have here, the comfortable and excellent learning environment, the teachers who absolutely love their jobs and their students, and all that add up to an absolutely amazing school. I can say that I'm not worried about my future because of the preparations that Ellis has given me. I would definitely send my daughters to school here.
--Submitted by a student

We are absolutely pleased and satisfied with the performance of the Ellis School. We sent both of our daughters, the oldest starting in 9th grade and the youngest in 6th. The oldest went on to Yale, I believe in large part thanks to her preparation at Ellis. The youngest is currently looking at schools and We have no doubt she will be accepted wherever she applies once again in large part due to Ellis. Ellis excels at teaching writing skills and is the perfect college prep school not to mention the confidence that they instill in the girls. In short if you have a diamond you want polished then this is your school. By the way, Ellis isn't paying us to write this , We're just grateful parents.
--Submitted by a parent

our daughter loves the school. she attended kindergarden and is now in the first grade. The teachers and staff are very knowledgeable.It is costly but terrific !
--Submitted by a parent