Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Admissions operate on a rolling deadline basis. In the fall of each year, the Director of Admission begins to extend invitations for school visits and interviews to applicants who have completed applications for the upcoming year. As the screening process is completed, acceptances are processed and communicated to prospective families. Mid-year transfer applications are accepted when space is available.
Begins at 8:05 AM and the dismissal is at 3:10 PM. Athletic practices and games and other extra-curricular activities occur outside of the normal academic day. CARES extended care is available for an additional charge for students before and after school.
Gwynedd-Mercy faculty and aides provide a CARES (Children are Receiving Extended Services) program for students in K-8 from 7:00-8:00 AM and from 3:15-6:00 PM. The program includes outside play, snack, homework time, and other activities that keep the children active and safe until their parents arrive. Fees are in addition to tuition.
All rules and policies of the school, outlined in the GMA Student-Parent Handbook, apply to CARES.
Morning CARES Program is available on every school day in session at hours specified on fee schedule. Morning CARES takes place in the 4A classroom and parents must drop off their children at the "B" door entrance only. Afternoon CARES is available on every full day that school is in session. Afternoon CARES is held in the cafeteria and the adjacent CARES Room. Students are provided a snack at the beginning of our program. They may then begin homework and/or play a game. Outdoor play time is also provided as weather permits. If the gym is not in use, students are taken there for play time in inclement weather.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have regarding our program as we are here to keep your child happy and safe until you return and click here for the fee schedule.
Bus transportation is provided for each student by the public school district in which the student resides.
For information on bus schedules, prospective parents may contact the transportation department of their local school district. Below are links to those districts currently providing transportation to GMA students.
All students are challenged by individualized instruction, a benefit of small class sizes. All students are enrolled in Creative Thinking Skills classes, conducted by our Director of STEM. Students in grades 4-8 may be placed in Honors Math or GATE classes (Gifted and Talented Education) based on factors including report card grades, standardized test scores and teacher recommendations.
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy is committed to supporting all learners within the context of our mission to provide an enriched, academically challenging learning environment, preparing students for acceptance into highly competitive college preparatory high schools.
We recognize the diverse and changing needs of our students and families today and we continue to research educational theory and best practices in this area. Our team-based approach empowers students to be independent learners and actualize their potential, preparing them to be successful in the global community. Visit our Supporting All Students page for additional information.
There is a limited amount of need-based financial aid available for current families and new families. Any student, at any grade level, is welcome to apply for financial aid. All awards are all need-based. The percentage of students receiving financial aid is 10%. For more information, please review our Tuition and Financial Policies information.
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy is a private, Catholic, co-educational academy committed to quality education integrated with Gospel values. A member of the Mercy Educational System of the Americas, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, and established in 1861, the development of the faith life of the school community, in partnership with parents, is paramount.
Currently approximately 22% of our students are not Catholic. Students of all faiths participate in Catholic religion classes and students prepare for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, which take place at school, and also for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which takes place within individual parishes.
Although Gwynedd-Mercy Academy is a Catholic school, we do welcome the diversity and cultural perspectives of many faith traditions. Children from non-Catholic denominations are an enrichment of the educational experience offered by the school and are a practical expression of our commitment to inclusivity.
Students of color make up over 25% of the student population. We are committed to providing students with an environment that reflects our global society, recognizing that a multi-cultural perspective enhances our learning community.
One of the Sisters of Mercy's Five Critical Concerns is the goal of dismantling institutional racism in order to become an anti-racist multicultural community.
