The Hill School is proud to announce the launch of Hill School Summer Scholars, a new two-week boarding program for rising 7th- and 8th-graders, held on its 200-acre campus and developed and offered in partnership with ESF Camps & Experiences. Applications for Summer 2027 open November 2026. Interested families are encouraged to request an invitation to apply at hillschoolsummerscholars.com.

Hill School Summer Scholars was built around a simple truth: families considering boarding school are making one of the most significant educational decisions of their lives, often with very little real information to go on.

Summer Scholars live in Hill's dorms, attend classes, many taught by Hill School faculty, and take part in campus traditions including seated meals, dorm cup games, and more. Every day includes a core academic block, a dedicated Boarding School Prep class, student-selected elective and immersive residential programming. Session sizes are kept small, so Scholars are known personally by faculty rather than lost in a crowd.

“There is something transformative about learning and living in a close-knit campus community,” says Tom Eccleston ’87 P’19 ’21, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment. “Hill Summer Scholars will give young people an authentic taste of the Hill experience, challenging themselves in the classroom, connecting with inspiring teachers and like-minded peers, while discovering how learning, friendship, character, and independence can be woven into everyday life at a place like The Hill.”

Unlike traditional boarding school summer enrichment programs, Hill School Summer Scholars is designed as a decision-making tool for families while preparing Scholars for what comes next: stronger academic footing for the SSAT, practical experience with the skills that matter in an admissions interview, and the independence that comes from managing their own schedule away from home. 

“Two weeks on Hill's campus gives a rising 7th or 8th grader something no campus tour can provide,” says Michael Rouse, CEO & Co-Founder, ESF Camps & Experiences. “Hill School Summer Scholars was built to change how families approach this decision, giving them genuine experience of what boarding school life actually demands and offers, so they can move forward with confidence.”

Hill School Summer Scholars is a partnership between The Hill School and ESF Camps & Experiences, a premier youth summer programs organization operating across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The partnership combines Hill's academic and residential legacy with ESF's operational experience running high-quality summer programming at scale.

Key Program Details

Who: Rising 7th and 8th graders

Location: The Hill School, Pottstown, PA

Session I: June 27 – July 9, 2027

Session II: July 11 – July 23, 2027

How to apply: Request an invite at hillschoolsummerscholars.com