The Peddie School, founded in 1864 as the Hightstown Female Seminary, was originally a Baptist preparatory school. Later that year, boys were admitted, and the school began a series of name changes.

In 1872, the school took its current name in honor of philanthropist and politician Thomas B. Peddie (1808‑89), who gave the school a $25,000 gift.

The Peddie School remained coed until 1908, when it was decided, for social and economic reasons, to admit boys only. This standard was reversed in the early 1970s, when girls were readmitted. The school is now coeducational and nondenominational.

The 9‑12 school is located on a beautiful 280‑acre (1.1 km²) campus in Hightstown, New Jersey. Along with a mix of both modern and historic buildings, Peddie Lake and 18‑hole professional golf course, the campus is the pride of the local community.

Academics

The academic year is divided into three terms with the first two terms focusing on a rigorous core curriculum. During the third term, most students choose electives of particular interest.

Teachers emphasize interactive learning with students playing an active role in their classes. To accommodate this approach, the average class size at Peddie is 12.

Advanced Placement courses are offered in a variety of areas: biology, chemistry, physics, European history, U.S. history, French, Spanish, Latin, calculus, computer, art history, and studio art. An Independent Study Program provides students with the opportunity to study a specialized subject in great depth; seniors may participate in off-campus projects during the spring term.

Athletics

All students must participate on an interscholastic team or in one of the elective physical education classes after school.

The Athletic Center houses a swimming pool and separate diving tank, three basketball/volleyball/tennis courts surrounded by an indoor Tartan track, a wrestling room, an indoor soccer and lacrosse Astroturf facility, a 2,000 square foot (190 m²) fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, a training room. Outdoor facilities include fourteen tennis courts, eight multipurpose fields, a softball field, an Olympic-caliber ¼-mile all-weather track, a football field, three baseball diamonds, and an eighteen-hole golf course.

Notable alumni

• The Hon. Walter H. Annenberg '27 – Former ambassador to Britain and founder of TV Guide
• Howard W. Koch '33 – Film producer and director (Airplane, The Odd Couple)
• Richard Tregaskis '33 – War correspondent and author of the award-winning Guadalcanal Diary
• Richard Hornberger '41 – Author of the book, M*A*S*H, which spawned the film and television series
• Patricia Sabga ’85 - NBC News correspondent
• B.J. Bedford '90 – Gold-medallist swimmer (4 X 100 medley relay team) in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
• Nelson Diebel '90 – Double gold-medallist swimmer at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona

External link

• Official site