About
MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL AND SCHOOL TRUST MISSION IN 1909, THE FAMOUS CHOCOLATIER MILTON S. HERSHEY AND HIS WIFE, CATHERINE, ESTABLISHED A HOME AND SCHOOL TO CARE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. TODAY, MORE THAN 115 YEARS LATER, MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL (MHS) ENDURES AS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR LEGACY, AND OUR STUDENTS STAND AS A LIVING MONUMENT TO THEIR PHILANTHROPIC SPIRIT. MHS is one of the world's best private schools. Qualifying students in pre-K through 12th grade live on campus and receive an exceptional educational experience-all costs are covered. THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR BROUGHT A HEIGHTENED FOCUS TO OUR FOUNDERS' INTENT AND VISION FOR THEIR HOME AND SCHOOL. WITH MR. AND MRS. HERSHEY'S MISSION AS A GUIDE, MEMBERS OF THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SHATTERED REAL AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS AND BECAME THE VERY BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES, JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL-YEAR THEME-BREAKTHROUGH-MOTIVATED THEM TO DO. THE START OF THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR CHALLENGED STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RAISE THE BAR BY ELEVATING STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR. BY DEVELOPING THE MILTON HERSHEY WAY, MHS GAVE STUDENTS A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESS. DEFINED, THE MILTON HERSHEY WAY IS THE CONTINUOUS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH MUTUAL RESPECT AND WORK ETHIC TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREER AND LIFE SUCCESS. THE work MHS IS DOING is rooted in THE SCHOOL'S Deed of Trust and amplified by ITS 2020-2025 strategic plan, the MILT Plan. This forward-focused approach includes goals to help students overcome the barriers that poverty has placed in their lives through an emphasis on transformative education, a service-centered culture, and individualized career-readiness training. 2024 MARKED THE COMPLETION OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE 2020-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE START OF THE FINAL YEAR. IN KEEPING WITH ITS GROWTH MINDSET, MHS ACHIEVED PEAK ENROLLMENT OF 2,110 IN EARLY 2024. THE SCHOOL GRADUATED 193 SENIORS-BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MHS ALUMNI TO 11,848. MHS EXPANDED CAREER-FOCUSED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND GREW ITS CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND HERSHEY ENTITIES-COMPANIES ALSO FOUNDED BY MR. HERSHEY. IN BRINGING THE MILT PLAN TO LIFE, CATHERINE HERSHEY SCHOOLS FOR EARLY LEARNING (CHS)-A SUBSIDIARY OF MHS-CELEBRATED ITS FIRST "MOVING ON" CELEBRATION AT CHS HERSHEY, COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON CHS HARRISBURG, AND WELCOMED ITS FIRST 150 STUDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA'S CAPITAL CITY. CHS BROKE GROUND ON ITS LOCATION IN MIDDLETOWN (ANTICIPATED TO OPEN IN 2025), BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON CHS NEW DANVILLE, AND STARTED CONSTRUCTION PLANNING ON CHS ELIZABETHTOWN. EACH CENTER WILL SERVE 150 CHILDREN FROM SIX WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD-WITH ALL COSTS COVERED-AND EACH LOCATION WILL INCLUDE A FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER TO SUPPORT A TWO-GENERATIONAL APPROACH TO LONG-TERM ACHIEVEMENT. DIFFERENT FROM CHS, STUDENTS AT MHS LIVE ON CAMPUS AS PART OF THE HOME LIFE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. EACH STUDENT HAS A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO CALL HOME UNDER THE WATCHFUL CARE, SUPERVISION, AND SUPPORT OF A MARRIED HOUSEPARENT COUPLE. THESE EXPERIENCED AND TRAINED ADULTS CARE FOR eight-12 STUDENTS OF SIMILAR AGES AND THE SAME GENDER IN ONE OF 208 STUDENT HOMES ACROSS CAMPUS. WHEN STUDENTS REACH THEIR SENIOR YEAR, THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM, WHICH PREPARES THEM FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION. Seniors live in one of 10 apartment-style residences on campus under the guidance and supervision of full-time ADULT, LIVE-IN staff. THIS COLLEGE/DORMITORY LIFESTYLE AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESPONSIBILITIES HELP BUILD STUDENTS' CONFIDENCE IN LIVING INDEPENDENTLY AND FACING OTHER CHALLENGES THEY MAY ENCOUNTER AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS LEARN SKILLS FROM PERSONAL FINANCE AND SAFETY TO HEALTHY SLEEPING AND EATING HABITS IN THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING CURRICULUM. At MHS, THE approach to care is centered around the idea that children must first have their essential needs met before they can focus on and succeed at anything else. as part OF the School's ONGOING wraparound services and resources, students not only receive high-quality learning experiences and development opportunities, BUT also personalized medical and behavioral care, as well as dental and vision services, food, clothing, and a nurturing home life. BECAUSE MHS SERVES LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, MOST OBSTACLES STUDENTS FACE STEM FROM POVERTY-RELATED ISSUES. poverty makes them more likely to be impacted by a variety of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)-traumatic events children experience before the age of 18. IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, NEARLY half of new students enrolled experienced MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THEIR FAMILY, THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT HAD A FAMILY MEMBER INCARCERATED, THIRTY-SEVEN PERCENT EXPERIENCED FAMILY DRUG OR ALCOHOL ISSUES, AND NEARLY A QUARTER WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. To help address these realities, the school's whole child approach provides every student with exceptional care in a safe and nurturing environment so they can be kids. students receive support with all costs covered-this includes medical and dental care, food, clothing, shelter, and psychological, behavioral, and social work services, as well as access to extracurricular activities and resources that allow them to explore their passions. this wraparound care and support helps them cope with and reduce the negative effects of ACEs-putting them on a path to reach their personal goals and break the cycle of poverty. THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024 EARNED 1,283 COLLEGE CREDITS; NINETY-ONE PERCENT COMPLETED AN AUTHENTIC WORK EXPERIENCE-EITHER INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP; AND EIGHTY PERCENT ARE PURSUING A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. WHILE THESE STUDENTS HAVE LEFT CAMPUS, SUPPORT FOR THEM IS ONGOING. MHS ASSIGNS SPECIALISTS TO NEW GRADUATES TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THEIR POST-HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITIONS. THESE SPECIALISTS EVEN VISIT OUR ALUMNI ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO KEEP THEM ON THE PATH TO ACCOMPLISHING THEIR SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GOALS. The level of college-related funding the School offers its students is greater than that of peer schools and scholarship providers. MHS aims to cover the majority, if not all, of its graduates' postsecondary education expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and room and board. MHS SEEKS TO PRODUCE GRADUATES WHO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. TO DO THIS, GRADUATES MUST BE ABLE TO EARN FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES IN A PROFESSIONAL OR TECHNICAL CAREER. IN ADDITION, THEY MUST SHOW GENEROSITY AND GIVE BACK TO OTHERS, DEMONSTRATE MORAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, BE SELF-MANAGING AND SELF-SUFFICIENT, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHOW A BALANCE OF WELLNESS IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AT MHS, IT IS MORE THAN JUST A JOB-IT'S AN INVESTMENT, NURTURING YOUNG LIVES AND CREATING RELATIONSHIPS AND BONDS THAT LAST WELL BEYOND GRADUATION.
In care of Matthew Jacolik Hershey TRU
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