Who We Are

As one of the best private schools in Pittsburgh, we operate on the following Philosophy of Teaching and Learning:

1. Learn Passionately: We empower all individuals to drive their own learning through a relevant and immersive experience.
2. Foster Community: We embrace strong relationships as a critical component for powerful learning.
3. Embrace Diversity: We enable individuals to understand their own identity while honoring multiple perspectives.
4. Break Boundaries: We support deep learning that happens across disciplines and in non-traditional settings.
5. Create Change: We nurture learners to be active and engaged citizens who challenge inequities, address real problems, and make an impact in our school and our city.

https://www.winchesterthurston.org/aboutus/philosophy-of-teaching-and-learning

In addition to rigorous academics and a dynamic learning environment, WT’s tuition covers the cost of curricular trips and retreats to places like the Mountain Institute, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington, D.C.; it covers the array of dynamic City as Our Campus offerings, including architecture in first grade, the Holocaust Museum in eighth grade, and capstone City as Our Campus courses in Upper School.

Additionally, tuition covers the cost of nearly 100 Middle School academic electives, a competitive athletics program, and extensive visual and performing arts offerings including partnerships with world-renowned arts organizations like Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Attack Theatre, Andy Warhol Museum, and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, textbooks through eighth grade, specials in Art, Library, Science, Dance, PE, Spanish, Mandarin, French (Middle and Upper School), Latin (Upper School), and much more.

Junior Pre-Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten Tuition: $18,800
Kindergarten tuition: $21,400
Grades 1-5 Tuition: $26,650
Grades 6-8 Tuition: $29,985
Grades 9-12 Tuition: $35,750

https://www.winchesterthurston.org/admission/tuition

Yes. Winchester Thurston School is committed to maintaining a socioeconomically diverse student body by providing a need-based financial aid program to assist parents whose children would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend the school. Parents who believe their children are eligible for admission, but cannot afford to pay full tuition, should consider applying.

• Financial aid grants range from $500 to full tuition.
• Lower School financial aid awardees are eligible to receive a maximum grant of up to 50% of tuition.
• Middle School awardees are eligible to receive a maximum grant of up to 75% of tuition.
• Lower and Middle School named scholarship awardees are eligible to receive an award greater than 50% or 75%.
• Students enrolled in Upper School may receive awards that equal their full financial need as determined by the school.

https://www.winchesterthurston.org/admission/affording-wt

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Lower school students can experience WT’s hearty after-school enrichment program, WTAfter3, which provides students the opportunity to build academic skills, develop creativity, and strengthen athletic ability at the end of the traditional school day. Fifth-grade students are invited to participate in some Middle School sports, like basketball, cross country, and soccer.

Middle school sports include cross country, field hockey, soccer, basketball, fencing, track, and lacrosse.

Upper School sports include crew, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, tennis, basketball, fencing, squash, bowling, track and field, lacrosse, and tennis.

Both Middle and Upper School offer numerous clubs and encourage students to create new ones based on their interests and passions - including, but not limited to various student unions and affinity groups, Art Club, Math Team, Literary Magazine, investment club, yearbook club, and peer tutoring.

https://www.winchesterthurston.org/lifeatwt/upper-school/clubs-and-activities

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The school day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm. However, before and after school care are offered.

WT’s hearty after-school enrichment program, WTAfter3, provides students the opportunity to build academic skills, develop creativity, and strengthen athletic ability at the end of the traditional school day. Additional costs apply for after-school programs and depend on the type of program or course.

Yes. Dining services are provided by a third-party vendor. While meals may be purchased a la carte, a meal plan offers a more cost-effective option. The cost of an annual meal plan for students in Junior Pre-K through grade 5 is $1,095. The cost for students in grades 6 and above is $1,195.

https://www.winchesterthurston.org/lifeatwt/dining-services

7.5 to 1

The average tenure of a WT teacher is 18 years at our school. Teachers typically have also taught at other schools prior to coming to WT.

Yes.

No.

JPK, PK, K, 6, and 9 are the typical entry points. However, we sometimes have openings at other grade levels. Families should contact the Admissions to inquire about space availability.

We are not. While our kitchen is nut-free, we are not a nut-free campus. All of the staff have access to our allergy list, and we work to ensure the safety of any and all allergies and dietary restrictions! In case of emergency, epinephrine is readily available to all staff and located in every building.