In a recent announcement and after months of strategic and thoughtful planning, Moravian Academy and The Swain School are on track to sign a binding memorandum of understanding to formally merge the institutions. Through this merger, they would become the region’s leader in education, extending a shared mission to the entire Lehigh Valley.

“With a collective four centuries of experience educating students in our region, Moravian Academy and Swain School share an unwavering commitment to creating an extraordinary student experience. On our own, our schools have helped generations of students become lifelong learners and leaders,” said Dr. Armistead Webster, head of school, The Swain School. “We believe in the power of partnership, especially among like-minded schools. Partnership brings great potential for two schools already so enriching and so treasured by so many. Partnership makes us stronger; it makes the experiences for our communities more exciting and rewarding, both in and out of the classroom.”

Webster said this move would preserve and foster educational choice for more families in the Lehigh Valley. He added Moravian and Swain will continue to operate independently and provide small-school experiences.

“Of course, while our schools share similar missions, values and educational philosophies, we are tremendously proud of our unique histories and will maintain each school’s customs and traditions. We deeply value and are committed to sustaining these cultural touchstones,” Webster said.

As the new entity, the two schools will continue to offer distinct programming options for families across three campuses (Moravian’s two campuses plus Swain’s campus) in the Lehigh Valley. Each location will continue to maintain its own focus, including Moravian’s downtown campus in Bethlehem’s historic corridor with its focus on Moravian-inspired character education; Swain’s nurturing preschool-grade 8 campus in Allentown with its progressive ideology and a focus on a developmentally appropriate program, public speaking and leadership; and Moravian’s high school campus in Bethlehem Township, with its pre-collegiate curriculum, full co-curricular program and individual research opportunities for students.

Webster said this partnership will streamline the process, allowing Swain’s rising students the opportunity to transition to Moravian Academy naturally and seamlessly for their high school years.

Each school’s board of trustees voted and approved the plan to formally merge Aug. 6. The two schools will execute a binding memorandum of understanding to formally join the institutions, which will go into effect for the 2020-21 academic year.