The Glen Mills Schools is a private, residential school for court adjudicated male delinquents between 15 and 18 years of age.

Founded in 1826 as the Philadelphia House of Refuge, the Schools has provided services continuously for one hundred and eighty-one years and is the oldest existing school of its type in the United States. Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and situated on nearly eight hundred acres, it has been at its present location for over one hundred years.

Since 1975 there has been something distinctly different about the Glen Mills Schools. This occurred with the implementation of a program model which treats delinquency as a behavioral problem and not a psychological or psychiatric disorder. The Glen Mills Schools’ 30, plus year history of success using our sociological model supports the assertion that the majority of adjudicated delinquents are not emotionally disturbed. In the right environment they behave as fine young men, and they can achieve in all areas, academically, vocationally and socially, to a very high degree. Since the implementation of our model the Schools has grown from a student population of less than one hundred to an internationally known and respected program providing services to more than 900 students.

On November 15, 2007, The Board of Directors selected me to replace Cosimo D. Ferrainola, pioneer of the Schools’ program model, who retired after 32 years of service. I have been an employee of the Glen Mills Schools since 1971 and for the past 11 years held the position of Managing Director. I plan to continue with the model that has made the Glen Mills Schools one of the finest schools in the nation. Our goal shall remain, “to make Glen Mills a little bit better today than it was yesterday.”

I personally welcome you to the Glen Mills Schools’ web site. Please browse our site for information relating to our School’s programs and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Garrison D. Ipock, Jr.
Executive Director