Born in France in 1750, Stephen Girard came to Philadelphia in 1776. He was granted American citizenship in 1778 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He went on to become a highly successful merchant, mariner, farmer and banker, as well as an outstanding patriot. During his lifetime, Stephen Girard, a practical and hardworking entrepreneur, earned the admiration of the citizens of Philadelphia for his selfless expressions of humanitarian concern. Among the most notable of the charitable works set up in his will was the establishment of Girard College. Although he called it a "college" in his will, what Stephen Girard actually founded was the world's first residential school for disadvantaged children. It opened its doors to students on January 1, 1848.

More than 150 years since Stephen Girard's death, the school he founded has given thousands of deserving young people the opportunity to succeed in life. Now open to qualified boys and girls of all races, creeds and colors, it is an enduring reminder of Stephen Girard's generosity and faith in humanity.

School accreditations: Middle States