Milton Hershey School Facts
A Life-Changing Education
At Milton Hershey School, we transform lives by offering an exceptional educational experience in a nurturing, positive environment—all at no cost to families. With a proud legacy of graduates, a team of dedicated professionals, and deep roots in the Hershey community, MHS is more than a school—it’s a place where potential meets opportunities and futures are reimagined.
Do you know a child who could benefit? Learn more through our fast facts and discover what makes MHS a truly unique and impactful community.
Welcome to MHS
MHS is a top-tier private school for qualifying students in pre-K through 12th grade. It offers life-changing opportunities and experiences that other schools simply cannot. Based on the Deed of Trust left by Milton and Catherine Hershey, the school covers all costs to this day for qualifying students.
Get a snapshot of what MHS is all about. Then, go deeper.
Explore Enrollment
Do you know a child who could benefit from MHS? Take a deeper look at the enrollment process.
Tour Campus
Navigate through our scenic campus, getting a closer look at our top-tier facilities and resources.
Hiring Staff
MHS is growing and is hiring mission-minded staff to help our students pursue their passions.
Who Qualifies
MHS accepts resilient students who meet admission criteria and complete our thorough admission process satisfactorily.
Explore QualificationsFast Facts: MHS Basics
Founded in 1909 by chocolate industrialist Milton S. Hershey and his wife Catherine, Milton Hershey School offers qualifying children an exceptional education with all costs covered. We educate children in pre-K through 12th grade.
MHS is located in beautiful Hershey, Pennsylvania.
It is 25 minutes from Harrisburg and 90 minutes from Baltimore. It is just under two hours from Philadelphia.
Visit Hershey, PA
At more than 7,000 acres, the MHS campus is one of the largest in the United States.
The MHS campus is one of the most well-resourced, technologically advanced, and well-maintained educational institutions in the nation. Our facilities includes:
- 203 buildings
- Six swimming pools
- Animal barns
- A 7,000-seat stadium
- 2,315 student computers
Be Your Greatest Self
At MHS, each student is encouraged to be their greatest self. MHS classrooms have no walls, and students learn by doing, through programs that give them an early start on college and their careers.
Where Our Students Are From
We enroll students from across the United States.
- More than 2,100 students, pre-K through 12th grade.
- 51% female, 49% male.
- On average, our student demographic breakout is:
- 22% – Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties
- 46% – Other PA Counties
- 32% – States other than PA
Fast Facts: MHS Academics
MHS consists of three divisions. Each one emphasizes the specific needs of the ages it serves.
- Elementary Division: Pre-K through Fourth Grade
- Middle Division: Fifth through Eighth Grade
- Senior Division: Ninth through 12th Grade
MHS employs 190 caring, talented teachers committed to whole-child education.
We hire the best in their respective fields to give our students the best possible classroom experience.
Learn More about Our Educators
Each MHS student graduates with at least one industry-recognized certification.
- Students choose and focus on one of 12 career paths.
- Students are encouraged to participate in internships/co-ops and/or apprenticeships.
Home Life
All students are cared for in a loving, family-like environment. Education in the Judeo-Christian faith, the heritage of the school’s founders, is part of the MHS program and includes daily devotions and Sunday Chapel services.
- 180+ student homes, each with approximately eight to 12 students, led by 450+ houseparents.
- Seniors live together in 10 Transitional Living apartment-style buildings to prepare them for independent living after graduation. Professional TL staff provide oversight.
Fast Facts: MHS Experience
MHS is committed to providing IT tools. We offer the technological education students need for future success. There are more computers than there are people at MHS!
IT points of pride include:
- High-tech “smart” classrooms
- Laptops for Senior Division students
- Computers in the student homes
MHS offers experiences that help young people pursue their passions and grow.- We offer sports, arts, leadership development, and so much more.
- Everything students need to participate is provided by the school.
Whatever they do after graduation, MHS students lead successful lives.
- Four out of five students generally plan to pursue some type of postsecondary education.
- MHS students can accrue up to $115,000 in scholarships for college or career education. Strong academic performance and good citizenship are the basis.
Included with All Costs Covered for Families
- Tuition and housing (with 24/7 security)
- Healthy meals and snacks
- School and casual clothing
- School supplies and computers
- Medical and dental care (including glasses and medications)
- Counseling services
- Tutoring and personal academic assistance
- All field trips, activities, and equipment (sports and instruments)
Institutional Growth
MHS is committed to expanding its mission. Our goal is to provide more children with this life-changing opportunity. We strive to grow enrollment to 2,300 students.
Since the announcement of the school’s Early Childhood Education Initiative, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, the school has opened CHS Hershey and broken ground on CHS Harrisburg. CHS plans to open more locations in Lancaster City, New Danville, and Elizabethtown in the coming years.