Milton Hershey School’s Commitment: Putting Children at the Heart of Education
In a New York Times interview in 1923, Milton Hershey said that children “are the future itself growing up before our eyes.” A century later, this quote remains at the core of the student-first mission at Milton Hershey School. The continual focus at MHS is to provide students with transformative opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and help them lead fulfilling and productive lives. After all, children deserve nothing less.
As thought leaders, MHS experts understand that low-income students face unique academic, social, and emotional challenges. Learning loss during the pandemic only exacerbated those difficulties. To combat these hardships, MHS uses a holistic approach to learning that incorporates wraparound supports that extend beyond the classroom. Through these dedicated efforts, MHS sets students on a path to lifelong success.
The Best Teachers & Resources
To accomplish the mission laid out by Milton and Catherine Hershey, MHS teachers serve as more than educators. They also are leaders, mentors, and positive role models. MHS teachers deliver academic excellence and create learning experiences inside the classroom and beyond. They are passionate about making a difference in students’ lives and committed—each day—to every child’s success.
MHS employs exceptional teachers and provides them with state-of-the-art classroom technology, free school supplies, common planning periods, and other resources. Small class sizes—typically a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio—allow MHS teachers to focus on personal instruction that changes the lives of their students.
New MHS teachers also can participate in an induction program that incorporates Penn Literacy Network workshops, personalized coaching, and classroom innovation strategies to help them thrive. Other benefits include receiving a mentor teacher in the first year of employment, free ongoing professional development, a 100% tuition-reimbursement program, and excellent pay that rewards teachers for their years of experience, inside and outside of MHS. The school is growing to serve more students. If a teaching career at MHS sounds fulfilling, you can learn more here.
A Lifetime of Stressors
Before arriving at MHS, students face substantial Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other stressors that stunt their development, making the role of teachers and other staff crucial in providing the exceptional support needed to help them succeed.
Defined as traumatic events experienced by children before the age of 18, ACEs often burden MHS students with high scores through no fault of their own. It is common for MHS students to be exposed to multiple ACEs and other stresses, which is why MHS support must be more than common—it must be exceptional.
Overcoming ACEs is challenging and requires a comprehensive team of committed MHS professionals to support disadvantaged students. From the moment a new student enrolls, MHS offers trauma-informed programming and resources tailored to each child’s needs.
Unique MHS Supports and Experiences
MHS offers a whole child approach to development, underpinned by exceptional care in a safe and nurturing environment. Students receive support with all costs covered—this includes tuition, housing, healthy meals and snacks, clothing, school supplies, as well as medical, dental, and psychological care, along with access to extracurricular activities and resources that allow them to explore their passions. By providing these resources, MHS students can concentrate on their personal growth and hone their skills for future success.
This holistic approach is rooted in the MHS Deed of Trust and amplified by the 2020-2025 strategic plan—called the MILT Plan. It is a forward-focused mindset that emphasizes a cross-disciplinary education, a service-centered culture, and individualized career-readiness training.
For example, during the 2023-24 school year, MHS students of every grade level participated in 2,229 service projects across 56,170 hours to support the local community. Over that same period, MHS provided pre-K through 12th grade students with more than 1,000 career-focused exposures to broaden their experiential education in a changing world. This included internship, pre-apprenticeship, or co-op opportunities for nearly 250 students with the support of Hershey community partners.
As an additional support, MHS is proud to be open 365 days a year to meet the needs of students and their families. Many students remain on campus during breaks in the academic calendar, which makes the Year-Round Experiences (YRE) program an important component of the school community.
Successful Outcomes: What MHS Graduates Say
Nearly 12,000 graduates and their families have benefitted from all that MHS offers. MHS produces graduates who succeed as working adults by earning family-sustaining wages in a professional or technical career.
Countless MHS alumni success stories share one resounding message: MHS teachers and other professionals forever changed their lives in a positive way. Here are a few examples.
Tatiana Ariola ’15
“MHS is not just a school; it’s home. It’s having a support system. If I ever needed help, I would find it there. The MHS network transcends so many ideations of what networks are supposed to be. Home is where the people that you love are. It’s a place of safety and comfort. If I could say thank you to anyone, I would say thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Hershey for literally everything.”
Thalia Vega ’19
“It was a very difficult situation [growing up]. We couldn’t afford things. I had to grow up so fast. My teachers knew my situation. They made me feel comfortable even when I struggled. Without them, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Jose Aviles ’24
“The staff members who have made the biggest impact on me during my time include Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Shirk, and my elementary houseparents, the Helds. They have continuously checked up on me, made sure I was on the right path, and wished the best for me.”
A Future of Growth
The future of MHS is bright, and the school’s commitment to serving even more students is unwavering. Aligned with the MILT Plan, MHS strives to increase peak student enrollment to 2,200 during the 2024-25 school year. Additional plans for growth include:
- Implementing The Milton Hershey Way Progress Report to help students model the mutual respect and work ethic they need to succeed in life
- Expanding partnerships with Hershey-area entities to actualize Milton Hershey’s “One Hershey” vision
- Aligning Continuing Education Scholarships to create even more improved graduate supports
- Utilizing MHS alumni to deepen connections with students and their families to strengthen the school community
- Delivering strengthened career advising as well as new credentials of value in the MHS curriculum pathways of Education and Human Services, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Carpentry and Welding
More Than Ever, Great Educators Matter
To reach these ambitious goals, MHS is recruiting mission-minded staff—including teachers, clinical and school psychologists, health care practitioners, and more.
Joining MHS means being part of a close-knit family that honors the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey and builds a limitless future for children in need—just as the Hersheys intended.