Milton Hershey School

Milton Hershey School is a tuition-free boarding school in Hershey, Pennsylvania, founded in 1909 by chocolate maker Milton S. Hershey to educate children from lower-income families. Today it enrolls more than 2,000 students from pre-K through grade 12. That makes it one of the largest private boarding programs in the country.

What sets teaching jobs here apart is scale paired with mission. Every student attends on full scholarship, which covers tuition, housing, meals, healthcare, and clothing. Faculty partner daily with houseparents, who live with small groups of students in on-campus student homes. Teachers, counselors, and coaches share the work of supporting kids whose needs often reach beyond the classroom.

The money behind the school is unusual for a K-12 employer. Backed by the Hershey Trust, Milton Hershey School reported net assets above $24 billion and revenue near $888 million in 2023. That base funds salaries competitive with Pennsylvania independent and public districts, plus medical, dental, tuition benefits for faculty children, and a strong retirement match. Houseparent couples receive salary, housing, and meals as part of the package.

Hiring spans pre-school through high school. Regular openings include core academic faculty, special education teachers, French and Spanish instructors, arts and athletics staff, houseparents, school counselors, nurses, and facilities roles. Most teaching searches run from January through summer for fall start dates.

Faculty retention tends to be long, and new hires join teams that have worked together for years. For educators drawn to a resourced, mission-driven residential school in central Pennsylvania, Milton Hershey School is worth a close look.