2017 Private School Handbook

INCLUDING: STATS & THE SELECTION PROCESS / COOLING DOWN SOCIAL MEDIA / FIDGETER’S REMEDY

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CONTENTS PAGE

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The Key to the Classroom

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Social Studies

The generation that grew up connected is cool about it.

How do you turn rambunctious toddlers into engaged students without stifling creativity?

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Pick Five

A longtime educator on essential skills for every student

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Learning Through Failure

Teaching children resilience in the face of adversity

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9 Habits of Highly Selective Students

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Passing the Test

6 expert tips to prepare for the ACT

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SLM ’s Private School Charts

The stats on 100-plus schools, kindergarten through grade 12

Keep these steps in mind when choosing a high school.

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Match the Mascot

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Play It Forward

A look at back at a 1937 playground festival in Forest Park

Show your St. Louis private school prowess by matching these 10 schools and their mascots.

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Electives

From artificial intelligence to songwriting, these aren’t your mother’s electives.

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P RI VAT E SC H O O L H AN D B O O K

EDITORIAL

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F RO M T H E E D I TO R

THE CALL

A

t 14 months, our daughter hasn’t yet mastered walking, talking, and eating with a spoon, but her phone skills are lightyears ahead.

Granted, her phone is light pink, made by Infantino, and doesn’t come with a service plan.

By the time Lucy started solids, though, she’d already mastered dialing and holding the phone to her ear.

Call it intuition, call it genius…or call it mimicking Mom and Dad. Before Lucy, we were the couple dining at a restaurant and shaking our heads over some tyke glued to his video game screen, frantically mashing buttons, oblivious to the world around him.

When we have kids, there will be no electronics at the table, we’d say—and then check our email.

Though we have forbidden any actual screen time until she’s 2 (besides that House of Cards marathon she might have eavesdropped on), we know she’ll have her own real phone all too soon.

And that will inevitably lead to Facebook, Snapchat, and whatever newfangled app’s all the rage among teens in 2030. (I can’t even imagine.) We’re already mindful of the need to teach her how to use these platforms responsibly, and we’ll take our cue from the students interviewed in this issue (p. 17), high schoolers who’ve mastered social media but also understand its pitfalls.

As one bright teen observed, “People say, ‘This generation is always looking down at their phones.’ But I’ll say, ‘Mom, what are we doing for dinner?’ and she’s looking down at her phone.”

It’s a sentiment my wife and I will try to remember, so we make sure to put down our own phones…and watch our daughter play with hers.

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THE KEY TO THE CLASSROOM How do you turn rambunctious toddlers into engaged students without stifling creativity?

BY RO SAL I N D E ARLY

The first day of school: For kids, it’s the moment when they realize that they can’t spend their entire days playing. For parents, it’s even more terrifying—you’re handing over your sweet, curious (albeit slightly unruly) toddlers and entrusting their learning to strangers. But educators realize that they don’t create lifelong learners in the classroom; they foster them.

“Learning is intrinsically satisfying, and little children know that,” says Cheryl Maayan, head of school for Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. “Very young children explore; they learn; they can’t get enough of learning—and if we do our job right, they never stop loving learning.” In today’s classroom, though, educators must answer some tricky questions: When should kids get computers?

How much time should kids spend outside?

Are fidget spinners and bouncy chairs helpful, or a distraction? The answers are fuzzy, but the goal remains the same: to spark kids’ interest in the world around them and give students the tools that will help them make sense of it.

So how do educators unlock the world for their students? They start by doing it through play.

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LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

As adults, we feel compelled to justify how we’re spending our time by pointing to its usefulness. We’re earning money, building marketable skills, becoming online influencers, running errands… Leisure time seems like a guilty pleasure.

For young learners, though, play is essential. “Learning happens through play,” says Jess Lorentzen, a preschool teacher at The College School, in Webster Groves. “Through it, kids construct their own learning and meaning out of what they’re interested in.”

But not all playtime is created equal.

“Children have to create their own play—that’s the building block of all those 21st-century skills we require of them,” says Laura Johnson, a kindergarten teacher at Saul Mirowitz. “It teaches them cooperation, teamwork, resilience, creativity, and ingenuity.”

Instead of giving children trucks and board games, educators at the school hand over materials for students to make their own toys, rules, and boundaries.

The classroom itself plays a pivotal role. “The space should be beautiful.

It should have things that are interesting—quality materials,” says Lorentzen, “to inspire them to move, create, and express themselves.”

outside. Being outdoors, says Cartwright, doesn’t just foster unstructured play; it can also help with focus.

“The saying that most forest schools use is ‘Children don’t bounce off walls if there are no walls to bounce off of,’” she says. “There is evidence that the more time children spend outdoors, the more focus they have when they’re in the classroom.”

Johnson agrees that time outside sharpens focus and has other benefits. For instance, students learn the importance of proper footwear and staying hydrated. “I don’t have to fight them on putting on their coats or getting a drink of water,” Johnson says, “because they’re learning about how we respond to nature.”

LET THE KIDS LEAD

Educators across the board agree that one of the best ways to get kids interested in learning is to let them have as much control as possible over what they’re learning. “Kids don’t come in here empty,” says Lorentzen. “They come in here knowing a lot about the world. Even at

3 [years old], they’ve already made a lot of meaning out of their world.”

At The College School, for instance, the 4-year-olds took a class picture at Lockwood Park. The children were enthralled and kept asking their teacher about the trees and animals. The teachers turned the topic into a yearlong project. Kids wrote poems about the “musical forest,” interviewed the head of the Webster Groves Parks and Recreation Department, and made artwork from natural objects found in the forest during each season.

Each class at Raintree comes up with a “big hairy audacious goal,” or BHAG. Last year, 4-year-olds created a cupcake stand with homemade cupcakes. “When the ideas are all coming from the teacher, then you have to come up with these artificial ways of teacher as entertainer, like, ‘I’m the sage on the stage,’” says Cartwright.

When students are prompting teachers about an idea, though, “I think that’s the most powerful, longestlasting way to keep children engaged.”

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

Beyond the classroom, the outdoors is a critical space for student growth.

Johnson takes her students outside for an hour and half of continuous playtime once a week. Saul Mirowitz has butterfly gardens, a nearby prairie and creek, and other natural elements for kids to explore.

“They choose how they want to move, play, climb,” says Johnson.

“When they stack sticks in the creek to build a dam, that’s so rich in so many academic standards that aren’t even in kindergarten—and it’s not something I can re-create in the classroom.”

Brandi Cartwright, head of Raintree School, concurs. Students at the Town & Country–based forest school spend at least three hours outdoors every day. They play, journal, read, and learn

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Setting a goal also teaches the kids to overcome a fear of the unknown.

“They’re scared because they’re little and it’s a wild space,” Cartwright says. “No one has given them a chance to direct themselves that much before; that’s scary for adults and for little kids. We do a lot to address that reluctance.”

Even in later grades, in which the subject matter isn’t as flexible, teachers emphasize the importance of choice. At Rossman School, teachers and students collaborate to make the work “meaningful and purposeful for the kids,” says upper school director Gail Clark. Students select a home in Lafayette Square, for instance, and draw it to scale, learning proportion, shapes, and more along the way.

“That’s not workbook pages,” she adds.

WIGGLE ROOM

Kids are notoriously fidgety—especially these days, when they can entertain themselves with the swipe of a finger.

The solution? Let them wiggle.

“We have students who sit on therapy balls. We have sensory cushions.

Whatever means better learning is something that we advocate for,” says Maayan.

Anything that distracts other students is generally frowned upon (including the popular fidget spinner), but other tools for constructive fidgeting, such as squeezing Silly Putty, standing during lessons, and chewing gum, are generally given the OK. “We have the kids help design the layout of the classroom,” says Penny Allen, a third-grade teacher at The College School. Allen and her coteacher asked students to think about the type of environment that would best support learning.

“It opened all of our eyes to the little things we could do to help the world.

It gave me the opportunity to have my mindset be open to the world.

Now, I’m very curious—I’m more curious than I was even as a little kid.”

Not only did the students think about the layout, but they also picked their spots. From time to time, Allen would ask the students about the environment and where they were seated: Was it still working? What could be improved? “We wanted to help them understand themselves as learners and advocate for what they need,” says Allen.

For young children, it’s especially important to allow them room to wiggle. At some schools, kids periodically take breaks in addition to recess and physical education. Lorentzen also sometimes uses tummy time. “It’s an infant term,” she explains, “but when the kids are extra wiggly and we’re trying to get a little more out of them, we’ll open up that they can lie on their tummy. Then they’re getting sensory input from their whole body.”

Sometimes a simple shift can make a big impact.

ROMANCING THE SCREEN

These days, kids need to be technologically literate. At the same time, screens can be a huge distraction. How can a teacher achieve balance? For young learners, there’s not a single answer.

Raintree is a media-free school. “We put human power first,” says Cartwright. “We want our students creating things rather than going through programs and systems that adults have made.”

At Saul Mirowitz, kindergarteners do learn computer proficiency—including how to code—but they don’t have laptops with them all the time. Instead, computers are brought in only for les-

sons in which they’re necessary.

The College School doesn’t have a one-to-one laptop program, but it does introduce technology early. “It engages kids both visually and kinesthetically,” says Allen, “but there should be a follow-up that’s not on the screen.”

THE CLASSROOM IS EVERYWHERE Many schools focus on experiential learning. Allen takes her third-grade classes to Mastodon State Historic Site to see models of megafauna and flora while teaching about the history of Missouri. Sixth-graders at Rossman School visit a Civil War battlefield, the birthplace of Helen Keller, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Space Camp.

For Mahlet Fentaw, a graduate of Saul Mirowitz and current student at Whitfield, class trips stood out.

“I think about them to this day,” she says, recalling a three-day visit to Heifer Farm, run by the nonprofit Heifer International. Each student represented a country and received provisions and accommodations commensurate with that country’s economy. Fentaw, who represented Zambia, recalls making a deal with Thailand’s representative to share accommodations and food.

“It opened all of our eyes to the little things we could do to help the world,” Fentaw recalls. “It gave me the opportunity to have my mindset be open to the world. Now, I’m very curious—I’m more curious than I was even as a little kid.”

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PICK FIVE

A longtime educator on essential skills for every student

BY MAYA McD OWELL

In his new book, The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs, former New City School head Thomas Hoerr offers advice on instilling positive attributes in students by teaching five key skills—lessons that go beyond the three R’s.

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HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE FORMATIVE FIVE? As a longtime educator, I was struck by the fact that we tend to focus on success in school rather than preparing kids for success in life. The five that I’ve identified are empathy, self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit.

Kids need to learn how to read, write, and calculate, absolutely, but if we really want them to be successful in life, these are the skills that educators must focus on and that must be supported in the home as well.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THOSE PARTICULAR SKILLS? For years, I would ask families how they defined success. I looked at the kids that graduated from New City School—what they became, what happened to them— and I came to the conclusion that these five really encompass the skills that we need. If we can develop empathy in our children, they’re going to be caring adults. If we can develop self-control, they’re going to make the right choices, pursue their goals, and be effective. If we can develop integrity, they’re going to be honest people who take a stand, make a position, and bring about positive change. Embracing diversity is a twoword phrase because it’s not enough to just accept people who are a different race, color, or sexual orientation. Grit is absolutely needed. We’re all going to be frustrated and fail at some point in life; the question is how we respond.

HOW DID LEADING A SCHOOL THAT TAKES A MULTIPLEINTELLIGENCES APPROACH FRAME YOUR THINKING? Two of those intelligences are the personal intelligences: intrapersonal—knowing yourself, recognizing your strengths, and knowing what to work on—and interpersonal, which involves reading others.

Those are the most important things we can develop with children, and yet often they’re not part of a vocabulary in schools. There’s this test score mantra in the United States, and many educators are judged only on percentiles, how well kids do. That’s sad, because it overlooks what’s really important.

There’s this test score mantra in the United States, and many educators are judged only on percentiles, how well kids do.

That’s sad, because it overlooks what’s really important.

HOW CAN A TEACHER OR PARENT INSTILL GRIT IN A STUDENT? The first thing to do is to be very clear and transparent about the importance of this. I would ask kids to reflect— whether they’re a second-grader or high-school senior—on the things they do well and the things that are hard for them. If I’m a teacher, I might have a chart in my classroom, a little rubric where kids rate themselves on how difficult things are, with the idea being that you want to help them increase their tolerance.

HOW SHOULD TEACHERS WORK TO HONE THEIR OWN SKILLS? When I talk about this, I say that all of these skills are not something we do to kids. We do them with kids. I think that changes the dialogue and reinforces the notion that we’re all learners, we all have a stake in the school, not just the students and faculty.

It’s everybody.

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LEARNING THROUGH FAILURE Teaching children resilience in the face of adversity

BY TIM WO OD CO CK

A

lthough success and failure might seem to be opposing concepts, the relationship between the two is far more complex. As any scientist can testify, countless failures precede any breakthrough.

“When you are learning, you make mistakes,” says Kara Douglass, head of The Fulton School at St. Albans. One key to creating a healthy learning environment is teaching kids to expect failure when trying something new, she says, and normalizing failure so the first response becomes problem-solving.

The Fulton School follows the Montessori learning-by-doing approach to mistakes.

A teacher might demonstrate how to pour water from one vessel to another, at first spilling some of the water and then mopping it up. Gracefully showing how to correct an error can be far more effective than explicitly talking about it.

Increasingly, teachers think about resilience—the ability to bounce back after a setback—as a skill that should be cultivated.

Schools provide safe spaces for failures on the road to later success. Effective educators design curriculum that challenges and sometimes frustrates students but doesn’t overwhelm them or cause them to shut down.

For Thad Falkner, head of The Wilson School, resilience is part of a healthy mindset whose default setting is optimism and a willingness to try new things. Some aspects of Wilson’s curriculum are especially powerful in teaching resilience, says Andrea Ruth, assistant head of school. For instance, a second-grade computing project challenges students to write code to control an animated character. In coding, one erroneous keystroke can invalidate a whole operation, but the payoff is clear: It shows kids the value of persistence and attention to detail.

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As children enter middle school, they’re at a developmental stage marked by a greater degree of self-consciousness, sometimes manifesting in a fear of failure or unwillingness to try new things. The key to overcoming this, Falkner says, is to encourage students to stay curious and to emphatically communicate that no one picks up a new skill without first failing in many small ways.

Both Falkner and Douglass point to a growing body of research indicating that small-school environments—settings in which students are known to all of the adults involved—provide a setting where children are more apt to raise their own expectations and embrace risk.

When it comes to success and failure, Visitation Academy interim head of school Dan Hildebrand points to the bestselling book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, which suggests that children and adults alike can be taught to approach problems with a “growth mindset” that says, “I am not good at this yet.”

Toddlers learn to walk by repeatedly falling and then making adjustments—a pattern that continues throughout life. By the time a student is in high school, he or she might be building robots that can walk. In Visitation Academy’s robotics program, for example, no student’s robot ever works as initially envisioned, Hildebrand says; it takes a resilient mindset and round after round of collaborative troubleshooting to produce a fully functioning robot.

“Excellence is built upon a foundation of failure,” says Hildebrand. Although “the notion of learning through failure is somewhat countercultural,” he notes, educators increasingly discuss the topic. And like students, schools can increase their comfort level by repeating the mantra “As a school, we are not good at this yet, but…”

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EXCITING ELECTIVES From artificial intelligence to printmaking, these aren't your mother's electives.

BY SARAH KLOEPP LE

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o describe his Introduction to Artificial Intelligence class in simple terms, Steve Nicollerat references a Will Smith blockbuster film. The St. Louis University High School computer science instructor says I, Robot asks the same questions that he asks his students: When does a robot become more than a robot? And what are the ethical repercussions? ¶ In the class, students learn about the many players and key events in the field of AI. They also look at genetic algorithms and neural networks. “I think the kids get a kick out of it,” he says, “but it’s also a class that brings up issues about the future of society.” ¶ Students might debate how AI will change the workforce. “I think those are questions you can put on the table now,” Nicollerat says, “even though we don’t need the answers now.”

engineering At Visitation Academy, technology coordinator Sue Andrews recognizes that women are underrepresented in STEM careers. With the school’s engineering elective for girls in grades 10–12, she hopes to change that.

Computer science teacher Sarah Spaunhorst oversees the class, which changes every semester on the basis of students’ interests and what’s available.

For example, when the school dismantled its bleachers last year, Spaunhorst upcycled the seating by having her students use power tools to reassemble it into benches to be placed throughout the school.

“We use things they’re already famil-

iar with to bridge the gap between what they know and what they can learn from it,” she says. “When we learn electronics, a lot of the times we use Christmas lights, because that’s an excellent example of basic circuitry.”

The class is focused on problemsolving through prototyping, testing, and redesigning. It gives the girls “confidence and competence,” says Spaunhorst. “When they come into the class, some of them have never used a power tool. Some are very excited to grab hold and get going, and others need to see it be done before they’re comfortable. It lets them see how they’re used and figure out ways to use the tools in class and beyond.”

printmaking Students at John Burroughs School can choose fine arts electives beyond painting and drawing. They can even opt for a more technical art form in Donya Allison’s printmaking class.

Each section is limited to six students; they work at a large table in the school’s print shop, joking and comparing notes.

The class takes students through various methods of the art form, including relief and intaglio printmaking.

There’s often a theme for the assignments. Last year, for the silkscreen assignment, students had to figure out how to best illustrate a favorite quote.

“In printmaking, it’s nice to have a problem to solve,” Allison says. And because prints are always printed in reverse, “it’s very technical,” she adds. “It really requires the brain to think differently.”

One graduate who served as class president even joked during a speech that printmaking was more difficult than physics. But that hard work can pay off; last year, the work of three printmaking students was exhibited at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild’s Young Artists’ Showcase.

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TRINITY HODGES SENIOR, WHITFIELD SCHOOL

SOCIAL STUDIES The generation that grew up connected is cool about it.

BY JE A N N E TTE C O O P E RM AN / P H OTO G RAP H Y BY K EV I N A . RO B E RT S

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RANTED, WE DIDN’ T ASK FOR KIDS WHO were obsessed by their phones,

addicted to social media, thumbing their way through high school. ¶ We just kinda thought they all were. ¶ When four private schools picked nice, bright kids for us to interview, we found that, sure, they checked their phones several times a day—but they did so calmly. Sure, they had friends who went a little crazy— but they refused to be drawn in. Sure, their entire world view was colored by social media—but they knew how to pull away from it. ¶ Sometimes better than their elders.

“As a child, I wasn’t really allowed to go on YouTube or anything, because my parents wanted to protect my young mind,” Trinity Hodges says dryly. Like the other three students we interviewed, she started using social media in middle school. Her first love was, and still is, Instagram, where pictures are the message.

“I wasn’t big about making everything flow, having a theme and using all the same filters,” she says.

“There was a handful of people who tried to be artsy, but when you are 12 years old, you can’t be that artsy, ’cause then when you look back at it years later, you’re, like, ‘What was this?’ I deleted some of my pictures, mostly the ones that were just text pictures or stuff I screenshot from BuzzFeed. I was young.”

Zander Haddad did some curating, too, deleting such shots as the one of him “all awkward” at his first dance. “If it’s from a while ago, I’ll be, like, ‘Eeewww, why did I post that?’” Especially at this age, when you’re changing so fast, Instagram’s a succession of selves.

Snapchat, the usual next step, is even more fluid.

Morgan Lanton shows me the ropes: how your “story” is public for 24 hours but your chat’s only with friends; how you can set a timer so people can only see your picture for a few seconds; how people are identified as Besties or Super Best Friends or BFFs, depending on how often you send them messages and how often they send them to you. (It’s even noted when somebody you like to message is closer to somebody else, a stat I find heartbreaking.)

The big thing on Snapchat is streaks: You send at least one photo every day to everybody you have a streak with, and the app tracks how many consecutive days you’ve kept this going. If you’re on vacation or can’t use your phone, somebody else “takes” your streaks and keeps them going for you. “You take a picture, then go through and click every name,”

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Hodges explains. “A lot of people have, like, 100.”

Er…why bother? “I really don’t know,” Lanton confides. “I feel like Snapchat had streaks just to keep people on there every day. People don’t really say anything; just, the longer the streak, the more glamour.”

All four of the students have streaks, though the girls have more than the boys. Imagining some kind of fractured visual diary, I ask what kind of pictures they send. “My blanket.” “The wall.” “A table.” “My forehead.” Hodges’ mother was mystified when she saw what her daughter was sending. “Wait and see what they send back,” Hodges retorted.

She isn’t certain what the point is, either.

“Y’know, I’m not sure,” Hodges admits. “It’s just fun to see a person’s name and see how many days in a row you’ve Snapchatted with them. My longest is my best friend: 439 days.”

Dominic Cusumano’s longest is 47. “I’m not huge on streaks; I’m usually the one to break them,” he says. “Not intentionally. I forget about them. I get text reminders—STREAK! Quick, save it!—and think, ‘Ah, it’s not necessarily worth it.’”

When I ask whether that’s related to the quality of the friendship or those are two separate things, he laughs. “Yeah, it’s separate from that. And I don’t think it’ll be around much longer: These little surface-level games where you get a little gratification each day, I think that kind of stuff will start to drift away pretty soon as kids mature.”

TWITTER, TUMBLR, FACEBOOK

What Cusumano uses a lot is Twitter—as do his dad, a sports broadcaster, and older brother and sister. He’d hear them talking about news they saw in their feeds and think, “I need to get in on this.” He’s mainly a spectator, though, or retweet-

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ZANDER HADDAD

ing to support his teama TV show, I can see that.

SENIOR, DE SMET mates or school events. “I Or if anything happens, see guys get overheated JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL like a bombing. Nobody about something and go even watches the news; a to Twitter, and when they calm down, younger person, you just get your news they go, ‘OK, maybe I was a little too in from social media.” the moment here.’”

I ask how she gets hers.

Hodges tweets even less: “I probably “Um…I watch the news.” have, like, 10 tweets that are actually None of the four uses Tumblr. And mine,” she says, “but I’ll retweet some Facebook, Hodges tells me, is “old peorandom famous person, whatever they ple’s social media.” put up. Twitter’s not as big to me; I “I’m on Facebook for my family,” don’t really need Twitter.”

Haddad says. “I have family in Can“Twitter is, like, just words,” comada and Egypt. But it’s more, like, forplains Lanton. “You have limited mal. If you search your name, that might be the first thing that comes space to say what you need to say.

But tweeting live as you’re watching up on Google.”

For Lanton, the value of Facebook is that “you can see what your parents are posting. My mom really likes to post pictures and statuses about me, so I have to go see what she’s doing.” Facebook’s your best front.

“And Snapchat is ‘I’m doing this every day, this is what I’m doing, and maybe if you want to talk…’” If a friend’s upset, she can just hint at it, “put something out there as bait instead of posting the whole situation,” and wait for her real friends to ask on her private chat “so you only get the people who care instead of bothering everybody else.”

Because Snapchats go away, people aren’t as careful about what they

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post—but Haddad still doesn’t want “anything negative about me out there.” Anything can be screenshotted and saved. What’s considered negative? Drinking, vaping, vulgarity, overexposure (of the flesh). And conformity, Lanton adds. “That really says a lot about your character. It’s important that someone can look at your social media and see that you are not like everybody else—not being different for its own sake but because you are different. The point is just being who you are. And social media can change the way you feel about yourself, poke you to be something you’re not.”

THE ROUTINE

Haddad has an old-fashioned alarm clock, but the other three wake up to their phones. They all check their feeds first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and several times during the day.

“I use Snapchat most, ’cause it’s the easiest way to talk to my friends,” Hodges says. “I’m a socially awkward person.” She’s also incredibly poised; I sense no shyness. But she insists that she’s “not very outgoing, so if I don’t really know what to text, I just send them a picture.”

Snapchat’s “a quick way to stay in touch,” says Haddad. “Texting, they might not see it. And if you text someone who doesn’t have an iPhone, you can’t use the same emojis.” He shows me how to download Bitmoji and create my own (thinner, younger-looking) avatar.

He uses email only when he needs to be formal, and he thinks it’s dying.

“We’ve pretty much shifted to text, and it will just expand,” he predicts.

He texts birthday wishes and can’t fathom writing love letters that will be bound with a ribbon: Unless he needs to write a thank-you note, paper might as well be papyrus. He’s not wild about texting, though: It’s “type-type-typesend-wait.” So usually he just picks up the phone. “Why did you call me?” his friends sometimes say. “I think they get annoyed because they have to exert effort to pick up the phone and talk.”

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Hodges is one who loathes the phone: “It’s just, like, in your ear.

The sound quality’s terrible. And you can be talking for five minutes and then it’s, like, ‘What did you say?’”

It’s easier to drift or get distracted,

and it feels less personal. She’ll text “if something just happened”; otherwise, she uses Snapchat. “Sometimes I’m having three different conversations with my friends at once: texting them one thing, Snapchatting some-

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thing else, and another one on Instagram. I feel like it kind of makes the friendship stronger.”

Lanton uses Snapchat “because it’ll be bright and out there and I know my friends will be more likely to see it instead of SENIOR, being buried with all their ROSATI-KAIN text messages. If it’s just HIGH SCHOOL ‘Hey, what’s up with you?’ no need to take up their space on their text messages.”

Cusumano does the reverse, only checking Snapchat once every day or two. “I usually prefer talking on the phone with friends, but if I know the person isn’t a big fan of it, then I’ll text them and keep it brief. I like the phone because you can really explain and really talk.”

MORGAN LANTON

ANNOYANCE AND OBSESSION

These kids aren’t much into selfies, “unless it’s a quick thing like half of my face,” Haddad offers. How did the partial-face thing get started? He shrugs. “Probably because people think it looks cool. That’s pretty much how people Snapchat now. Not a lot of people my age do a lot of selfies.”

“There’s kind of a goofy, playful aspect to them,” says Cusumano, “but I’m not huge on it.”

Nor does he bother to post the ordinary bits and pieces of his life. “That’s what people who are kind of new to Instagram do,” he explains, “when there’s some eagerness to get going with it and you just kind of force photos. Once you settle in and get a feel for it, you start realizing that people don’t really care much about seeing a tree in your front yard.”

“Unless it’s, like, on fire, and it’s really spectacular, there’s no real need to post your everyday meal,” says Lanton. “Now, if you had a turkey that was on fire, and it was doing cartwheels on your table…”

On Instagram, Hodges makes a concerted effort “not to post random stuff. Some people post something every day because they are practically living with their friends.”

I ask whether they’re perhaps trying too hard.

“I don’t think so; it’s just the kind of people they are,” Hodges responds.

“Some want to be with their friends more than with their family. I don’t need to see my friends every single day and when I’m away from them 5 seconds be, like, ‘Where is my friend?’”

In any event, the protocol’s to be selective.

“On Instagram, unless you’re a huge account, you don’t double-post,” says Haddad, “meaning more than once every few weeks. If you post too often, it’s annoying; it clogs up people’s feeds.” He plans ahead: Two for the month—what will they be? It’s a way to pay attention to your life, mark the high spots.

And the transitory nature of Snapchat is a way to live out loud and not wince at it later. It changes as fast as a mood: “Yesterday I might have been all ‘Woe is me,’” Lanton says, “and then today all that’s gone, I’m happy, the sun is shining. It’s more like living in the moment.”

COLD TURKEY

I ask our four about the last time they were without their phones. In each case it was enforced—on a school or camping trip or by parents who knew it was time for them to cram for an exam.

They didn’t really miss their phones—“I was, like, ‘Here, take it!’” says Lanton, laughing—but they were sorta glad to get them back. “I don’t want to say it necessarily felt good to be detached from the world,” says Cusumano, “but it was sort of a relief. But not a huge relief,” he adds hastily. “I don’t think my phone brings me stress.”

By contrast, they all know friends who’ve sneaked a phone along or gone into withdrawal: “This one kid was just going crazy; he kept borrowing other people’s phones to do Snapchat,” Hodges recalls.

“It’s very easy for it to become an obsession,” Cusumano says. “I try to keep myself in check and make sure that it isn’t. Not completely quitting cold turkey but just kind of pacing yourself.” When Haddad sees friends Snapchatting or texting while they’re hanging out, he walks over and knocks on their foreheads: “Anybody there?”

He wants a real conversation. But he does know social media “hooks you in. They say every time you get a text message, your brain releases a chemical and you get, like, a rush and have to check it.”

Lanton shrugs: “It doesn’t bother me that I’m not the center of attention. I know people who, if they only got 12 likes on an Instagram post and not 100, they’ll be down on themselves. Pshaw. It’s just a post. But it’s all about the number of people, number of likes, number of views, streaks—like, the more people you have watching your life, the more glamorous it is. But really it isn’t.”

“Unless it’s, like, on fire, and it’s really spectacular, there’s no real need to post your everyday meal.”

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“I’M BORED”

my phone, ’cause it’s not—well, Snapchat will leave, but it’s not necessarily going anywhere.”

She chuckles: “People say, ‘This generation is always looking down at their phones.’ But I’ll say, ‘Mom, what are we doing for dinner?’ and she’s looking

Some feeds are arty, some all sports, but in general people post what they’re doing with their friends, where they’re going. “Or someone saying, ‘I’m bored. Want to hang out?” Hodges adds.

And what, in an age of constant stimulation, does “bored” mean?

“It’s more that you’re alone,” she explains. “It’s not ‘I don’t have anything to do at all’; it’s ‘I’m all by myself right now.’” Even the shortcuts are a bid for company: “HMU means hit me up, send me a message. WTW, what’s the word, what’s going on?

Pop out to this means come to this with me.”

A corollary of boredom is FOMO, the desperate fear of missing out on some experience. “Like, if my friends go do something, and I have to work, I’ll think, ‘What are they doing? I wish I was there.

Are they talking about me?’” admits Haddad. “It’s weird; I’m just anxious about that kind of stuff.”

“Most people don’t really talk about it,” Hodges notes.

“No one comes out and says, ‘Man, I saw them hanging out.’

It’s something you keep to yourself and get over internally.”

She suspects that “friendship is going to be more SENIOR, and more on social WESTMINSTER media and less CHRISTIAN face-to-face.” But ACADEMY Lanton finds hers elf re ally pulling away. “My friends are always busy, and they don’t necessarily post. The people on my Snapchat, I don’t necessarily know them, and there’s nothing to look at that really takes my interest.

I’d rather spend a day at the library than spend a day on

down at her phone. I used to do that, just sit on my phone. I don’t do it anymore. I just chill. You get more of an appreciation for what’s around you.

“Life’s sorta like Snapchat,” she remarks. “It’s gonna disappear—so look around.”

DOMINIC CUSUMANO

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9 HABITS OF HIGHLY SELECTIVE STUDENTS Keep these steps in mind when choosing a high school.

BY JEN ROBERTS

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#

1

START EARLY.

Families should begin thinking about high school options as early as sixth grade. “Starting early allows prospective students and their parents plenty of time to thoroughly explore the various high school options and narrow their selections to one to three choices by the time the students enter eighth grade,” says Anja Schmelter, director of admissions at St. Louis University High School. “This usually makes the application process much smoother.”

The vast range of private schools

across St. Louis can present an overwhelming array of options to parents and students looking for the right fit. Does your child want a coed school, or single-sex? Is it important that the school has a religious affiliation? ¶ There are many considerations in finding the right school, but it’s ultimately a personal decision. It’s important to keep your family’s priorities in mind while researching schools, but it’s also essential to be ready to learn throughout the process. ¶ Maria Zak, a 2017 Cor Jesu graduate, advises students to “fully explore all of their options. You’ll feel more confident in your decision if you keep an open mind and explore your many options.” Maria did just that: In middle school, she attended many open houses and shadowed students at four different high schools before deciding on Cor Jesu. “We found that having our children visit multiple schools helped them realize which was the best fit,” says Karen Zak, Maria’s mom. ¶ To help you navigate the process, we’ve asked admissions directors, parents, and alumni for tips.

no .

2

ENJOY THE PROCESS.

Applying to schools with high academic expectations can be stressful, but it’s important to remember the big picture. A student is selecting where he or she will grow for the next four years.

The selection process is just as much an opportunity for the student to learn about the school as it is for the school to learn about the student.

The Secondary School Admission Test—the standardized exam used to assess students’ abilities—causes some of this stress, but admissions are based on many factors. “Don’t overstress or over-prep for the SSAT,” says Peggy Laramie, director of admissions at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. “It’s one piece of the puzzle.”

The admissions process is about determining whether a school will be a good fit for your child.

“We want to ensure that each student will thrive in our academic environment and enhance life at SLUH,” says Schmelter.

SLUH alum Peter Hennessey also advises applicants not to fret over the process. “The amazing thing about going to high school in St. Louis is that there are so many incredible options,” he says. “It’ll all work out just fine.”

Maria Zak agrees: “Choosing a high school is an important decision, but in many ways, you can’t make a wrong choice; we are so fortunate to have a lot of great high schools in the St. Louis area.”

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number

three

COMMUNICATE. Choosing the right school is a family decision. Parents should work alongside the child throughout the process, says Schmelter; they play an important role in helping select a high school that best fits the child’s academic abilities and interests.

It’s important that parents have open and ongoing communication with their child throughout the selection process. “A family visit to a prospective school together is important,” says Tim Sullivan, director of admissions at De Smet Jesuit High School, “but the conversation on the ride home or at the dinner table is equally important.”

“Clear and constant communication with your family is vital for a smooth process,” says recent MICDS graduate Caleb Pultman. “I was very open with my parents about what I wanted in a high school experience and what academic goals I had for myself.”

Maria Zak recommends making lists of likes and dislikes along the way. “It will help you narrow your choices to make the best decision later,” she says.

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4

no .

DO YOUR RESEARCH.

You can’t visit every school, so you want to narrow your search through preliminary research. Spend time looking at schools’ websites, which can often give you a sense of a school’s culture, curriculum, and extracurricular activities. When examining curriculum, pay attention to the number of honors classes, advanced placement courses, foreign language options, and fine arts opportunities. These course offerings are often where significant differences between schools exist.

Sullivan advises parents to look at a school’s functional benefits. “Most kids won’t care a lot about a high school’s college scholarships awarded to the senior class or its college credit courses,” he says, “but these are school characteristics that will really help the student and family with college tuition and choices down the road.”

You can also learn a lot about a school through social media. “Follow the school’s social media accounts to get a taste of life on campus,” says Laramie. “Sign up for their emails, and get the inside scoop from current parents you know.”

5 VISIT THE SCHOOLS. There are so many opportunities to visit schools that you can get started as early as elementary school. Summer camps are a great way to expose children to academic, athletic, and enrichment offerings at a particular school, says Katie Thiemann, director of advancement at Cor Jesu Academy. ¶ St. Joseph’s Academy, for instance, uses summer camp as a way to introduce their school to younger students. “We’re busy all summer with girls from all over St. Louis, ranging from 7 or 8 years old to high school age,” says Michael Wade, director of admissions. ¶ Karen Zak recommends attending sporting events and musicals as a way to experience the school’s culture. ¶ High school nights and open houses are held at most private schools in late September or early October. Prospective families may visit the schools to learn about academics and extracurricular activities and meet current students and faculty. ¶ Another option is to spend a day shadowing a current student.

Not only can the experience help a prospective student get a feel for classes, but it can also help him or her gain an understanding of a particular school’s social dynamics. ¶ “We make an effort to match our visitors with students who have similar interests so they can talk about the various opportunities and classes that they are most interested in,” says Cori Sallaberry, associate director of admissions at St. Joseph’s Academy. “Shadowing is an excellent way to see what a real day at school is like.”

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#

6 CONSULT THE EXPERTS.

no .

Consider advice from middle school counselors, who are familiar with area high schools and the student’s academic profile and interests. A high school’s admissions staff can also help answer questions to help you make an informed decision.

Many schools offer need-based scholarships, which make private education accessible to families who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Schools typically want bright students from all financial backgrounds. “We admit students based on their ability to succeed,” says Schmelter, “rather than their economic circumstances.” ¶ “Don’t simply shut a school out of your decision-making process based on the price tag,” says Laramie. “Follow through with your research and explore financial aid opportunities by engaging with the admissions office and taking the necessary steps to apply for financial aid. You might be surprised to learn that the financial impact isn’t as harsh as you initially thought.”

number

seven

PICK A SCHOOL THAT SUPPORTS HOW YOUR CHILD LEARNS. It’s important for the parents to know their child’s approach to learning so they can help identify a school that will best support those needs. Laramie suggests asking the following questions: Will the teachers be able to meet my child where he or she is and then support and challenge my child to achieve the highest potential? How do the educators approach teaching different children in different ways? Does the school have learning specialists and counselors who can support my child’s needs? Can my child get help from teachers outside classroom time if necessary? Does the school schedule allow this collaborative time, or is there an after-school study session?

8

DON’T ELIMINATE A SCHOOL ON THE BASIS OF ITS TUITION.

#

THE 9 SELECT BEST FIT.

After you’ve visited schools and submitted applications, pick the place that’s the best fit. “Encourage your child to make their school choice on what is best for them, not where their friends are going,” says Karen Zak. “Also, don’t force a school on your child based on family tradition; try to leave the decision-making up to your child as much as possible.”

“A high school experience isn’t one-size-fits-all,” says Sullivan. “Just because your first child attended X school doesn’t mean that school is right for a younger sibling.”

“Follow your gut,” says 2017 MICDS graduate Hope Keeley. “I knew from my first visit at MICDS that it was the place I wanted to spend the next four years.

The most important thing about high school is enjoying your experience.”

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MATCH THE MASCOT TEST YOUR ST. LOUIS PRIVATE SCHOOL PROWESS BY MATCHING THESE 10 SCHOOLS AND THEIR MASCOTS.

A. Many St. Louisans are familiar with the blue-and-gold Principia P, but the letter doesn’t stand just for “Principia.”

1. WILDCATS

AN SW ER KEY: 1. C 2 .I 3. G 4 .A 5. D 6.J 7.B 8 .E 9. F 10. H

3. CHARGERS

6. BOMBERS

H. Don’t be confused by the person in the squirrel costume.

Villa Duchesne’s teams are actually named after something much more traditional than a rodent.

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D. Nerinx Hall’s mascot is undoubtedly the only St. Louis mascot to share a name with a Crayola product.

F. SLUH proudly displays a slightly smaller version of its bigger brother’s oddlooking mascot, a well-known sight for St. Louisans— but what the heck is it?

B. Crossroads College Preparatory School’s mascot is one of the more interesting in town.

4. PANTHERS

7. CURRENTS

2. WARRIORS

E. MICDS shares a mascot with Ladue, which is just a mile down the road, and Stan Kroenke’s relocated—but still bad—football team.

G. Cor Jesu also shares its mascot with a recently relocated NFL team. The process of elimination can help you get this answer.

I. Whitfield’s mascot wears armor and carries a golden shield.

9. JUNIOR BILLIKENS

10. SAINTS

C. Westminster Christian Academy’s mascot is among the five most popular high school mascots in the country—and looks pretty fierce.

5. MARKERS

8. RAMS

J. The mascot of John Burroughs dates back to a war, and for one year the football team sported a B-2 stealth plane on their helmets. What kind of plane is a B-2?

Illustration by Elias Stein

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3.

PRACTICE. There’s no substitute for reading when it comes to a test's verbal component. “Speed and accuracy count—the quicker a student can read a passage and analyze its main ideas, themes, and messages, the better off they will be,” says Matt Essman, director of college counseling at MICDS. For the Math section, it’s important to start practicing early to identify where you might need a refresher. And when studying, focus on areas of improvement. “Devote an hour each week to studying,” advises Kancherla. And pace yourself: “Don’t try to study everything at once the week before,” says Halford.

4.

PASSING THE TEST 6 expert tips to prepare you for the ACT

BY MAYA McDOWELL

The average score on the ACT nationwide is 21. So what does it take to earn a perfect 36 on every section of the standardized test? Three rising seniors from area high schools share their tips. Grab your No. 2 pencils—you may want to take notes.

1.

DEVELOP SKILLS ACROSS MULTIPLE AREAS. When choosing classes, opt for a rigorous courseload in a variety of subjects. Sohan Kancherla, a senior at Saint Louis Priory School, took advanced placement courses in humanities, science, math, and languages. “That helped me develop critical thinking skills, the ability to analyze grammar, and the ability to absorb reading comprehension really fast, which is a big deal on the ACT,” Kancherla says. “I made sure to focus on my schoolwork first, and then the ACT will come naturally.”

30

2.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PREPARATION RESOURCES. Many schools offer practice tests, and some offer test prep classes. Use these resources to your advantage; they can help narrow down what you should focus on when preparing for the test. Ella Halford, who’s entering her senior year at MICDS, took a prepractice SAT and ACT in her sophomore year. “They help you figure out where you are now, where you want to be, and how far you have to go,” she says. Halford also worked with a math tutor who was on a list of recommended tutors that she received from school.

FUEL YOURSELF. It’s important to get a good night’s rest before the ACT and to eat a good breakfast that morning. “That really has a huge impact, because it’s a long test,” says Priory senior Daniel Willman. His breakfast of choice? An omelet.

5.

REMEMBER TESTTAKING STRATEGIES. Many strategies focus on format. For the ACT’s Reading and English sections, for instance, Halford suggests reviewing the questions first and thinking about “the piece of writing as a whole.” Says Halford, “If you think about how a passage is written—formal or casual—that usually helps narrow down to a couple of answers.”

As for the Math section? “Order of difficulty.”

6.

CALM YOUR NERVES. Go into the test with a positive mindset. “Instead of focusing on whether you miss something, just keep moving,” Halford says. Some nerves are good because they drive you to work harder, says Kancherla, “but after a while, being nervous will just [detract from] your test-taking ability.” His advice: “Don’t stress out too much. It’s only one test, and you can retake it.”

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SCHOOL

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

All parents want to give their children the best education possible. For some parents, that means an education rooted in their own religious philosophies or values; for others, it might mean the use of a preferred learning approach.

SCHOOL PROFILES Finding the right school for your child can seem overwhelming. Take a look at 50-plus local private schools to see what makes each unique, so you can find the school that’s the right fit for you and your family.

For important admissions dates for these schools, see p. 53.

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SCHOOL

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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St. Louis University High School 4970 OAKLAND AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110 · 314-531-0330 SLUH.ORG · ASCHMELTER@SLUH.ORG

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Infused with the five-century-old tradition and philosophy established by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, SLUH’s focus in all of its endeavors reflects the Jesuit motto “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” a Latin term meaning “for the greater glory of God.” SLUH’s dedicated faculty—95 percent of whom have advanced degrees—seeks to develop critical thinking and thoughtful expression among their students. Its curriculum is impressive by any standard, offering more than 100 electives and Advanced Placement courses in over 20 disciplines. By engaging nearly every interest through a storied athletic program and more than 75 clubs and organizations,

SLUH further encourages students to build community through participation.

SLUH’s student body is composed of over 1,000 young men from 93 zip codes in the metropolitan area. A financial aid program of $4.1 million ensures that all academically qualified young men are admitted on the basis of their ability to succeed, rather than their economic circumstances.

With an average ACT score of 30, the 274 members of the SLUH Class of 2017 were accepted at 200 different colleges and universities throughout the United States, enrolling in eighty-five. These students now benefit from scholarships for their freshman year of studies valued at approximately $3.2 million. Ultimately, SLUH is about raising the bar for its students through a challenging curriculum, rich diversity and tradition, caring teachers and a self-motivated student population that pushes every individual to excel.

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SCHOOL

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Incarnate Word Academy 2788 NORMANDY DRIVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63121 · 314-725-5850 IWACADEMY.ORG · ADMISSIONS@IWACADEMY.ORG

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ncarnate Word Academy challenges young women of faith to achieve their God-given potential as academically successful Women of the Word, following the example of Jesus, the Incarnate Word, by promoting human dignity, thereby empowering themselves and others to make a positive impact on our world.

As a premier Catholic college preparatory high school, the Academy utilizes effective instructional practices, fosters a community of critical thinkers and leaders and supports all aspects of personal development. Students receive the strongest possible academic preparation for post-secondary education.

The school’s unique modular scheduling is a key component for college preparation. Beginning as freshmen, students have blocks of discretionary time each day. There are options for how that time is spent, with some restrictions, but each girl is responsible for scheduling the time and using it efficiently.

During these “open labs,” students can conference with a teacher, work on a group project, do research or

work independently. Upon graduation, Women of the Word begin their college career with an edge—already knowing how to collaborate, structure their downtime and initiate discussions with professors.

The modular schedule, combined with a multibuilding campus and a diverse offering of clubs, service organizations and athletic opportunities, all contribute to the school’s college-like atmosphere and the academic preparedness of alumnae. In addition, students at the Academy have a strong sense of community; they celebrate cultural diversity, work for peace and justice and are responsive to those in need.

“We are thankful for the students and their families who willingly and generously share their time, talents and treasures in partnering with us to make the Academy the outstanding community that it is,” says David L. McKenzie, president.

Fun Fact The Academy is celebrating 85 years of excellence.

Founded in its present location in 1932, Incarnate Word Academy is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the

Bragging Rights

41

Honors, AP and ACP course offerings

Incarnate Word.

8

Missouri Girls State Basketball Championships

92%

Class of 2017 students who took at least one college course

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Miriam: The Learning Disability Experts MIRIAM SCHOOL, MIRIAM ACADEMY & MIRIAM LEARNING CENTER · 314-968-3893 MIRIAMSTL.ORG · MGIBSON@MIRIAMSTL.ORG

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iriam: The Learning Disability Experts is St. Louis’ oldest and most comprehensive resource for children with complex learning disabilities. Its three programs—Miriam School, Miriam Learning Center and the new Miriam Academy for high school students—serve more than 1,000 children annually.

For 60 years, Miriam School has offered an independent special education school program designed for bright children in pre-K through 8th grade with learning disabilities. Miriam School provides a personalized learning program, integrated therapies and a nurturing community to help students thrive both academically and socially.

The Miriam Learning Center supports children ages 3–18 through a range of services including evaluations, tutoring, occupational therapy, speech/language therapies and music therapy, as well as social skills and in-school supports. Students can remain in their current educational environment, but take advantage of Miriam’s trained and certified specialists.

No matter where families are in their journey, Miriam’s goal is to identify needs and provide solutions

that help students who are struggling in school to unlock their potential.

Miriam Academy: In 2016, Miriam opened a new high school for teens with learning challenges in an environment designed to help them excel. Miriam Academy features a 10:1 student/faculty ratio, as well as personalized instruction and curriculum modifications to accommodate varied learning styles and abilities.

To meet each student’s needs, Miriam Academy’s teachers incorporate project-based learning strategies with an emphasis on social skills development, as well as speech/language and occupational therapy. Opportunities such as internships and in-class experiences help to build college and career readiness.

Miriam Academy is committed to providing students with not only a top education, but also a fulfilling high school experience. They emphasize social skills development, along with extracurricular offerings like after-school clubs.

Miriam Academy is now enrolling 9th- and 10thgraders. Come take a tour and see what a difference they can make for your student.

Fun Fact Miriam Academy is a new high school designed for students with learning disabilities.

Its 10:1 student/ faculty ratio makes it easy for students to receive instruction tailored to their individual

Bragging Rights

$1 million Financial assistance

36

needs.

45

Charter, public and private school partners

1,000

Students served

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PROFILES

Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS) 101 NORTH WARSON ROAD, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI 63124 · 314-993-5100 MICDS.ORG · ADMISSION@MICDS.ORG

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ICDS is a college-prep, independent school that offers a dynamic learning environment for intellectually curious and ambitious students from junior kindergarten (age 4) through 12th grade. One school with three divisions, at MICDS they “help students discover their unique talents, preparing them for higher education and a life of purpose and service as compassionate, engaged citizens of a global community.”

When your child attends MICDS, they’ll receive an unmatched education in math, science and the humanities. They’ll acquire strong academic skills and a lifelong love of learning. They’ll learn from the best—from teachers who are skilled educators, experts in their fields, mentors and coaches.

At MICDS, your child will engage with a handson and innovative curriculum, giving them a deep understanding across disciplines and grade levels.

They’ll enjoy small class sizes that promote vibrant intellectual exchange and a strong spirit of community. Starting in fifth grade, they’ll receive their own

laptop, used to facilitate learning and individualized instruction.

Your future MICDS Ram will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, which reflects the school’s ongoing investment in their future. Take a visit to campus and experience for yourself the STEM facility—the most advanced secondary education building in the region—equipped with laboratories for research, plant sciences and robotics.

Or check out the newly constructed athletics facilities—the Steward Family Aquatic Center, Holtman Stadium, O’Hara Field and Holekamp Track and Field Stadium—which enhance MICDS’ strong athletic program and reflect the school’s commitment to excellence in all endeavors.

At MICDS, your child will be challenged to become their best self. Empowered by the school’s collaborative community, they’ll explore their passions, engage in innovative learning and pursue excellence in and out of the classroom.

Bragging Rights

65

ZIP codes represented by the MICDS student body

$4.5 million

Financial aid granted last year to 23% of students

26

State championships in nine different sports over the last 10 years

Fun Fact The MICDS STEM building is the most advanced of its kind in the region and earned LEED v3.0 Platinum certification for its design and construction, LEED’s highest level of certification, attained by just a small percentage of LEED-certified projects.

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PROFILES

The College School 7825 BIG BEND BOULEVARD, WEBSTER GROVES, MO 63119 · 314-962-9355 THECOLLEGESCHOOL.ORG · ADMISSIONS@THECOLLEGESCHOOL.ORG

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he College School engages children ages 3 to 13 in experiential curriculum that is both rigorous and reflective. From coding robots and analyzing ecosystems to conducting experiments in the woods and becoming investigative journalists in local neighborhoods, students do more than learn in a traditional classroom setting. They become collaborators, risk-takers and problem-solvers who believe they can change the world.

The College School is committed to fostering each student’s individuality and voice. Through a caring and inclusive environment, students feel comfortable sharing their perspective, while also seeking to understand and value the perspectives of others in the community. From their Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood pro-

gram, where students learn to advocate on behalf of themselves, to their diversity council and student service leadership program in middle school, students learn and grow into active and aware global citizens.

Parents are partners in the TCS journey and share that they love seeing their children discover how powerful their minds, ideas and words can be. And with three buses, two vans and odometers clicking more than 10,000 miles a year, TCS goes where the action is. They believe learning happens everywhere.

Schedule a personal tour today to see the students in action, meet the teachers and learn about The College School’s newest programs and facilities, including the stateof-the-art Jan Phillips Learning Center on their second campus.

Bragging Rights 28

Acres of school-owned property in the LaBarque Watershed for hands-on, inquiry-based learning

95%+

Students accepted into their first-choice high school

5,000+

Non-perishable food items donated from Second and Third Grade’s annual Wagon Train of Food

The Fulton School 123 SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD, ST. ALBANS, MO 63073 636-458-6688 · TFSSA.ORG · INFO@TFSSA.ORG

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he Fulton School strives to be an extension of the home, cultivating children’s capabilities and challenging them to take academic risks and develop self-confidence.

Set on a beautiful 13-acre wooded campus just 10 minutes west of Wildwood, TFS is a small, Montessori-based, toddler through 12th grade school. There are no ceilings to hinder development and no hiding places for students to resist growth.

The teaching styles are refreshing, and the students are engaged, accepted and passionate about learning. Whether it’s a second-grader programming Lego robotics with an iPad, an eighth-grader sketching out plans for a greenhouse or an 11th-grader cataloging wildflowers on campus, TFS students are as unique as their passions. And the teachers are experts at bringing those passions to life in the classroom.

Lower School includes daily physical education class and outdoor play, plus weekly Spanish, music and art classes. Upper School offers a strong college-prep, liberal arts curriculum with clubs, electives, daily physical education class, faculty advisors, extensive travel opportunities and varsity athletics. Philanthropy, public speaking and entrepreneurial opportunities are integrated at all grade levels.

Plus, a farm program involves all students in caring for animals like chickens, goats and bees; maintaining the gardens and orchard; running a business to sell eggs, honey and produce; and applying advanced science techniques in a laboratory.

Bragging Rights 13

Acreage on campus, which includes a creek and forest

38

80%

Teachers with advanced degrees

86%

Fourth- through 12th-graders who traveled with TFS last year

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PROFILES

Andrews Academy–Creve Coeur 888 N. MASON ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-878-1883 ANDREWSACADEMY.COM · JPATTERSON@ANDREWSACADEMY.COM

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ndrews Academy is a private, independent school for children in junior kindergarten through grade 6. Andrews Academy encourages students to maximize their intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth by offering an advanced curriculum in a traditional setting.

The faculty and staff are dedicated to creating a learning environment where imagination and creativity are inspired and academic challenges are met. Special classes include art, music, computers, STEM, library, physical education, Spanish and public speaking. Private piano, strings, band and Chinese lessons also are offered.

Set on a beautiful wooded campus, the education complex includes a state-of-the-art computer lab, a swimming pool for summer camp, a performing arts stage, athletic facilities and a nature trail. Much of the campus is retained in its natural state to preserve area wildlife and to provide students with nearby resources for environmental study. The average class size is 12 to 15. In an atmosphere of respect and compassion, an internationally diverse student body has the opportunity to reach unlimited goals.

Bragging Rights 1:1

Each student in grades 3–6 receives an iPad

10,000+

Books fill Andrews Academy’s library

99%

Graduates who go to prominent St. Louis secondary schools

Chesterfield Montessori School 14000 LADUE ROAD, CHESTERFIELD, MO 63017 · 314-469-7150 CHESTERFIELDMONTESSORI.ORG · INFO@CHESTERFIELDMONTESSORI.ORG

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ounded in 1981, Chesterfield Montessori School offers authentic AMI (Association Montessori International) Montessori programs for children ages 16 months through 14 years. Montessori education stimulates a passion for learning, exploration and discovery.

Chesterfield Montessori School’s beautiful sunlit facility features classrooms that are open, inviting, well organized and equipped with the full range of materials scientifically developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. The nurturing AMI-trained teachers enjoy working with the culturally diverse student body. The five-acre campus includes playgrounds, tennis courts, a swimming pool and children’s gardens.

Recognized as one of the best Montessori schools in the U.S., Chesterfield Montessori

School empowers students to carry with them a solid record of academic achievement, a belief in the dignity of work, and a sense of responsibility for their own development. The partnership of parents, children and teachers makes the school a place where children and families flourish. As one current parent states, “This school is a hidden gem in St. Louis!

The teachers are amazing, the curriculum is challenging and the children’s love for each other and for learning and exploration is truly unique.” One alumni parent, whose daughter now works at the British embassy, says, “She is strong, confident and talented, and I attribute much of that to her Montessori education at CMS.” Chesterfield Montessori School welcomes you for a tour to discover the difference!

Bragging Rights 100%

Students engaged in individualized, hands-on learning daily

100%

Classroom teachers with advanced Montessori diplomas

100%

Students who feel positive about their educational experience

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Villa di Maria Montessori School 1280 SIMMONS AVENUE, KIRKWOOD, MO 63122 · 314-822-2601 VILLADIMARIA.ORG · INFO@VILLADIMARIA.ORG

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estled on six beautiful acres in Kirkwood, Villa di Maria Montessori School has been serving children in the St. Louis community for 50 years. Villa di Maria prides itself in providing the highest quality Montessori education to children ages 2.5–12. Demand for this high-quality education is evident by the school’s continuously growing enrollment. The new campus revitalization project has allowed Villa di Maria to increase the number of students it serves without compromising the integrity of the education or community it provides. Children develop academic and practical knowledge through experiential learning in an environment that extends beyond the classroom walls.

As an AMI-accredited (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori school, Villa di Maria is committed and enthusiastic about providing an authentic Montessori en-

vironment. Villa di Maria offers carefully designed, lively spaces in which children develop their intellect, spirit and body. The school cultivates an enthusiasm for learning in each child. Promoting thoughtful, responsible behavior, Villa di Maria fosters respect for the world and for others who share that world.

Encouraged to tackle challenging tasks, children develop greater competence, selfesteem and independence. With a strong academic program, Villa di Maria Montessori emphasizes life skills, such as problem solving, teamwork, self-direction and selfexpression.

To schedule a campus tour or to learn more about how Villa di Maria helps foster independence and a lifelong love of learning, visit www. villadimaria.org or email info@villadimaria.org.

Bragging Rights 15%

Increase in enrollment since 2015

50

Years of authentic Montessori education

7,000

Square footage of new classroom space

Visitation Academy 3020 N. BALLAS ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 · 314-625-9103 VISITATIONACADEMY.ORG · SSPELLMAN@VISITATIONACADEMY.ORG

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leader in educating young women, girls and boys in the St. Louis area since 1833, Visitation Academy is an independent Catholic school offering a coeducational Montessori program, one of the first in St. Louis, for ages 2 through kindergarten, and the area’s only all-girls education for grades 1 through 12. Small class sizes, combined with a talented and experienced faculty, allow each student to thrive in an atmosphere of individualized attention. In addition, studies have shown that girls who are educated in an all-girls environment exhibit increased self-confidence and leadership qualities, greater success in math and science, and are more likely to pursue advanced degrees.

Project-based learning is the foundation of a Visitation education, encouraging students to think critically, be creative, ana-

lyze, apply, collaborate, communicate and problem solve—crucial skills for their future in this ever-changing world.

A Visitation education is infused with Salesian spirituality, developed out of the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, the founders of the Order of the Visitation. At Viz, all are encouraged to “Live Jesus” through optimism, gentle strength, humility, joy and inner freedom.

Students “Live Jesus” by reflecting upon Christ in their daily interactions and, as alumnae, carry this spirituality with them into the world.

Viz is a place where you can be who you are, discover your unique gifts and live your spirit.

Bragging Rights 97%

2017 graduates earned scholarships of more than $20.3 million

40

29

Average ACT score

85%

Faculty with advanced degrees

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St. Joseph’s Academy 2307 S. LINDBERGH BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 · 314-394-4321 SJA1840.ORG · MWADE@SJA1840.ORG

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t. Joseph’s Academy, a Catholic collegepreparatory high school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, has been a leader in private education for over 175 years.

The curriculum is rigorous by design and focuses on developing leaders. More than 140 courses are offered, including 43 honors, AP, Advanced College Credit or Advanced Credit Program courses. SJA seeks a balanced approach and invites young women to pursue their many interests. Whether it’s Mandarin Chinese, forensic science, Honors Art Portfolio, robotics, engineering, journalism, performing arts or athletics, SJA prepares young women to make a profound impact in the world.

SJA lives out the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph each day through fostering the

desire to “serve the dear neighbor without distinction.” Each student earns a minimum of 152 hours of community engagement during her four years. The senior capstone project is a three-week immersion experience in a community agency.

An entrepreneurial experience at SJA activated in 2016 with the opening of a student-run coffee shop—called “Cup of Joe”— providing students the knowledge to run a business through innovative leadership.

Holding students to high standards is the key to SJA’s success. The school has been experts in educating young women in an environment that challenges them to grow in faith, knowledge and respect for self and others. For more information, visit sja1840.org.

Bragging Rights 88%

30

Class of 2017 students who took college credit courses

Average ACT for top 20% of students

3.78

Average athlete GPA

Saint Louis Priory School 500 S. MASON ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-434-3690 PRIORY.ORG · ADMISSION@PRIORY.ORG

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aint Louis Priory School is a Benedictine, Catholic, academically rigorous all-boys school serving grades 7–12. Priory students come from 102 different elementary schools and live in 54 different ZIP codes. The school’s 150-acre campus is conveniently located at I-64 and Mason Road.

Priory offers a challenging, traditional liberal arts education, with required coursework in English, Classical and Modern Languages, Math, Natural Sciences, History, Theology, Computer Science and Fine Art. Eighty-eight percent of the faculty at Priory has advanced degrees.

Students have the chance to learn medieval arts, including stained glass and calligraphy, through the only medieval arts program at this level in the country. Priory has more than 35 student organizations,

including Community Service Club, Competitive Robotics, Mock Trial and Chess, allowing students to pursue their talents and leadership opportunities while preparing for success in college. Athletics are part of the curriculum and foster friendship, teamwork and school spirit. Every student participates in competitive sports at the high school level.

The student body gathers for weekly prayer and mass, and the advisory system and Tutoria program encourage relationships between students in different grades.

An experienced college counseling office provides support and guidance to students and families throughout their time at Priory, ensuring students are prepared for success in college and beyond.

Bragging Rights 5

Rising seniors who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT

62

2017 graduates awarded scholarships valued at $2.5+ million per year of college

30%+

Priory students receiving tuition assistance

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Rossman School 12660 CONWAY ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-434-5877 ROSSMANSCHOOL.ORG · ADMISSION@ROSSMANSCHOOL.ORG

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elebrating 100 years, Rossman is an independent preparatory school dedicated to nurturing academic excellence, character development and leadership skills in children age 4 through grade 6. Nestled on a 20-acre campus in Creve Coeur and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Rossman implements a stimulating curriculum that inspires a love for learning while providing a solid foundation in language arts, mathematics and specialty subjects such as art, music, physical education, science, Spanish and social studies. The school’s thoughtfully designed program teaches children how to learn and equips them with the problem solving, critical thinking, organization, time management, and collaboration skills that future leaders need.

Rossman’s team teaching model allows for different perspectives and approaches to each child’s learning. Two full-time home-

room teachers work together to plan, deliver and assess instruction. This also gives students two teachers to connect with, and two teachers to support them when needed. Teachers’ personal relationships with each child and the strong partnership between the school and parents lead to graduates who are academically well prepared, thoughtful, motivated and self-confident.

Opportunities for growth and development outside of the traditional classroom abound at Rossman and include membership in a Rossman School Family, a group of students from all grade levels who meet monthly to study character development and community building while forming meaningful supportive relationships.

Bragging Rights 100

Years providing an extraordinary elementary education

2

Full-time teachers per class

$1 million

Grant for professional development received in 2016

Central Christian School

City Academy

700 S. HANLEY ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63105 · 314-727-4535 CENTRALSCHOOLSTL.ORG · ADMISSIONS@CENTRALSCHOOLSTL.ORG

4175 N. KINGSHIGHWAY BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63115 · 314-382-0085 CITYACADEMYSCHOOL.ORG · INFO@CITYACADEMYSCHOOL.ORG

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entral Christian School partners with families to instill a passion for God, a love of truth and a zeal to serve. Academically rigorous, unapologetically Christian and richly diverse (academically, racially and socio-economically), Central seeks to lay in students a foundation for the city and nation’s future civic engagers, thought leaders and change agents. Central believes that research-based best practices, a comprehensive, integrated curriculum and daily exposure to varied perspectives equip their students to love learning, think critically, apply knowledge and engage with a changing world for Christ. Educators teach students to understand themselves and their uniqueness while simultaneously valuing and serving the “other” in their classroom, neighborhood, city and world. Join Central November 10 for their Open House, or call to schedule a private tour.

ocated in north St. Louis, City Academy transforms children, families and the community through exceptional education and bold expectations that empower children to overcome barriers. City Academy was founded upon the belief that every child should have access to quality education. City Academy is the only private, independent elementary school in St. Louis providing scholarships to 100 percent of admitted families. Community support makes it possible for the school to provide $2.7 million in scholarships annually. City Academy believes in instilling a love of learning, a sense of leadership and a sense of responsibility in students from a young age. Scholars develop poise and dignity as they discover how to be active members of the community.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights $271,000

2016

Year Central was named a National Blue Ribbon School

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43

ZIP codes and 82 churches are represented at Central

Scholarships awarded to sixth grade graduates attending private secondary schools

368

Students and alumni served annually through City Academy programs

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Community School 900 LAY ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63124· 314-991-0005 COMMUNITYSCHOOL.COM · ADMISSIONS@COMMUNITYSCHOOL.COM

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arents recognize in their children the gift of something great. For more than a century, Community School has been a place to let those gifts flourish in an environment of active, experiential learning.

Seasoned faculty engage students with a challenging curriculum integrating academics, the arts, physical education and the interpersonal skills needed for talented young people to grow in confidence and experience. Community students are responsible, caring and vibrant people who learn how to work with and lead others.

Community believes the world is to be explored, examined and enjoyed—both the physical world and the world of ideas. The expansive campus—with its woods, trails,

pond, fields and light-filled classrooms—provides a perfect, safe environment for this early exploration. Students learn to dig deep into subjects and examine them in detail.

Parents value the security the secluded campus provides and the nurturing environment the teachers create.

The school’s approach is deeply personal, sensitive to the individual child. The childfocused classrooms and challenging curriculum reach children, whatever their level of readiness, in innovative ways that stretch their abilities and cultivate continued development. This builds a lifelong love of learning that prepares students for success at the very best secondary schools—and in life.

Bragging Rights 16

Wooded acres (one of the largest elementary campuses in St. Louis)

75%+

Students participating in after-school programs

2

Full-time teachers in every classroom

Immanuel Lutheran School

Forsyth School

115 S. SIXTH STREET, ST. CHARLES, MO 63301 · 636-946-0051 IMMANUELSTCHARLES.ORG · DMEERS@IMMANUELSTCHARLES.ORG

6235 WYDOWN BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63105 · 314-726-4542 FORSYTHONLINE.COM · ADMISSION@FORSYTHONLINE.COM

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mmanuel Lutheran School (est. 1848) is an outstanding Christian school for children and has been recognized as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Immanuel emphasizes high academic standards in a caring, Christ-centered environment. Students in preschool (beginning with 2-year-olds) through grade 8 are nurtured in the Christian faith, equipped with an excellent education and prepared for a life of Christian responsibility and service. Visit Immanuel by scheduling an appointment online or via phone.

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ocated next door to Washington University and Forest Park, Forsyth School has an unforgettable campus with classrooms in six repurposed, historic houses for children age 3 through grade 6. The city’s cultural institutions are walk-to resources. Forsyth is all about challenge—always with support from great teachers and classmates—and independence. It’s a place where personal best counts–on the field, on the stage, in the classroom and on the high ropes course in the Forsyth Adventure Center. It’s a place to stretch beyond your comfort zone—memory mapping, Shakespeare plays, Challenge Days. Forsyth teachers value active learning and authentic challenges. Here, children develop critical thinking skills; they learn that if they work hard, they can accomplish difficult and complex projects. Forsyth graduates are well prepared for the most selective secondary schools. Forsyth. There’s nothing like it.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

2016

Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

2

STEM Labs with robotics and 3-D printers

67

Awards won, out of 62 entries, at the 2017 Greater St. Louis Science Fair

85%

Forsyth students who participate in one or more league sports

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Whitfield School 175 S. MASON ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-434-5141 WHITFIELDSCHOOL.ORG · EMILY.CHRYSLER@WHITFIELDSCHOOL.ORG

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hitfield School cultivates ethical, confident, successful students in a community of innovation, collaboration and trust.

The school’s challenging, student-centered education prepares children in grades 6 through 12 to be innovative thinkers and 21st-century problem-solvers. A rigorous curriculum taught by dedicated professionals provides students with a strong liberal arts education. AP courses in math, science, history and languages are available.

Whitfield’s Habits of Mind and Heart curriculum provides a common language for character education for students and faculty, encouraging critical reflection for academic and personal growth.

The school’s commitment to technology serves as a powerful catalyst to learning.

Students and teachers use Microsoft Surface

Pro laptops to individualize instruction, design innovative learning experiences and interact with material from a variety of perspectives.

Whitfield teachers are experts in their disciplines and know how to challenge, support and engage students. The Whitfield experience is also about community. Parents are confident their child will be known and challenged. Students enjoy 24 clubs and activities; 20 high school sports; 11 middle school sports; and thriving music, theater and visual arts programs.

Whitfield graduates attend the world’s finest colleges and universities. They are prepared to negotiate a new global reality in science and technology; in business and economics; and in relationships, both interpersonal and international.

Bragging Rights 9,500+

Community service hours logged in one academic year

$2,031,174

Annual honorary scholarships earned by the Class of 2017

184

Colleges/universities that admitted students from the Class of 2017

Cor Jesu Academy

Crossroads College Preparatory School

10230 GRAVOIS ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63123 · 314-842-1546 CORJESU.ORG · EBUECHTER@CORJESU.ORG

500 DEBALIVIERE AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63112 · 314-367-8085 CROSSROADSCOLLEGEPREP.ORG · INFO@CROSSROADSCOLLEGEPREP.ORG

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or Jesu Academy is growing its campus and premier academic program with the completion of its new performance gymnasium, student commons, multipurpose/dance studio and four new innovative classrooms designed to foster leadership development and provide collaborative, cross-curriculum learning environments.

Coupled with its Corporate Partners Initiative (CPI), Cor Jesu is redefining “college prep” by infusing its critical thinking and missioncentered approach to education with tangible life experiences to foster hands-on career discovery for students at every grade level.

CPI is free of charge and helps direct students to the right fit for their gifts and passions; allows them to make educated choices about the college and major(s) they will eventually pursue; provides a springboard to other self-directed student opportunities; and opens doors for internships and employment offerings.

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Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

$39,672,236

The four-year scholarship total for the Class of 2017

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29

Average ACT score

hat makes Crossroads different? Smart and good: Intelligence is a tool. It is not enough to be smart; Crossroads expects students to be smart and good. Students are prepared to be successful in college and actively engaged in their communities. Everyone has a voice: At Crossroads, everyone has a place, a voice and something to contribute. Small is an asset: Crossroads’ size and culture foster authentic relationships. Flexibility provides balance: Crossroads combines challenging academics with athletics, the arts, and other activities, including outside interests students choose to pursue. The city is their campus: Located in the City of St. Louis, Crossroads’ campus extends well beyond the walls of its building. Be yourself: When students know and understand themselves, they can tap into their full potential.

50 %+

Students receiving financial assistance

$5.1 million

Merit-based scholarship total awarded to Class of 2017 students

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Chaminade College Preparatory School 425 S. LINDBERGH BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 · 314-993-4400 CHAMINADE-STL.ORG · ADMISSIONS@CHAMINADE-STL.ORG

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haminade College Preparatory School is a boarding and day program for young men in grades 6–12 in the Catholic, Marianist tradition. Chaminade’s school motto is Esto Vir, or “Be A Man.” The journey from boyhood to manhood is a path that includes spiritual, educational and social development.

The school’s mission is to build a student’s inherent skills, gifts and talents while realizing their potential as men.

Chaminade provides a modern, challenging curriculum using personalized instruction. Classrooms, averaging 17 students, are student-centered and address multiple learning styles. Chaminade’s alternating block schedule allows for longer classroom experiences for debate, labs and deeper academic engagement. There is intentional focus on executive function skills—how to learn, how to prepare, how to organize—

skills that pay dividends throughout life.

There is simply no other school for young men in St. Louis that devotes as many resources to the formation of character. Chaminade’s house system provides the natural framework by which leadership and family spirit come alive each and every day. The global reach program provides each Chaminade student with opportunities not just to learn about the world, but also to explore it. Classes participate in experiential education curriculum— hiking in the Grand Tetons, exploring the Tower of London and experiencing the civil rights movement in Memphis. Additionally, Chaminade’s resident program hosts students from around the world, exposing Chaminade students as purposeful citizens of the world.

Bragging Rights $7,000

Total academic scholarships each student may receive, based on grades and test scores

75%

Seniors leaving Chaminade with 40 hours of college credit or more

12+

Languages spoken in Chaminade’s Resident Hall

John Burroughs School

Notre Dame High School

755 S. PRICE ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 · 314-993-4040 JBURROUGHS.ORG · CLAVIGNE@JBURROUGHS.ORG

320 E. RIPA AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63125 · 314-544-1015 x1104 NDHS.NET · MALLK@NDHS.NET

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urroughs is a coeducational school (grades 7–12) recognized as one of the nation’s premier college preparatory institutions. The school often claims the state’s highest number and/or percentage of National Merit semifinalists.

Burroughs provides a liberal arts education that balances academics, arts, athletics and activities. A world-class faculty teaches a challenging curriculum in small classes. They encourage students to think critically and to explore their interests in a respectful and supportive environment. Teams compete at a high level in a range of sports, and students participate in about four dozen clubs, including Model U.N, film club and a super-mileage vehicle club. A mix of informality; community service; a diverse student body; and traditions, such as morning assembly and family-style lunch, distinguishes the Burroughs experience.

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otre Dame High School, a Catholic college-prep school, is sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Today, 100 percent of Notre Dame’s students pursue higher education and 75 percent receive merit-based scholarships. A variety of ACC courses challenge students to achieve college credits in a supportive high school environment. Students receive personal attention and 1-to-1 academic conferencing with a faculty advisor each week. Classroom teaching is enhanced with the integration of technology via iPads.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

245

National Merit semifinalists (fall 2007 through spring 2017)

50

State athletic championships (fall 2007 through spring 2017)

31%

Increase in enrollment for the 2017–2018 school year

1:1

Individual weekly appointments with faculty

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Thomas Jefferson School 4100 S. LINDBERGH BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63127 · 314-843-4151 TJS.ORG · ADMISSIONS@TJS.ORG

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ome experience Thomas Jefferson School (TJ), an internationally respected, coed day and boarding school for grades 7–12.

TJ is located on a beautiful 20-acre campus in Sunset Hills, where students come from twenty-eight St. Louis ZIP codes, five states and seven countries to connect with others who share the same passion for learning. No matter their background, TJ students share energy, independence, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to preparing for college.

Since 1946, TJ has been a greenhouse for true intellectual growth. The classical liberal arts curriculum emphasizes depth in a college preparatory core, and as a result, students’ SAT scores consistently position TJ among the world’s top boarding and day schools. TJ’s program emphasizes responsi-

bility for oneself and for the community, and holds students to high expectations in every area of school life.

College preparation is TJ’s specialty. Students receive an unparalleled academic foundation—by senior year, all subjects are studied at the AP level—and a daily schedule that encourages the development of personal independence. All graduates move on to four-year colleges and universities across the nation and abroad, where they settle in with confidence and ease.

St. Louis’ premier college preparatory school is hosting their two Open Houses on October 25, from 5 to 7 p.m., and November 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please RSVP to admissions@tjs.org.

Bragging Rights 100%

Students who applied Early Decision or Early Action were accepted to their first-choice college

2%

Top SATs amongst U.S. day and boarding schools

93%

TJ’s faculty have received post-graduate degrees, half of which are terminal degrees

MAP St. Louis

Nerinx Hall

3840 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63108 · 314-884-1637 MAPSTLOUIS.ORG · INFO@MAPSTLOUIS.ORG

530 E. LOCKWOOD AVENUE, WEBSTER GROVES, MO 63119 · 314-968-1505 NERINXHALL.ORG · ADMISSIONS@NERINXHS.ORG

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AP St. Louis provides adolescents with a Montessori learning environment that allows students to meet their full potential as they journey toward becoming creative, critically thinking and socially conscious adults.

Students study across the disciplines in direct connection with purposeful, on-site work, allowing them to build the lifelong desire for knowledge and understanding. From a foundational academic core of math, science and the humanities, students venture beyond the walls of the classroom to discover and investigate concepts in real-world applications. These meaningful, hands-on experiences open the door for further student-led study and analysis.

Now enrolling seventh through ninth grade students, and with an enrollment cap of 15 students per grade level, it is vitally important to apply early.

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s a Catholic high school founded by the Sisters of Loretto, Nerinx Hall educates young women to think critically, act deliberately and make a difference in the world. Inspired by the Gospel call to action and service, Nerinx women build community, work for justice and respect the dignity of each person. Nerinx strives to help each young woman know herself and her world. The school offers her a loving community of faith that nurtures her individual gifts, enlivens her spirit and reveals a world where hope prevails. A Nerinx Hall education includes more than 200 challenging elective courses and significant student leadership opportunities. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in science, math, English, world languages, social studies and fine arts.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

15

Students per grade level

46

100%

Increase in enrollment since 2016

200+

Elective course offerings

19,000

Hours given in service to the community in 2016-2017

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The St. Michael School of Clayton 6345 WYDOWN BOULEVARD, CLAYTON, MO 63105 · 314-721-4422 STMICHAELSCHOOL.ORG · LTIMMONS@STMICHAELSCHOOL.ORG

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he St. Michael School of Clayton educates children 12 weeks through 8th grade. At TSMSOC, they believe it is the educator’s responsibility to teach and research along with the student to support learning and success. The school also believes that all children are strong, capable and intelligent—and that listening is the heart of learning, enabling children to build relationships and accelerate their learning.

The St. Michael School of Clayton embraces the Reggio approach, an educational philosophy that focuses on each child’s innate intelligence, creativity and curiosity.

Their environment is highly collaborative and cultivates a diverse student population, an innovative and caring faculty, and meaningful community relationships. Awareness and interest in TSMSOC continues to grow

due to their innovative teaching style, multidisciplinary research projects and strong experiential-based curriculum.

TSMSOC students frequent Forest Park and enjoy many additional partnerships around the St. Louis area and beyond. In addition to core subjects, the school offers studio arts, performing arts, P.E. and Spanish daily. Low student-teacher ratios allow teachers to focus on students’ individual learning styles and needs. The school offers the opportunity to work with learning consultants, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists to address more specific educational and developmental needs. The St. Michael School of Clayton teaches to all faiths and learning styles.

Take a moment and visit their website to see the difference.

Bragging Rights 5,000+

Educators have visited to learn about TSMSOC’s experiential education program

5

Days per week that students can take P.E. and Spanish classes

100%

Students receiving a personalized education based on strengths and needs

Academy of the Sacred Heart

St. Frances Cabrini Academy

619 N. SECOND STREET, ST. CHARLES, MO 63301 · 636-946-6127 ASH1818.ORG

3022 OREGON AVENUE, ST. LOUIS MO 63118 · 314-776-0883 CABRINIACADEMY.ORG · ADMISSIONS@CABRINIACADEMY.COM

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ducating with love has been the mission of the Academy of the Sacred Heart for nearly 200 years. This year, the school celebrates its bicentennial. Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1818, St. Philippine Duchesne’s school continues to be a second home for children in pre-K through 8th grade. All aspects of student growth are expressed in the five goals of Sacred Heart education: faith, learning, service, community and personal growth.

A loving and nurturing environment, challenging academics and small class sizes are enhanced by character formation and leadership development. New this year: dedicated science, French and Spanish teachers in the lower school, a math lab for 7th and 8th grades and a new head of school, Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D. Countless graduates and their parents agree: there is something special about an Academy education!

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xperience Cabrini: Many cultures. One family. St. Frances Cabrini Academy is a Catholic grade school named after Mother Cabrini. She was known for her excellent work in cultivating an inclusive atmosphere for foreign-born individuals through education. The school serves eight parishes in South St. Louis City. Diversity is part of the everyday world at Cabrini; African, African-American, Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic students learn together and, in turn, learn to live together. These students bring many different cultures, languages and faith traditions to their fellow classmates and faculty. Cabrini prepares students for the world with a spiritually rich, academically focused and culturally diverse education. Join them for their first Open House this school year on Sunday, October 8, from 12–2 p.m.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

1818

Founded as the first school west of the Mississippi River

50%

7th graders who participated in Duke University TIP

92%

Faculty and staff with advanced degrees

16+

Nationalities making up the student body of Cabrini

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Raintree School 2100 S. MASON ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 · 314-858-1033 RAINTREESCHOOL.ORG

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hildren thrive on discovery. Poking, prodding, lifting up stones to glimpse what’s beneath and pulling back the underbrush to see what’s beyond: This is how children learn. This is how questions are answered and, more importantly, how new ones arise. This is why Raintree School is hidden—hidden on 11 acres of forest, streams, prairies, fallen logs and giant boulders. It is hidden, just waiting to be discovered by tiny feet and hands as they are propelled by their ever-growing minds.

The first and only Forest School in Missouri, Raintree is a Reggio Emilia-inspired independent preschool and kindergarten.

The school’s emergent, project-based curriculum emphasizes innovation, citizenship and grit.

Raintree’s faculty of continuously innovating educators provide leadership in

transformational experiential education and social impact learning. Raintree is a school where students are solutionaries and every teacher is a researcher. The school hosts dynamic learning events and consults with schools and organizations across the country and world.

Recognized worldwide as experts in place-based experiential education and project-based learning, Raintree teachers are globe-trotters. From Vancouver to Costa Rica and parts beyond, Raintree faculty have been invited to share their expertise with educators from around the world at national and international conferences and symposia.

For further information, visit Raintree’s website or facebook.com/raintreeschool.

Bragging Rights 2/3

1st

Faculty with advanced degrees

Forest School in Missouri

70%

Faculty invited to present at national and international conferences

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School

Westminster Christian Academy

348 S. MASON ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-576-6177 MIROWITZ.ORG · PBLOOM@MIROWITZ.ORG

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irowitz students have it all: a hands-on, academically rigorous curriculum; lessons in social responsibility; and meaningful Jewish learning. During their nine years (K–8) at Mirowitz, students travel nearly 18,000 miles to restore prairies, lobby elected officials, test water quality of streams, pick vegetables on a kibbutz and walk in the footsteps of MLK. As they do so, they joyfully connect with their heritage and develop skills for a lifetime of leadership.

Mirowitz’s pluralistic community represents the diversity of the Jewish community. Students consistently meet or exceed independent school norms on standardized tests. They graduate prepared for the most competitive high schools and with a moral compass that will guide them throughout their lives.

Bragging Rights 9

Outdoor learning labs for authentic discovery

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800 MARYVILLE CENTRE DRIVE, TOWN AND COUNTRY, MO 63017 314-997-2900 · WCASTL.ORG · ADMISSIONS@WCASTL.ORG

hrough a comprehensive six-year college-preparatory program, Westminster provides students in grades 7–12 with an excellent Christian educational experience where each student is challenged to reach his or her God-given potential. Faculty seek to create a culture that places a premium on relationships, nurturing the hearts and minds of students to learn, grow and compete at their highest level.

The school provides opportunities for students to excel in sciences; visual and performing arts; experiential learning, including enriching study abroad experiences; and a nationally recognized athletics program. Through unique initiatives, such as a dynamic robotics club, a specialized gifted program and a wide range of honors and AP courses, students discover and develop their intellectual, academic and creative gifts.

Bragging Rights 17,444

Miles each student travels for field trips (over nine years)

1st

Place recipient for Best Musical at St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards

4

Study abroad experiential learning opportunities

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Missouri Military Academy 204 N. GRAND STREET, MEXICO, MO 65265 · 573-581-1776 MISSOURIMILITARYACADEMY.ORG · INFO@MISSOURIMILITARYACADEMY.ORG

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issouri Military Academy is an all-boys preparatory boarding school with a military tradition. MMA’s comprehensive 360° education empowers boys and young men to unlock their full potential through a structured program of academic excellence, character development and leadership training.

Missouri Military Academy understands and embraces how boys and young men learn, and what inspires and challenges them. MMA educates the whole student to produce a graduate who possesses the life skills a young man needs to achieve his full potential and success in life. Teachers cultivate meaningful relationships with students,

often by coaching and mentoring outside of the classroom.

Missouri Military Academy has a 127-year tradition of developing young men from the United States and around the world with a sense of character and strong leadership traits, valued in all walks of life and professions. Graduates consistently achieve 100 percent college acceptance and earn an impressive number of scholarships, including to the U.S. service academies.

Missouri Military Academy’s 248-acre campus is just 90 minutes from St. Louis and provides a safe, pleasing setting for learning and growth.

Bragging Rights 15

Countries represented by the student body

$4.6 million College scholarships in 2017

80%

Graduates accepted to highly selective colleges and universities

COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School

Countryside Montessori School

801 S. SPOEDE ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 · 314-432-2021 VDOH.ORG · ADMISSIONS@VDOH.ORG

12226 LADUE ROAD, CREVE COEUR, MO 63141 · 314-434-2821 MONTESSORI4CHILDREN.COM

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Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

illa Duchesne and Oak Hill School is an independent Catholic school educating boys and girls age 3 through grade 6, and young women in grades 7 through 12. Faculty members are experienced in identifying a student’s gifts, building confidence and character in the classroom. Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to pursue their gifts through further studies and competition. All graduates attend four-year colleges and universities, with three out of four choosing colleges outside of Missouri. As a member of the International Network of Sacred Heart Schools, students also can participate in cultural exchanges with schools in more than 30 countries around the world. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available.

1 in 4

Students who score 30 or higher on the ACT

52

ZIP codes represented by the student body

ountryside Montessori School is dedicated to the education of the whole child. Countryside meets each child’s need for intellectual, physical, social and emotional development. The learning environment is designed to cultivate independence, individual responsibility, freedom of choice, concentration, problem-solving abilities, social interaction, competency in basic skills and a love of learning. By offering a superb Montessori education in a nurturing environment, Countryside strives to help children reach their full potential and become independent, lifelong learners.

3:1– 8:1

Student/teacher ratios

53

Years of educating the whole child

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De Smet Jesuit High School 233 N. NEW BALLAS ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 · 314-567-3500 DESMET.ORG · TSULLIVAN@DESMET.ORG

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hose at De Smet Jesuit High School understand that your son’s education is about more than the diploma. These are four important years in a young man’s personal growth—intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

De Smet’s mission is to inspire and prepare men for and with others to transform the world, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (all for the greater glory of God). To achieve this mission, they focus on three principles: • Embrace: Welcome and love a variety of students who can find their passion and pursue their interests.

• Innovate: Implement new or significantly improved approaches to learning that stoke a student’s creativity, imagination and critical thinking.

Empower: Provide students with voice and choice to do great things at De Smet Jesuit, and to prepare for the mission beyond.

De Smet Jesuit is an all-male, college preparatory Catholic high school featuring a top-tier academic program and a balanced emphasis on coursework, faith, service, and co-curricular activities, so graduates are best prepared for college and a “men-for-andwith-others” life beyond school.

Contact De Smet today for information on personal guided tours, Spartan-for-a-Day shadow visits and other opportunities to visit the centrally located campus.

•

Bragging Rights 79%

Class of 2017 students awarded college scholarships, with a total of $21 million

26

Average ACT score (Honor students average a score of 31.)

15%

De Smet graduates, over the past seven years, who have completed college early

Tower Grove Christian Academy

The Wilson School

4257 MAGNOLIA AVENUE, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63110 314-PROMISE (776-6473) · TGCA.INFO

400 DEMUN AVENUE, CLAYTON, MO 63105 · 314-725-4999 WILSONSCHOOL.COM · MBAISCH@WILSONSCHOOL.COM

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ower Grove Christian Academy (TGCA) is a private college-prep school for children in preschool through 12th grade. Founded in 1978 with a deep heritage of Christian values and biblical beliefs, they provide a complete education for the student’s mind, body and soul. The dedicated, caring faculty and staff provide a variety of classes, including art, music, sports, science, college preparation and community outreach. Special discounts are available for families with multiple children. Schedule a tour today and learn more about how TGCA is teaching truth and shaping character in their students every day.

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Wilson education gives children age 3 through the sixth grade a strong academic foundation in the caring environment they need to succeed. At Wilson, students are known, nurtured and challenged each and every day. Teachers are empowered to develop a customized curriculum that connects foundational learning with innovative, project-based experiences that engage and inspire. An intentional class size with two full-time, professional educators per classroom, plus subject area specialists, creates an environment where students can take risks, develop leadership skills and strive to reach their personal best. With a high-tech facility that feels like a home away from home, students who graduate from The Wilson School are well balanced, caring and curious young adults, ready for life and learning in the 21st century.

Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

95%

Graduates attend college

50

39

Years of educating St. Louis children

1 to 3

Number of grade levels Wilson grads are ahead in math

1 out of 4

Wilson students have at least one parent born outside the U.S.

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Christian 1145 TOM GINNEVER AVENUE, O’FALLON, MO 63366 636-978-1680 · LWCS.US

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verything centers on Christ. That’s the message at Christian, and that unity makes the school thrive. Christian is an interdenominational, evangelical college preparatory program on two campuses hosting pre-K through 12th grade, attracting students from five counties, 40 ZIP codes and more than 100 churches. In fact, Christian even reaches globally through its I-20 program at the middle and high schools, bringing students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Christian was named among the top 50 private Christian schools in the U.S., and the evidence is in the quality of each pillar. In academics, Christian is accredited through ACSI and AdvancED. It offers a rigorous curriculum including dual credit and AP courses; STEM opportunities including Robotics,

Scholar Bowl and WYSE; and is home-school friendly. In athletics, Christian is a member of MSHSAA and the AAA Athletic Conference, offering a wide variety of programs including football, soccer, volleyball, swimming and track. In the arts, Christian features a full-stage production, competitive oneacts, bands, choir and orchestra. What ties all of this together is a biblical-worldview, high-quality professional staff and an environment designed for personal growth. This dedication to excellence and opportunity empowers students, readying them to impact the world for the glory of God. “My Christian education prepared me academically, athletically and spiritually for a successful college career at Stanford,” says CHS 2016 alum Jacob Thoenen.

Bragging Rights $6.4 million College scholarships awarded to the Class of 2017

99%

Graduates continuing education at schools like Johns Hopkins, Stanford and the Air Force Academy

4

Finalists recognized amongst the National Merit Scholars (along with two semi-finalists)

Green Park Lutheran School

Chesterfield Day School

4248 GREEN PARK ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63125 · 314-544-4248 GREENPARKLUTHERANSCHOOL.ORG KATY.SCHMITT@GREENPARKLUTHERANSCHOOL.ORG

1100 WHITE ROAD, CHESTERFIELD, MO 63017 · 314-469-6622 CHESTERFIELDDAYSCHOOL.ORG

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ach day families from 23 different zip codes drive to the best private elementary school in south St. Louis County.

It’s time to find out why. From the tenure of staff and depth of programming to the small-school attention, Green Park students get the best of both worlds. Backed by a designated reading and math specialist, the youngest students receive a solid foundation through Balanced Literacy and now Guided Math. Before long, students are reading to learn, and the stage is set for high school—and for leaders to be born. Beyond excellence in math and science and extended dedication to writing, middle school students can shine through sports or on stage at concerts and plays. Be part of a school where you and your child are known.

Bragging Rights 1:1

iPads for K–2 students

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DS offers a premier start-to-finish education for students age 18 months through the sixth grade. Beginning with an early childhood program rooted in the Montessori philosophy, CDS’ holistic approach values all dimensions of a child. Classrooms feature mixed-age groupings that foster peer learning, uninterrupted blocks of work time and guided choice of work—all of which inspire learning and independence. In the second through sixth grades, students build on Montessori foundations with additional personalized methodologies—including Singapore Math, Project Based Learning and a state-of-the-art MakerSpace—where students are challenged to mature academically and socially. CDS’ robust program produces exceptional students of remarkable character who go on to attend the secondary schools of their choice and lead meaningful adult lives in communities all over the world.

Bragging Rights JK–8

Campus develops middle school leaders

78%

Faculty with advanced degrees

8:1

Student/teacher ratio in preschool through sixth grade

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Christ Community Lutheran School

Twin Oaks Christian School

314-822-7774 路 CCLS-STLOUIS.ORG

1230A BIG BEND ROAD, BALLWIN, MO 63021 路 636-861-1901 TWINOAKSCHRISTIANSCHOOL.ORG 路 ADMISSIONS@TWINOAKSSCHOOL.ORG

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hrist Community Lutheran School exists to nurture each child through the Gospel to live the faith and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, in an innovative environment of academic excellence.

CCLS has been recognized nationally as a high-achieving Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education, and also as an Exemplary School by the National Lutheran School Accreditation Commission.

The school continues to be a leader in fostering a Christ-centered community, uniquely focused on academic excellence, spiritual impact, character development, technology integration and comprehensive co-curricular programming.

CCLS welcomes families with six-week-olds through eighth-graders to share in a paramount mission with an eternal impact. For information about CCLS or to schedule a personal visit, contact Leanna Butterfield, director of enrollment, at 314-740-5417, or visit ccls-stlouis.org.

Bragging Rights 1,600+

Individual student service hours per year

94%

CCLS students involved in co-curricular activities

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or 45 years Twin Oaks Christian School has assisted Christian parents by providing a nurturing and challenging educational experience for their children. Because the child is viewed as an image bearer of Christ, individual differences are respected and valued. The early childhood and elementary programs serve students age 3 through grade 5, while the middle school includes grades 6 through 8. Students enjoy beautiful classrooms and modern facilities, engaging teachers, research-based curriculum, a learning center and a strong athletic program. Drama, choir, band, art and Spanish classes enrich student life. Graduates are equipped to succeed academically, to serve in a Christ-like manner and to positively influence their culture. To find out more or schedule a private tour, email admissions@twinoaksschool.org.

Bragging Rights 45

Years serving the community (one of the oldest Christian schools in St. Louis)

40+

Churches represented by students at Twin Oaks Christian School

Kirk Day School 12928 LADUE ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 路 314-434-4349 WWW.KIRKDAYSCHOOL.ORG

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irk Day School, an independent, co-educational Christian school nestled in the heart of Town and Country, serves 285 students age 3 through grade 6. Established in 1992, KDS is distinguished by the strength of a proven academic program grounded in a Christian worldview. A loving and nurturing faculty walks alongside students as they grow in faith and are provided with the educational foundations necessary to excel with excellence at the secondary school level and beyond. The curriculum meets the educational goals of each student, including the academically gifted who are further challenged through individualized instruction and dynamic learning programs. KDS students experience the benefits of small classes, foreign languages and a wide variety of extracurricular activities in athletics, technology and the arts.

Bragging Rights 11

Free Gifted Education Series parent meetings open to the public

52

4

Alumni named valedictorian of high school graduating class in 4 consecutive years

The Fall/Winter Issue Health: An A-to-Z guide for treating the most common injuries and ailments Arts: A look at upcoming kidfriendly events and activities ON NEWSSTANDS BEGINNING LATE SEPTEMBER.

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Admissions Planner The admissions process can be stressful, especially if you're applying to multiple schools. Here, you'll find the most important dates for several local academies. For more detailed information on a particular school, use the contact information listed in the school's profile.

ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART

Open House

October 3, 2017 November 7, 2017 December 5, 2017

Application Deadline January 31, 2018

Acceptance Notification Mid-March ANDREWS ACADEMY– CREVE COEUR

Open House

January 28, 2018

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CENTRAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Open House

November 10, 2017

Application Deadline February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018 CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Open House

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline December 15, 2017 (high school) January 30, 2018 (middle school)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (high school) March 16, 2018 (middle school) CHESTERFIELD DAY SCHOOL

Open House

October 27, 2017 January 23, 2018 (kindergarten only) February 28, 2018 March 29, 2018

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CHESTERFIELD MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Open House

Call to schedule a tour

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CHRIST COMMUNITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Open House

Call to schedule a tour

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CHRISTIAN

Open House Every Thursday

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions

CHURCHILL CENTER & SCHOOL

Open House

Call to schedule a tour

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CITY ACADEMY

Open House

November 4, 2017

Application Deadline February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018 THE COLLEGE SCHOOL

Open House

November 11, 2017 January 6, 2018

Application Deadline February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018 COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Open House

November 4 & 15, 2017 January 23 & 30, 2018

Application Deadline February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018 COR JESU ACADEMY

Open House

THE FULTON SCHOOL

Open House

November 1, 2017

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions GREEN PARK LUTHERAN SCHOOL

MIRIAM: THE LEARNING DISABILTY EXPERTS

ST. FRANCES CABRINI ACADEMY

VILLA DI MARIA MONTESSORI

Call to schedule a tour

October 8, 2017 January 29, 2018

Call to schedule a tour

Open House

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions

Open House

MISSOURI MILITARY ACADEMY

November 3 & 14, 2017 January 21, 2018

Open House

February 16, 2018

Rolling admissions

November 15, 2017

Rolling admissions

Rolling admissions

February 2, 2018

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY

NERINX HALL

ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

November 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification

Open House

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline November 15, 2017

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Open House

Call to schedule a tour

Application Deadline Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions

Application Deadline

Acceptance Notification

Open House

December 8, 2017

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

Open House

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline November 15, 2017

Acceptance Notification February 3, 2018 RAINTREE SCHOOL

Rolling admissions

Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Open House

October 22, 2017

Application Deadline December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (seventh grade)

November 15, 2017

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 FORSYTH SCHOOL

Open House

October 22, 2017 (regular admissions) January 6, 2018 (early childhood)

Application Deadline

ROSSMAN SCHOOL

Open House

September 20, 2017 October 25, 2017 November 29, 2017 December 2, 2017 January 24, 2018

Application Deadline March 16, 2018

Rolling admissions

SAINT LOUIS PRIORY SCHOOL

Application Deadline Acceptance Notification Rolling admissions MAP ST. LOUIS

Open House

November 5, 2017

DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

Application Deadline

Acceptance Notification

October 27, 2017

Application Deadline

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline

February 2, 2018

February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Open House

Call to schedule a tour

KIRK DAY SCHOOL

Open House

January 16, 2018

Acceptance Notification

October 19, 2017 (SLUH Night) November 5, 2017

Application Deadline

December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (seventh grade)

Application Deadline

Application Deadline

Open House

February 2, 2018

Open House

Open House

November 5, 2017

Rolling admissions

Application Deadline

April 2018

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline

October 21, 2017

Call to schedule a tour

Roughly three weeks

Acceptance Notification

November 5, 2017

November 28, 2017

Open House

Acceptance Notification

Rolling admissions

Call to schedule a tour

Open House

COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Rolling admissions

Application Deadline

VILLA DUCHESNE AND OAK HILL SCHOOL

JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL

Acceptance Notification

Application Deadline

Open House

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline

Open House

Acceptance Notification

Open House

November 12, 2017

Application Deadline January 16, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018

Application Deadline November 17, 2017

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 THE ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL OF CLAYTON

Open House

2017: October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 2018: April 3, 10, 17 and 24

Application Deadline January 16, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018 THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL

Open House

October 25, 2017 November 15, 2017

Application Deadline December 1, 2017 (early decision) December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades, regular decision)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades) TOWER GROVE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Open House

January 23, 2018

SAUL MIROWITZ JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Application Deadline

MARY INSTITUTE AND SAINT LOUIS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (MICDS)

November 8, 2017

Rolling admissions

January 31, 2018

TWIN OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

October 28, 2017

March 16, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018

Open House

Application Deadline December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Open House

Application Deadline Acceptance Notification

Rolling admissions

Acceptance Notification

Open House

October 29, 2017

November 30, 2017 December 1, 2017 January 18 & 19, 2018 February 8 & 9, 2018 April 5 & 6, 2018

November 15, 2017

Rolling admissions

February 2, 2018

Rolling admissions

SAINT DOMINIC HIGH SCHOOL

Open House

Application Deadline Acceptance Notification

Application Deadline Acceptance Notification

Open House

Application Deadline

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades) VISITATION ACADEMY

Open House

November 5, 2017

Application Deadline November 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades) WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Open House

October 19, 2017

Application Deadline December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) March 16, 2018 (all other grades) WHITFIELD SCHOOL

Open House

October 15, 2017

Application Deadline December 15, 2017 (ninth grade) January 16, 2018 (all other grades)

Acceptance Notification February 2, 2018 (ninth grade) February 14, 2018 (all other grades, early decision) March 16, 2018 (all other grades, regular decision) THE WILSON SCHOOL

Open House

October 28, 2017 November 14, 2017 January 23, 2018

Application Deadline February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018

February 2, 2018

Acceptance Notification March 16, 2018

stlmag.com

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THE

314-524-4272 / asachristianacademy.org

ATONEMENT LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-837-1252 / school.alcs-web.com

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 314-727-4535 / centralschoolstl.org

CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 314-993-4400 / chaminade-stl.org

CHESTERFIELD DAY SCHOOL 314-469-6622 / chesterfielddayschool.org

CHESTERFIELD MONTESSORI SCHOOL 314-469-7150 / chesterfieldmontessori.org

CHRIST COMMUNITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-822-7774 / ccls-stlouis.org

CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY & PRESCHOOL SCHOOL 636-978-1680 / lwcs.us

CHURCHILL CENTER & SCHOOL 314-997-4343 / churchillstl.org

CITY ACADEMY 314-382-0085 / cityacademyschool.org

THE COLLEGE SCHOOL 314-962-9355 / thecollegeschool.org

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

ASA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

636-561-7709 / andrewsacademy.com

STUDENT / TEACHER RATIO

ANDREWS ACADEMY LAKE SAINT LOUIS

FULL-TIME FACULTY

314-878-1883 / andrewsacademy.com

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

ANDREWS ACADEMY

% MINORITY STUDENTS

636-946-6127 / ash1818.org

UNIFORMS

ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART

ENROLLMENT

314-892-4408 / aslsonline.org

GRADE LEVELS

ABIDING SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL

FOUNDED

Private Grade Schools

AREA

PRIVATE SCHOOL CHARTS

In creating these charts, we strove to be as inclusive as possible, inviting private schools in St. Louis city; Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties; and Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties in Illinois to respond to an informational survey. All information is self-reported. These charts should just be considered starting points. If your school is in the St. Louis region and was not included in the charts, please email szak@stlmag.com.

South County

1984

Age 2– Grade 8

270

Yes

4.5%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

15

12:1

$5,800

35%

St. Charles

1818

Pre-K– Grade 8

288

Yes

18%

Catholic–Network of Sacred Heart Schools

31

11:1

$5,525– $11,275

15%

Creve Coeur

1975

Pre-K– Grade 6

120

No

70%

Independent

22

8:1

$18,785

14%

Lake Saint Louis

2008

K– Grade 6

110

No

24%

Independent

18

8:1

$13,000

10%

North County

1999

Infant– Grade 6

85

Yes

99%

Christian

10

17:1

$4,800– $7,200

25%

North County

1956

Pre-K– Grade 8

203

No

42%

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12

16:1

$4,500– $5,900

30%

Clayton

1957

Age 3– Grade 6

278

No

32%

Christian

20

8:1

$9,220

20%

Creve Coeur

1910

Grades 6–12

825

Yes

18%

Catholic–Marianist

90

9:1

$18,267

43%

Chesterfield

1962

18 Months– Grade 6

159

No

30%

Independent

23

8:1

$6,285– $18,100

22%

West County

1981

16 Months– Age 15

160

No

40%

Montessori

21

8:1

$10,900– $17,500

25%

Kirkwood

1973

Infant– Grade 8

635

Yes

13%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

33

16:1

$4,005– $6,970

41%

St. Charles County

1980

Pre-K– Grade 5

241

No

12%

Interdenominational Evangelical Christian

30

10:1

$2,650– $6,300

25%

Town & Country

1978

Grades 1–10

147

No

15%

School for Learning Disabilities

48

3:1

$33,600

9%

North St. Louis

1999

Pre-K– Grade 6

180

Yes

94%

Independent

20

8:1

$3,500

100%

Webster Groves

1963

Pre-K– Grade 8

260

No

22%

Experiential Education

30

9:1

$17,000

25%

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PSH_School_Chart_0917.indd 55

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CORNERSTONE ACADEMY 314-845-8788 / cornerstoneacademy.com

COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 314-434-82821 / montessori4children.com

COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 314-787-1036 / ccsstl.org

CROSSPOINT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 636-742-5380 / crosspointschool.org

CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 314-367-8085 / crossroadscollegeprep.org

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY, O'FALLON, ILLINOIS 618-726-6040 / fbaofallon.org

FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, O’FALLON, MISSOURI 636-272-3220 / fbcacademy.org

FORSYTH SCHOOL 314-726-4542 / forsythonline.com

THE FULTON SCHOOL AT ST. ALBANS 636-458-6688 / tfssa.org

GOVERNOR FRENCH ACADEMY 618-233-7542 / governorfrench.com GRACE CHAPEL LUTHERAN 314-867-6564 / gracechapelstl.org

GREAT CIRCLE SCHOOL 314-919-4700 / greatcircle.org

GREEN PARK LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-544-4248 / greenparklutheranschool.org

H.F. EPSTEIN HEBREW ACADEMY 314-994-7856 / eha.org

HERITAGE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 636-394-8063 / heritageclassical.org

HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN SCHOOL 618-344-3145 / holycross-collinsville.org

56

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

Independent

48

7:1

$18,200– $19,725

30%

South County

1998

K– Grade 8

70

No

12%

Evangelical Christian

10

8:1

$4,200

5%

Creve Coeur

1964

12 Months– K

69

No

10%

Montessori

3

5:1

$6,912– $15,327

10%

Town & Country

2003

Pre-K– Grade 6

150

Yes

3%

Christian, Experiential/ Integral Curriculum

8

8:1

$7,590

25%

Villa Ridge

1990

K– Grade 8

92

No

2%

Christian Schools International

15

9:1

$5,250

15%

Central West End

1974

Grades 7–12

228

No

45%

Independent

25

9:1

$23,600

50%+

Metro East

2002

K–Grade 8

172

No

13%

Southern Baptist

18

12:1

$4,450

1%

St. Charles County

1964

K– Grade 6

108

Yes

15%

Baptist

17

10:1

$5,200

0%

WydownSkinker

1961

Age 3– Grade 6

370

No

34%

Independent

47

8:1

$13,772– $20,161

25%

Franklin County

1994

Pre-K– Grade 8

75

No

7%

Montessori

15

8:1

$5,225– $17,550

25%

Belleville, Ill.

1983

K–Grade 12

107

Yes

48%

College Prep

7

10:1

$5,940

0%

North County

1955

Pre-K– Grade 8

170

Yes

70%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

11

15:1

$4,600

50%

Webster Groves

1834

K–Grade 8

130

No

45%

Nontraditional

60

4:1

$24,500

10%

South County

1961

Pre-K– Grade 8

200

Yes

8%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

11

15:1

$6,700

22%

Olivette

1943

Pre-K– Grade 8

140

No

3%

Orthodox Jewish

23

5:1

$12,000

45%

Fenton

1999

Grades 6–12

38

No

13%

Classical Christian

9

10:1

$9,600

18%

Metro East

1848

Age 3– Grade 8

156

No

5%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

12

13:1

$3,040– $3,470

10%

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

30%

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

No

% MINORITY STUDENTS

335

UNIFORMS

Age 3– Grade 6

ENROLLMENT

1914

GRADE LEVELS

Ladue

FOUNDED

STUDENT / TEACHER RATIO

314-991-0005 / communityschool.com

FULL-TIME FACULTY

COMMUNITY SCHOOL

AREA

Private Grade Schools

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PSH_School_Chart_0917.indd 56

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KIRKWOOD CHILDREN’S HOUSE 314-966-2030 / kirkwoodchildrenshouse.com

LIVING WATER ACADEMY 636-821-2308 / livingwateracademy.com

LOYOLA ACADEMY OF ST. LOUIS 314-531-9091 / loyolaacademy.org

MAP ST. LOUIS 314.884.1637 / mapstlouis.org

MARIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 314-771-7674 / marianmiddleschool.org

MESSIAH LUTHERAN SCHOOL 636-329-1096 / mlslions.org

METRO EAST MONTESSORI SCHOOL 618-931-2508 / metroeastmontessori.com

MARY INSTITUTE AND ST. LOUIS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (MICDS)

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

314-434-4349 / kirkdayschool.org

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

KIRK DAY SCHOOL

STUDENT / TEACHER RATIO

314-993-4040 / jburroughs.org

FULL-TIME FACULTY

JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

314-874-0715 / internationalschoolhouse.com

% MINORITY STUDENTS

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLHOUSE

UNIFORMS

636-946-0051 / immanuelstcharles.org

ENROLLMENT

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

GRADE LEVELS

314-993-5004 / immanueldayschool.org

FOUNDED

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN DAY SCHOOL

AREA

Private Grade Schools

Olivette

1854

Age 2– Grade 8

175

Yes

55%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

13

13:1

$5,400– $7,425

10%

St. Charles

1848

Age 2– Grade 8

492

Yes

6%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

38

18:1

$3,770– $5,904

12%

Richmond Heights

2009

Age 2– Grade 2

110

Yes

20%

Language Immersion

12

8:1

$12,600

0%

St. Louis County

1923

Grades 7–12

205

No

35%

Independent

90

7:1

$27,540

22%

Town & Country

1992

Age 3– Grade 6

296

Yes

18%

Christian

30

8:1

$2,880– $8,690

18%

Kirkwood

1985

18 months–K

53

No

13%

Montessori

6

6:1

$8,250– $14,,605

17%

West County

2005

Pre-K– Grade 8

170

Yes

13%

Christian

9

14:1

$6,250

8%

Midtown

1999

Grades 6–8

57

Yes

95%

Jesuit

4

12:1

Sliding Scale

99%

Grand Center

2016

Grades 7–9

16

NO

11%

Montessori

2

8:1

$9,000

65%

South City

1999

Grades 5–8

75

Yes

96%

Catholic– Nativity Miguel

6

12:1

$12,000

100%

St. Charles County

2000

Pre-K– Grade 8

366

Yes

8%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

18

14:1

$6,655

20%

Metro East

1970

Pre-K– Grade 9

100

No

15%

Montessori

8

12:1

$5,300– $9,500

14%

Ladue

1859

Pre-K– Grade 8

600

No

34%

Independent– Nonsectarian

85

7:1

$19,500– $26,500

23%

Webster Groves

1956

K–Grade 8

92

No

22%

Independent– Special Education

20

10:1

$8,700– $29,000

50%+

Madison County

1974

Pre-K–Grade 12

106

No

5%

Christian

9

10:1

$3,324

0%

Midtown

2014

15 months–K

32

No

25%

Association Montessori Internationale

4

8:1

$9,500

20%

Central West End

1969

Age 3– Grade 6

319

Yes

44%

Multiple Intelligences

40

9:1

$13,300– $18,800

39%

314-995-7367 / micds.org

MIRIAM SCHOOL 314-968-3893 / miriamstl.org

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 618-462-1071 / mvcs-il.org

MONTESSORI LAB SCHOOL AT GRAND CENTER 314-833-5330 / montessorilabschool.org

NEW CITY SCHOOL 314-361-6411 / newcityschool.org

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PROVIDENCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-842-6846 / providencestl.org

RAINTREE SCHOOL 314-858-1033 / raintreeschool.org

ROHAN WOODS SCHOOL 314-821-6270 / rohanwoods.org

ROSSMAN SCHOOL 314-434-5877 / rossmanschool.org

SAINT LOUIS PRIORY SCHOOL 314-434-3690 / priory.org

SALEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-353-9242 / slcas.org

SAUL MIROWITZ JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL 314-576-6177 / mirowitz.org

SOULARD SCHOOL 314-865-2799 / soulardschool.org

SOUTH CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL 314-667-4311 / sccommunityschool.org

THE ST. AUSTIN SCHOOL 314-580-2802 / saintaustinschool.org

ST. JOHN SCHOOL 636-779-2325 / stjstl.net/school

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL 636-464-7303 / stjohnsarnold.org

58

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

314-434-2100 / principiaschool.org

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

PRINCIPIA SCHOOL

STUDENT / TEACHER RATIO

636-343-7511 / oursaviorlcs.org

FULL-TIME FACULTY

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

314-427-3444 / ourredeemerstl.org

% MINORITY STUDENTS

OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL

UNIFORMS

636-978-4440 / oakhavenmontessori.net

ENROLLMENT

OAKHAVEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL

GRADE LEVELS

314-972-6227 / nccsedu.org

FOUNDED

NORTH COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

AREA

Private Grade Schools

North County

1962

Pre-K– Grade 6

164

No

68%

Christian

13

14:1

$6,290

20%

Dardenne Prairie

2008

Pre-K– Grade 6

65

Yes

3%

DND

5

8:1

$11,000

70%

Overland

1914

Pre-K– Grade 8

95

Yes

35%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

6

10:1

$3,900– $5,400

45%

Fenton

1964

Age 2– Grade 8

90

Yes

10%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

8

12:01

$6,000

10%

West County

1898

K–Grade 8

128

Yes

14%

Christian Science

8

11:1

$10,250– $13,670

97%

South County

1994

K–Grade 12

138

Yes

13%

Classical Christian

2

11:1

$7,900– $9,700

10%

West County

2006

Age 2–K

74

Yes

25%

Reggio Emilia– Inspired Forest School

13

6:1

$16,100

10%

Kirkwood/ Webster Groves

1935

Age 2– Grade 6

88

No

9%

Independent

15

8:1

$4,194– $18,400

33%

Creve Coeur

1917

Pre-K– Grade 6

221

No

43%

Independent

28

8:1

$19,700

13%

West County

1956

Grades 7–12

141

No

16%

Catholic

58

8:1

$23,300

30%

Affton

1911

Age 2– Grade 8

207

Yes

8%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

14

14:1

$5,650

8%

Creve Coeur

2012

K–Grade 8

173

No

8%

Jewish

55

8:1

$14,450

40%

Soulard

2005

Pre-K– Grade 5

135

No

22%

Progressive

14

10:1

$9,225

66%

Tower Grove

2010

Pre-K– Grade 8

150

No

20%

Charlotte Mason Philosophy

10

12:1

$1,935– $6,550

40%

West County

2011

Pre-K– Grade 8

70

Yes

DND

Classical Education, Catholic Theology

7

9:1

$6,490

30%

Ellisville

1851

Pre-K– Grade 8

346

Yes

19%

Christian

20

16:01

$6,590

13%

Arnold

1848

Pre-K– Grade 8

218

Yes

3%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

14

15:1

$5,864

47%

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PSH_School_Chart_0917.indd 58

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Private Grade Schools

AREA

FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

ENROLLMENT

UNIFORMS

% MINORITY STUDENTS

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

FULL-TIME FACULTY

STUDENT / TEACHER RATIO

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

ST. LOUIS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

South City

1952

K–Grade 12

43

Yes

62%

NonDenominational Christian

5

10:1

$4,000– $4,500

53%

Eureka

1982

Infant– Grade 8

164

Yes

2%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

10

16:1

$3,690– $4,960

20%

Clayton

1967

Infant– Grade 8

150

No

25%

Reggio, Experiential

35

7:1

$16,500

30%

West County

1849

K–Grade 8

165

Yes

10%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

18

10:1

$3,780– $6,700

14%

Shaw

1978

K–Grade 12

125

Yes

70%

Christian

10

12:1

$4,500

55%

West County

1972

Pre-K– Grade 8

210

No

15%

Christian

11

14:1

$2,375– $8,085

10%

South County

1975

K–Grade 8

72

No

3%

Christian Discipleship

14

6:1

$4,300

20%

Kirkwood

1967

Age 21/2– Grade 6

166

No

17%

Association Montessori Internationale

7

14:1

$6,183– $9,854

10%

West County

1929

Age 3– Grade 12

200

Yes

13%

Catholic–Network of Sacred Heart Schools

67

8:1

$6,450– $21,695

25%

Town and Country

1833

Age 2– Grade 8

232

Yes

17%

Catholic

38

6:1

$3,985– $18,565

25%

Webster Groves

1993

Age 2½– Grade 8

83

No

25%

Waldorf, Experiential

7

12:1

$5,900– $12,900

50%

Town and Country

1976

Grades 7–12

270

Yes

19%

Christian

28

10:1

$16,700

20%

West County

1952

Grades 6–12

120

No

30%

Independent, Nonsectarian

29

7:1

$26,125

30%

Clayton

1913

Age 3– Grade 6

170

No

31%

Independent

26

7:1

$19,400

30%

St. Louis Hills

1974

Pre-K– Grade 8

183

Yes

29%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

13

15:1

$5,850

70%

St. Charles

1851

18 months– Grade 8

548

Yes

2%

Lutheran

25

14:1

$5,440

81%

Belleville, Ill.

1861

Age 3– Grade 8

295

No

14%

Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod

20

16:1

$3,650– $4,950

18%

314-664-3299 / slcacougars.org

ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN SCHOOL 636-938-4432 / stmarkseureka.org

THE ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL OF CLAYTON 314-721-4422 / stlmichaelschool.org

ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-822-2771 / stplutheranschool.org

TOWER GROVE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-776-6473 / towergrovechristian.org

TWIN OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 636-861-1901 / twinoakschristianschool.org

VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-638-6700 / vcacademy.org

VILLA DI MARIA MONTESSORI 314-822-2601 / villadimaria.org

VILLA DUCHESNE AND OAK HILL SCHOOL 314-432-2021 / vdoh.org

VISITATION ACADEMY 314-625-9100 / visitationacademy.org

WALDORF SCHOOL OF ST. LOUIS 314-962-2129 / waldorfstl.org

WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-997-2900 / wcastl.org

WHITFIELD SCHOOL 314-434-5141 / whitfieldschool.org

WILSON SCHOOL 314-725-4999 / wilsonschool.com

WORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN SCHOOL 314-832-1244 / wordoflifeschool.net

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL 636-441-7424 / zioharvester.org

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL BELLEVILLE 618-234-0275 / zionschoolbelleville.org

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AREA

FOUNDED

ENROLLMENT

ACCEPTANCE RATE

% MINORITY STUDENTS

AVERAGE ACT SCORE

% CONTINUED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

% OF TEACHERS WITH ADVANCED DEGRESS

FULL-TIME FACULTY

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

AVERAGE SPENDING PER STUDENT

Belleville, Ill.

1964

387

DND

21%

24

98%

Catholic

44%

25

13:1

$7,100

DND

$12,500

Chesterfield

2007

70

95%

25%

26

100%

Catholic–Sacred Heart Tradition

55%

16

10:1

$14,900

37%

$14,900

St. Louis Hills

1950

355

98%

25%

22

98%

Catholic– Archdiocesan

70%

35

10:1

$10,300

45%

$12,955

Creve Coeur

1910

561

85%

18%

27

100%

Catholic– Marianist

85%

90

9:1

$18,267

43%

$21,000

St. Charles County

1980

569

85%

12%

25

98%

Interdenominational Evangelical Christian

46%

30

10:1

$7,850– $9,150

10%

DND

West County

1850

850

95%

20%

24

99%

Catholic–Lasallian

80%

75

11:1

$14,725

35%

$17,000

South County

1956

598

DND

6%

29

100%

Catholic

89%

60

12:1

$14,600

25%

$17,425

Villa Ridge

1990

152

97%

7%

23

98%

Protestant

5%

18

10:1

$5,100

20%

$5,500

Central West End

1974

228

DND

45%

25

97%

Independent

75%

25

9:1

$24,400

50%+

DND

Creve Coeur

1967

750

93%

8%

26

100%

Catholic

70%

80

11:1

$15,230

24%

$18,500

St. Charles

1924

330

98%

8%

24

100%

Catholic

60%

26

9:1

$9,785

56%

$12,000

618-855-9010 / McGivneyGriffins.com

Glen Carbon, Ill.

2012

155

100%

14%

25

96%

Catholic

64%

14

11:1

$6,700

41%

$11,000

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY

Metro East

2002

71

DND

13%

24

100%

Southern Baptist

28%

18

12:1

$4,850

1%

$4,850

Franklin County

1994

45

DND

17%

27

100%

Montessori

75%

15

8:1

$20,975

25%

DND

Waterloo, Ill.

1966

230

99%

11%

25

99%

Catholic

44%

23

10:1

$8,170

48%

$10,090

Belleville, Ill.

1983

44

DND

48%

25

100%

College Prep

5%

7

8:1

$5,940

0%

$7,400

Webster Groves

1834

110

N/A

45%

N/A

N/A

Nontraditional

42%

40

4:1

$24,500

10%

$29,100

Private High Schools ALTHOFF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 618-235-1100 / althoffcatholic.org

BARAT ACADEMY 636-300-5500 / baratacademy.org

BISHOP DUBOURG HIGH SCHOOL 314-832-3030 / bishopdubourg.org

CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 314-993-4400 / chaminade-stl.org

CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL 636-978-1680 / lwcs.us

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 314-985-6100 / cbchs.org

COR JESU ACADEMY 314-842-1546 / corjesu.org

CROSSPOINT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 636-742-5380 / crosspointschool.org

CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 314-367-8085 /crossroadscollegeprep.org

DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL 314-567-3500 / desmet.org

DUCHESNE HIGH SCHOOL 636-946-6767 / duchesne-hs.org

FATHER MCGIVNEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

618-726-6040 / fbaofallon.org

THE FULTON SCHOOL AT ST. ALBANS 636-458-6688 / tfssa.org

GIBAULT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 618-939-3883 / gibaulthawks.com

GOVERNOR FRENCH ACADEMY 618-233-7542 / governorfrench.com

GREAT CIRCLE SCHOOL 314-919-4700 / greatcircle.org

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LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY 636-928-5100 / lutheranhighstcharles.com

LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH 314-631-1400 / lhssstl.org

MARQUETTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 618-463-0580 / marquettecatholic.org

MARY INSTITUTE AND ST. LOUIS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (MICDS)

Creve Coeur

2005

25

DND

25%

25

98%

Alternative

100%

4

1:1

$20,000

0%

DND

Fenton

1999

59

98%

13%

27

100%

Classical Christian

75%

9

10:1

$8,320

18%

$9,600

St. Louis County

1932

343

85%

26%

24

100%

Catholic

67%

27

12:1

$13,545

42%

$15,252

St. Louis County

1923

405

15%

35%

33

100%

Independent

81%

90

7:1

$27,540

22%

$34,740

West County

1970

110

95%

25%

24

92%

Alternative, Therapeutic

48%

24

6:1

$28,000

100%

$36,000

North County

1965

280

97%

65%

27

98%

Lutheran

70%

19

10:1

$13,050

70%

$16,700

St. Charles County

1980

343

99%

10%

26

97%

Lutheran

70%

26

12:1

$9,471

24%

$9,771

South County

1958

485

97%

15%

27

98%

Lutheran

76%

35

11:1

$13,050

40%

$16,700

Alton, Ill.

1927

430

96%

20%

26

98%

Catholic

60%

40

12:1

$6,700

50%

$8,990

Ladue

1859

640

41%

34%

30

100%

Independent, Nonsectarian

73%

78

8:1

$26,500

23%

DND

West County

2016

18

50%

12%

N/A

N/A

Special Education

90%

6

2:1

$8,700– $29,000

50%

$35,000

Madison County

1974

50

98%

5%

21

90%

Christian

20%

5

10:1

$3,324

0%

$3,672

Webster Groves

1924

585

DND

15%

27

100%

Catholic

90%

56

9:1

$14,200

25%

DND

Florissant

1962

141

DND

65%

23

97%

Christian

40%

11

14:1

$8,000

25%

$8,700

South County

1934

235

95%

19%

23

100%

Catholic

70%

27

11:1

$11,800

30%

$13,700

West County

1898

234

91%

11%

DND

94%

Christian Science

80%

38

7:1

$16,310

94%

$49,811

Central West End

1911

280

85%

39%

27

100%

Catholic

70%

35

12:1

$12,050

47%

$13,403

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

AVERAGE SPENDING PER STUDENT

314-389-3100 / lhsnstl.org

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL NORTH

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

314-997-7002 / logosschool.org

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO

LOGOS SCHOOL

FULL-TIME FACULTY

314-993-4040 / jburroughs.org

% OF TEACHERS WITH ADVANCED DEGRESS

JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL

% CONTINUED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

314-725-5850 / iwacademy.org

AVERAGE ACT SCORE

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY

% MINORITY STUDENTS

636-394-8063 / heritageclassical.org

ACCEPTANCE RATE

HERITAGE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ENROLLMENT

314-432-7534 / greenwaysacademy.com/stlouis

FOUNDED

GREENWAYS ACADEMY

AREA

Private High Schools

314-995-7367 / micds.org

MIRIAM ACADEMY 314-962-6080 / miriamacademy.org

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 618-462-1071 / mvcs-il.org

NERINX HALL 314-968-1505 / nerinxhall.org

NORTH COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 314-972-6227 / nccsedu.org

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL 314-544-1015 / ndhs.net

PRINCIPIA SCHOOL 314-434-2100 / principiaschool.org

ROSATI-KAIN HIGH SCHOOL 314-533-8513 / rosati-kain.org

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314-481-8400 / stmaryshs.org

ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL 636-931-7487 / stpius.com

THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL 314-843-4151 / tjs.org

TOWER GROVE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-776-6473 / towergrovechristian.org

TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 314-741-1333 / trinitycatholichigh.org

URSULINE ACADEMY 314-984-2800 / ursulinestl.org

VILLA DUCHESNE AND OAK HILL SCHOOL 314-432-2021 / vdoh.org

VISITATION ACADEMY 314-625-9100 / visitationacademy.org

WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 314-997-2900 / wcastl.org

WHITFIELD SCHOOL 314-434-5141 / whitfieldschool.org THE FINE PRINT By marking “NA,” the school is stating that the category is “not applicable”; “DND” means “does not disclose”; “int’l” is an abbreviation for “international.”

62

AVERAGE SPENDING PER STUDENT

ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL

% RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

314-531-0330 / sluh.org

ANNUAL OR ANNUALIZED TUITION

ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO

314-664-3299 / slcacougars.org

FULL-TIME FACULTY

ST. LOUIS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

% OF TEACHERS WITH ADVANCED DEGRESS

314-394-4300 / sja1840.org

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY

% CONTINUED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

314-965-4853 / vianney.com

AVERAGE ACT SCORE

ST. JOHN VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL

% MINORITY STUDENTS

636-240-8303 / stdominichs.org

ACCEPTANCE RATE

ST. DOMINIC HIGH SCHOOL

ENROLLMENT

314-434-3690 / priory.org

FOUNDED

SAINT LOUIS PRIORY SCHOOL

AREA

Private High Schools

West County

1956

264

DND

16%

30

100%

Catholic

88%

58

8:1

$23,300

30%

$25,750

O'Fallon, Mo.

1962

700

96%

6%

24

99%

Catholic

58%

48

14:1

$9,215

34%

$9,861

Kirkwood

1960

598

95%

6%

25

99%

Catholic

82%

50

13:1

$14,300

27%

$15,800

Frontenac

1840

505

DND

7%

26

100%

Catholic

75%

51

11:1

$14,210

22%

$17,234

South City

1952

100

90%

66%

26

98%

NonDenominational Christian

50%

10

10:1

$5,000

20%

$6,000+

St. Louis City

1818

1,000

85%

14%

30

99%

Catholic–Jesuit

95%

100

10:1

$16,800

40%

$18,961

St. Louis City

1931

340

92%

37%

22

97%

Catholic– Marianist

70%

40

13:1

$9,800

57%

$11,980

Festus

1959

312

100%

8%

23

98%

Catholic

60%

30

11:1

$9,300

85%

$12,483

Sunset Hills

1946

80

65%

50%

31

100%

Independent

80%

15

7:1

$26,900

40%

$25,000

Shaw

1978

85

90%

72%

23

90%

College Prep

40%

9

8:1

$6,500

31%

$8,000

North County

2003

320

97%

50%

25

98%

Catholic

53%

38

10:1

$8,755

63%

$13,300

Kirkwood

1848

414

92%

5%

24

100%

Catholic

85%

32

10:1

$14,200

25%

DND

West County

1929

270

DND

13%

27

100%

Catholic–Network of Sacred Heart Schools

75%

67

8:1

$21,695

25%

$23,695

Town and Country

1833

305

86%

12%

29

100%

Catholic

81%

46

6:1

$19,985

25%

DND

Town and Country

1976

740

73%

19%

27

100%

Christian

64%

66

10:1

$16,700

20%

$19,200

West County

1952

290

75%

30%

27

100%

Independent, Nonsectarian

60%

55

7:1

$26,125

30%

$25,000

Grade Schools 1. Because of space constraints, SLM was unable to include parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis or the Metro East.

2. Some grade schools also have high schools, but for the purposes of this chart we asked that administrators only include information that pertains up to grade 8.

3. Some schools list only grades 6–8. In most cases, these are schools that incorporate middle school grades into their high schools. We included their middle-school students on this chart and their high school students on the next chart.

4. *Only reflects grades 7 and 8.

Private High Schools 1. These charts include schools with students enrolled in grades 9–12.

2. Some schools in these charts also include middle and elementary school grades.

3. *New school; data not yet available.

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P R IVATE S C HO OL H A NDB O OK

LEARNING RESOURCES A guide to local education-related organizations ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. LOUIS’ OFFICE OF EDUCATION The office is dedicated to providing leadership in Catholic education. archstl.org/education ASSOCIATION MONTESSORI INTERNATIONALE The organization supports children around the globe through educational programs and funding. ami-global.org CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS This association’s work is focused on Christian education in the area. csasl.org EDUCATIONPLUS The organization encourages student success with programs at schools across the state. edplus.org

FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NORTHEAST DEANERY The federation consists of 11 parishes in the Northeast Deanery of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. federationofcatholicschools.org INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF ST. LOUIS The organization comprises 40-plus schools across the region. independentschools.org LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS LESA is made up of 40 Lutheran schools and other agencies across the metropolitan area. lesastl.org LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS Lutheran High School North and Lutheran High School South work together to create a successful, caring Christian educational community. lhsastl.org

PARENTS AS TEACHERS The organization provides support to parents and caregivers to promote early development, learning, and health for young children. parentsasteachers.org SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY The organization provides students at public schools in St. Louis with access to high-quality special education.

Pupils in one of every six county public schools use special education services provided by SSD. ssdmo.org STL CITY SCHOOLS Started by concerned parents, this guide shares helpful stats and tips, including what to ask when searching for the right school for your child. stlcityschools.org

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P R IVATE S C HO OL H A NDB O OK

F L ASH BAC K / 1 93 7

PLAY IT FORWARD

This is a Playground Festival in St. Louis Public High Stadium, a descendant of the Play Congress,

first held in Chicago in 1907, at which Jane Addams was the star speaker. (She lectured on play and morality, of course.) At the end of the week, 4,000 adults went to Ogden Park to watch kids sing, do gymnastics, run obstacle courses, and dance in their national costumes. This was the same year in which Lewis Hine began his decade-long project for the National Child Labor Committee, photographing tobacco sheds filled with 7- and 8-year-old girls and dull-eyed, emphysemic teenage boys crowded into mine shafts. Hines’ photos shocked the country; the “playground movement” was growing in force. And yet we didn’t pass our first child labor law till 1916. It would be another 20 years—around the time that these two girls capered on this big grassy lawn—that America embraced the idea of childhood. (Some historians, in fact, even cite 1937 as the year we officially entered our modern era of Froot Loops, Cartoon Network, and superhero pajamas.) Some people grumble that now, childhood in America never ends. And yet in part, the push to make it sacrosanct is what informed Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts that all human beings have the right to rest—and to play. —STEFENE RUSSELL

64

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Photograph by Arthur Witman, courtesy of the State Historical Society of Missouri

8/9/17 2:36 PM

BE THE HANGOUT HOUSE

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Build your champion. sportcourtstlouis.com / 636.451.0400 PS_Cover0917.indd 993

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© St. Louis Children’s Hospital 2016

allergies

asthma

It’s just a little cough. It’ll pass. But what if it doesn’t? Our pediatric experts recommend having a persistent cough checked before it becomes something much bigger. See all the ways our Washington University doctors care for kids at StLouisChildrens.org/Guardians.

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