College Counseling Staff
2011–2012 Profile North Mooreland Road Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 740-7077 phone (804) 740-2130 fax Main website: www.collegiate-va.org College office webpage: www.collegiate-va.org/collegecounseling CEEB Code: 471845
Brian E. Leipheimer Director bleipheimer@collegiate-va.org • (804) 741-9741
Keith A. Evans Head of School
Kimberly S. Ball Associate Director kball@collegiate-va.org • (804) 754-1561
Benjamin I. Rein Head of Upper School
Suzanne L. Lewis Associate Director slewis@collegiate-va.org • (804) 740-2153
Lynn G. Haw Registrar
Joel W. Nuckols III College Counselor jnuckols@collegiate-va.org • (804) 741-9739
North Mooreland Road Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 740-7077 phone (804) 740-2130 fax www.collegiate-va.org
Martha C. Nesmith Office Assistant mnesmith@collegiate-va.org • (804) 741-9742
Minds that Code: seek. Hearts that serve. CEEB 471845
Collegiate At-A-Glance History and Structure
Accreditation
Collegiate School is an independent, K-12, college preparatory, coeducational school located west of Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1915 as a school for girls in downtown Richmond, Collegiate moved to its present site in 1960 and adopted a coordinate girls/boys structure. Fully coeducational in 1986, the current structure includes a lower school (K-4), a middle school (5-8), and an upper school (9-12); the middle school still enjoys a coordinate system, with boys and girls taking classes separately. The administration includes a Head of School and a Head of each division.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)
Mission and Values The mission of Collegiate School is to create a community of learners committed to a challenging and supportive educational experience that will foster the intellectual, moral, emotional, and physical development of each student. The essence of the school is embodied in the phrase, “Minds that seek. Hearts that serve.” At our core is the interaction of students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This environment enables our students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service. Collegiate is dedicated to the following shared values, which guide our philosophy, educational program, and daily interaction: Honor, Love of Learning, Excellence, Respect, and Community. Our commitment to be a diverse school community is founded in our core philosophy, values and purpose. We aspire to create an inclusive environment that promotes engaged citizenship and encourages compassionate leadership.
Admission Competitive—retention rate is 97% K-12—emphasizing strength in both scholarship and character. Financial aid budget exceeds $2.5 million.
Enrollment Upper School: 498 Middle School: 496 Lower School: 580 Total Students: 1574
(Class of 2012: 126)
Faculty Collegiate’s seasoned faculty has 191 members, 145 of whom hold advanced degrees. The average class size is 15, and the student/teacher ratio is 15:1. Faculty also act as academic advisors, club sponsors, and coaches.
Facilities Highlights Main campus: 55 acres; campus-wide wired/wireless high-speed network, data/video projection systems and interactive SmartBoards in most classrooms; 2 science buildings with 10 labs; arts center with 620-seat theater; 40,000 sq. ft. athletic center. Nearby Robins campus: 172 acres, 70 of which have been developed into a state-of-the-art athletic complex with 12 playing fields (1 synthetic turf ), baseball & softball stadiums, a 16,000 sq. ft. athletics building with fitness/weight/locker facilities, and a tennis center with 13 courts.
Course Offerings and Upper School Life English
English 9, 10 English 11* & 12* (semester offerings): Asian Literature; Chick Lit: Women’s Literature from Austen’s Day to Our Own; Contemporary World Literature; Fiction Workshop; Hebrew Bible as Literature; Language and Composition; Literature and Film Classics—Moments of Choice; Literature of Conflict; Literature of the Wild West; Living Epic in Literature; Madness as Method in Literature; Modern Drama; Poetry Workshop; Russian Literature; Satire; Science, Nature, Spirit, Soul; Shakespeare; The Fine Art of Anarchy; The Hero’s Journey in World Mythology; Transformative Classics: British Literature; What Do I Know: Explorations in Creative Non-Fiction
Mathematics
Algebra I & Algebra II Geometry Honors Geometry & Trig Pre-Calculus Honors Pre-Calculus Calculus AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Honors Linear Algebra & Multivariable Calculus Statistics & Applied Math
Lab Sciences Chemistry Honors Chemistry Biology Honors Biology# Physics Honors Physics AP Chemistry AP Biology AP Physics C Biology II Human Genetics*
Neurobiology* Physics II: Light & Sound Directed Individual Research AP Environmental Science (new in 2011-2012)
Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese I-IV French I-IV Honors French II-V AP French Language Spanish I-IV Spanish IB, II A-B Honors Spanish II-V AP Spanish Language Latin I-III Honors Latin II-VI AP Latin Vergil
History
Modern World History 20th Century History* Honors European History American History Survey AP American History AP Economics (Macro* & Micro*) AP US Government & Politics* (new in 2010-2011) Senior Seminar: Govt., Economics, Ethics^ American in the Sixties*, Asian Studies*, Independent Study (Senior offering only)*, Latin American History & Culture*, Honors Global Economics*
Other
Journalism* Religion 10* Independent Study (Computer Programming)* Health & Wellness I Health & Wellness II/Driver Education
The Senior Year
Three unique experiences mark the senior year and are required for graduation. The Senior Seminar is a yearlong academic course that incorporates Government, Economics and Ethics, and is intended to be the student’s “capstone” experience in the curriculum. Also, each student must successfully deliver a formal Senior Speech to the entire upper school body and must engage in an approved Senior Project during the final three weeks of school.
The Honor System
The Honor System is based on the moral maturity, self-respect, and cooperation of each member of the student body. The Honor Code states that, “Lying, stealing, cheating, and the toleration of such acts are unacceptable at Collegiate School.” The Honor Council is student-run, with 12 members elected by their peers and 2 faculty advisors. The Council hears and recommends action on all cases.
Community Service
The value of community stresses “a commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community, and in the broader world.” While each student must complete about 15 hours of service per year, most far exceed the requirements. All freshmen participate in weeklong projects locally, and many seniors choose service trips for their Senior Projects.
Fine Arts
Drawing I-II* 3-D Design* Painting I-II* Ceramics I-II* Sculpture* Photography I-II* Digital Photography* Film Making & Video Editing* Honors Studio Art & Portfolio• Advanced Photography* Acting I-II* Tech Theater* Intermediate Dance* Advanced Dance* Senior Dance Company Honors Music Chorus (year = ½ credit) Camerata+ Glee Club* (3 semesters = ½ credit)+ Guitar Ensemble* Flute/Chamber Music Ensemble (year = ½ credit) Jazz Band/Orchestra Orchestra (year = ½ credit or 1 credit) Orchestra/Chorus Private Lessons (year = ¼ credit) ^ Senior Seminar is an academic course required of all seniors for one history/ social science credit #Honors Biology was not offered to the Class of 2012; until now, regular Biology was the most rigorous level available for underclassmen • Honors Studio Art & Portfolio is akin to AP Studio Art in its yearlong portfolio-driven demands * denotes semester course + denotes audition only
Co-curricular Activities
Collegiate offers a wide array of activities that broaden a student’s education beyond the traditional academic disciplines. Numerous councils, committees, and clubs are offered for students to develop their interests and leadership.
• Arts
The arts at Collegiate are seen as an integral part of a humanities education, giving students the knowledge necessary to understand our culture and those of others. A multitude of offerings are available, from sculpture and tech theater to the annual fall musical and formal junior/senior recitals. Most students go well beyond the one-year requirement.
• Athletics
Collegiate requires each student to participate in 2 seasons of athletics/fitness per year. There are 12 Varsity teams for boys and 11 for girls, and many of these have won league/state championships in recent years. The school’s commitment to provide an exceptional athletic program incorporates sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership skills, and healthy decision-making.
Academic Program Transcript Legend
Grading Scale
As the scale at right attests, Collegiate’s system of grading is unique in its rigor.
A AB+ B BC+ C CD F
On a traditional scale, an A- would be an A, a B+ would be an A-, a B would be a B+, and so forth.
96-100 93-95 90-92 87-89 84-86 81-83 78-80 75-77 70-74 Below 70
G.P.A. Distribution Class 2012 A 20% A26% B+ 19% B 15% B11% C+ 5% C 4%
4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.0 0.0
(Weighted average, all courses*, cumulative: 6 semesters)
Collegiate does not rank. The G.P.A. is weighted, adding 0.5 points for Honors and AP courses, and is used internally for the awarding of honor roll status (3.30) and the Cum Laude Society (top 10% after 6 semesters, top 20% after 7 semesters). *The following graded courses are not included in the G.P.A.: H&W, Private Lessons (music), and Glee Club. The academic year consists of 2 semesters. Yearlong courses = one credit, semester courses = one-half credit.
AP/Honors Courses
Enrollment in AP courses is limited by student qualifications and the number of sections offered; students are generally discouraged from taking more than 2-3 AP/Honors courses in a given year, and typically will not encounter most of these courses until the junior/senior years. In total, there are 14 AP courses and 23 Honors Courses. The English Department does not offer AP courses, but juniors and seniors may sit for either AP English exam. New in 2011-2012: Reflecting better accuracy and alignment within the curriculum, Collegiate has changed 10 course designations from “Advanced” to “Honors;” these courses were already being taught at the Honors level. Students enrolled in AP courses must sit for the exam, and students take AP exams in: Biology, Chemistry, Physics C, Environmental Science (new in 2011-2012), Calculus AB & BC, Economics Micro & Macro, English Language, English Literature, French Language, Spanish Language, Latin Literature, Statistics, Government (new in 2010-2011), and U.S. History.
Credits Required for Graduation (Total 21) English Mathematics Laboratory Science
4.0 3.0 3.0
Foreign Language History Academic Electives
3.0 3.5 2.0
Fine Arts Religion Physical Education
1.0 0.5 1.0
Standardized Testing Class
2012** 2009-11
ACT Class
Mid 50% CR
Mid 50% M
Mid 50% W
550-680 560-680
580-700 580-700
560-680 570-680
23-29 24-29
SAT—Subject Tests Test*** Biology E Biology M Chemistry French Literature Math 1 Math 2 Spanish U.S. History
Class 2012** Mid 50% # of Tests 610-700 28 550-670 15 610-760 12 670-760 15 560-680 23 620-700 13 620-740 60 590-700 15 610-730 60
Class 2012**
Classes 2009–11
Mid 50% Composite
2012** 2009-11
National Merit Scholarship Competition 3 Semifinalists/ 14 Commended 1 National Achievement Semifinalist 8 Finalists/ 37 Commended 1 National Hispanic
AP Examinations Classes 09–11 Mid 50% # of Tests 600-680 68 610-740 38 540-750 48 640-730 45 590-700 84 590-680 96 620-740 156 580-680 38 620-710 149
**Junior Year Only ***Includes subjects with 10 or more tests by end of junior year.
Year Students/Exams 5 2011 219/516 37% 2010 208/504 37% 2009 201/435 41% Percent of AP Examinations Receiving Indicated Score
SAT—Reasoning
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
4 31% 34% 32%
3 19% 21% 15%
2 10% 6% 7%
1 3% 3% 4%
Class of 2012** 99 Students 255 Exams
40% 30% 16%
11% 3% 5
4
3 2 AP Examination Score
1
College Matriculations While in a typical year all Collegiate graduates will move on to four-year colleges, their interests and directions are varied. • Approximately 50% of each class chooses to attend institutions in Virginia, and the other 50% elects to study at colleges and universities across the country and abroad.
Classes of 2008-2011
• Over the past 4 years, 493 Collegiate graduates have been accepted at 236 colleges and universities in the U.S. and the U.K., and have matriculated at 126 of those institutions.
Enrollment numbers, when greater than (1), are in parentheses.
American University Appalachian State University Auburn University (3) Belmont University (2) Boston University Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Catawba College Christopher Newport University (4) Clemson University (6) College of Charleston (3) College of William & Mary (33) Columbia University Converse College Cornell University Dartmouth College (4) Davidson College (2) Denison University Dickinson College (2) Drexel University (2) Duke University (6) Eastman School of Music Elmira College Elon University (24) Embry-Riddle University Franklin and Marshall College (3) Furman University (7) George Mason University (3) George Washington University (2) Georgetown University (6) Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Greensboro College Grove City College Hamilton College Hampden-Sydney College (16) Hampton University Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Haverford College High Point University (5) Hobart & William Smith Colleges J. Sargeant Reynolds C.C.
James Madison University (37) John Tyler C.C. Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lafayette College London College of Fashion Longwood University (3) Lynchburg College (2) Marymount Manhattan College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Miami University-OH (3) Middlebury College Montana State University New York University (2) North Carolina State University (2) Northeastern University (2) Northern Arizona University Northwestern University (2) Ohio State University Old Dominion University (2) Pennsylvania State University-University Park Princeton University (5) Radford University Randolph-Macon College (2) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Rollins College (3) Santa Monica College Savannah College of Art & Design (2) Sewanee-University of the South (8) Southern Methodist University St. Lawrence University St. Mary’s College of Maryland Stanford University (3) Texas Christian University (2) Tisch School of the Arts Tufts University United States Military Academy (2) United States Naval Academy University of Alabama (6) University of California-Berkeley University of Charleston University of Chicago
University of Colorado-Boulder (3) University of Delaware University of Florida University of Georgia (7) University of Kentucky University of Mary Washington (4) University of Maryland (3) University of Miami University of Michigan (2) University of Mississippi Univeristy of Missouri Univeristy of Montana U. of North Carolina-Asheville U. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (9) U. of North Carolina-Charlotte U. of North Carolina-Greensboro (2) U. of North Carolina-Wilmington University of Notre Dame (2) University of Pennsylvania (3) University of Richmond (5) University of Rochester (2) University of South Carolina (18) University of Southern California (3) University of Tennessee University of Texas-Austin University of Vermont (2) University of Virginia (71) Vanderbilt University (3) Vassar College Villanova University (2) Virginia Commonwealth University (9) Virginia Military Institute (6) Virginia Tech (26) Wake Forest University (4) Washington & Lee University (9) Washington University in St. Louis (2) Wesleyan University (2) West Virginia University (2) Williams College Wofford College Yale University (3)
The following is a sampling, during the same period, of institutions that accepted our students, but without Collegiate matriculations: Allegheny, Amherst, Boston College, Bucknell, Case Western, Colgate, College of Wooster, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Drew, Duquesne, East Carolina, Eckerd, Emerson, Emory, Eugene Lang, Flagler, Florida State, Goucher, Guilford, Hampshire, Hofstra, Hollins, Holy Cross, Ithaca, Lehigh, MICA, Morehouse, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyen, Peabody (JHU), Pepperdine, Pratt, Providence, Purdue, Reed, Rice, Roanoke, Skidmore, Stetson, Sweet Briar, Syracuse, Trinity College-CT, Tulane, UCLA, U. Connecticut, U. Illinois-Urbana Champaign, U. Massachusetts-Amherst, U. Pittsburgh, U. Puget Sound, U. Redlands, U. St. Andrews-Scotland, Washington College, Wellesley. Collegiate does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin in the administration of its educational, admission, scholarship or employment policies, or other programs administered by the school.
2011–2012 School Profile Supplement Secondary School Report Information School Address
College Counseling Staff
Collegiate School North Mooreland Road Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 741-9741
Brian E. Leipheimer
Director bleipheimer@collegiate-va.org
Kimberly S. Ball
Associate Director kball@collegiate-va.org
Suzanne L. Lewis
Associate Director slewis@collegiate-va.org
Joel W. Nuckols III
College Counselor jnuckols@collegiate-va.org
Martha C. Nesmith
Office Assistant mnesmith@collegiate-va.org
(804) 740-7077 phone (804) 740-2130 fax
(804) 754-1561
Main website: www.collegiate-va.org
(804) 740-2153
College office webpage: www.collegiate-va.org/collegecounseling
(804) 741-9739
CEEB Code: 471845
(804) 741-9742
G.P.A.
Listed on transcript. 4.0 scale. Based on 6 semesters. Weighted (0.5 for Honors/AP courses).
Class Rank
Collegiate School does not provide class rank. Grade distribution is provided on profile.
Grading Scale
More demanding than standard 4.0 or 100-point conversions. Details on profile/transcript.
AP Courses
Enrollment limited by student qualifications and number of sections offered.
Standardized Testing
Student must provide all scores directly from the testing service.
Graduation Date June 2012 Number of students in entire class 126 Percent attending 4-yr. institutions 100
Block Scheduling No Academic Course Load 5 minimum; 5 core recommended/average 7 maximum (almost never allowed)
“Senior Seminar” Course
REQUIRED of all seniors, this yearlong academic class receives 1 history/social science credit—based primarily on Government and Economics with Ethics as a connective thread, the course’s demands befit the rigor of our overall program.
Highest courses offered in each discipline
English History Math Science Foreign Lang. Art
The School Letter of Recommendation
Enclosed with every student’s materials, this letter is a comprehensive compilation of faculty comments and observations as well as input from the College Counselor.
Senior English Electives (no AP/Honors courses offered) AP US History, AP Economics, or AP Government AP BC Calculus or Honors Linear Algebra & Multivariable Calculus AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, or AP Environmental Science AP Spanish Language, AP French Language, AP Latin Literature Honors Studio Art & Portfolio (akin to AP Studio Art)
Discipline Reporting Policy Collegiate believes that its discipline system is a part of its overall education program. Therefore, with the exception of expulsions, withdrawals and leaves of absence, all of which are recorded on the Collegiate transcript, no disciplinary action taken through the end of the junior year will be reported to colleges by Collegiate. Consistent with NACAC’s Statement of Principles of Good Practice, we will report to colleges any major change of status (out-of-school suspension, expulsion, withdrawal or leave of absence) occurring between the beginning of the senior year through graduation. In such an event the Head of School will write a letter after the change of status has taken effect. Prior to the mailing of that letter, seniors will be urged to inform all colleges to which they have applied of the change of status. It is also assumed that Collegiate students will respond truthfully to any questions asked of them regarding disciplinary action taken at any point during their Upper School career.