Presbyterian School

School offices at 100 Oakdale

Presbyterian School is an independent, coeducational day school in Houston. Presbyterian School is composed of three divisions: an Early Childhood division, ages 3 through Prekindergarten, a Lower School division, Kindergarten through grade four, and a Middle School division, fifth through eighth grade. All divisions use developmentally appropriate and innovative teaching strategies to respond to the learning needs of each of its students.

The School shares a campus with First Presbyterian Church but is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and maintains an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation status. The School is financially independent from First Presbyterian Church.

History

In 1986, Dr. John William Lancaster, appointed a School Study Committee to explore the feasibility of an Early Childhood and Lower School at the church. Presbyterian School was officially founded in 1988 and opened its doors to offer a distinct educational program for families in the Houston area in the Fall of 1989. In August 2000, the school expanded with its addition of a middle school and accepted its first class of fifth and sixth graders. Presbyterian graduated its first class of eighth grade students in 2003. The mission of “Family, School and Church united in the education and support of each Child” is the founding premise upon which Presbyterian School continues to nurture and challenge its students.[1]

Memberships and Accreditations

[2]

Campus

Presbyterian School is located in the state-of-the-art facility of First Presbyterian Church of Houston. Presbyterian School counts among its neighbors institutions of learning and the arts such as Rice University, The Museum of Natural Science, Houston's Medical Center, The Houston Children's Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts and St. Thomas University. Students benefit from modern wireless facilities on the main campus, which include two learning commons, four science labs, two art rooms (including in-house kiln), two music rooms, an Academic Enrichment Center, two gymnasiums, a 1200-seat theatre, sanctuary and chapel.

Presbyterian School has expanded its campus to include a 14-acre Outdoor Education Campus (OEC) less than five miles from the school. The outdoor campus is located just south of the Texas Medical Center on Highway 288 (9100 South Freeway) and is easily accessible by school bus. A wide array of recent research has indicated that contact with nature fosters children’s health, productivity, maturation and well-being. These studies reveal that contact with nature encourages intellectual performance and problem solving in addition to fostering emotional and social development. With this Outdoor Education Campus, our children will find enrichment and more opportunities to develop to their fullest God-given potential. The Outdoor Education Campus will provide space for environmental learning, sports and athletics, nature trails, play areas and outdoor worship.[3]

Academics

Early Childhood students explore ideas and develop skills through art, music and movement, dramatic play, blocks, language arts, social studies, and math. Field trips, interactive science experiments, and readiness activities in reading and math further enhance the program. Small and full group work sparks curiosity and creativity, and encourages children to observe, experiment, solve problems, and acquire basic skills.[4]

Lower School students are taught Language Arts, Everyday Mathematics, and Social Studies in their primary classroom. Faculty with specialized training in Science, Art, Chapel, Library, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish provide instruction beyond the walls of a student’s homeroom and in interdisciplinary activities.[5]

Middle School students are required to take five core classes including English, History, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. Rotation classes are also required for students in each grade. In fifth and sixth grade those include Art, Religion, Music, and Study Skills. In seventh and eighth grade those include Wellness electives (Life Skills, Bible, Health, PE, and Biomechanics) and Fine Arts electives (Drama, Music, Art, Photography, Museum Courses, etc.) Seventh and eighth grade students take an exam at the end of the second and fourth quarters.[6]

Athletics

Fall Sports

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

Headmaster

Dr. Mark Carleton began his tenure of Presbyterian School in 2009. Dr. Carleton came to Presbyterian School from Darlington School, a coeducational, college preparatory, day and boarding school in Rome, Georgia, where he served as Associate Headmaster, Academic Dean and Director of Upper School.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Who Are We?".
  2. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Who Are We?".
  3. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "One School, Two Campuses".
  4. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Early Childhood".
  5. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Lower School Program".
  6. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Middle School Program".
  7. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Our Teams".
  8. ↑ Lawless, Andrea. "Conversations with our Headmaster".
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Coordinates: 29°43′41″N 95°23′24″W / 29.727995°N 95.390080°W / 29.727995; -95.390080

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