The Harker School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Harker School
Established	1893
School type	Private
Head of school	Christopher Nikoloff
Location	San Jose, California
School Web site	http://www.harker.org
School colors	Green, white, gold, and black (blue is used for the middle school)

The Harker School is a private, co-educational, not-for-profit K-12 college preparatory educational institution located in San Jose, California.

Founded in 1893 as Manzanita Hall, Harker has three campuses, informally called Bucknall, Blackford, and Saratoga for the streets on which they lie. Bucknall is the Lower School campus, educating kindergarten through grade 5. The Middle School, grades 6 to 8, is on the Blackford campus, and the Upper School, grades 9 to 12, is on the Saratoga campus.

The current administration is led by Christopher Nikoloff, who succeeded Howard and Diana Nichols following their retirement after the 2004-2005 academic year. Howard Nichols is the son of Donald Nichols, who created the present day Harker School by merging the Palo Alto Military Academy in Palo Alto (as Manzanita Hall was then called) with Harker Day School in 1972 and moving to the Saratoga campus. [1]

[edit] Components

[edit] Upper School

The Harker School Seal

The Upper School houses the high school, and is located on the Saratoga campus, the original San Jose campus, where Harker has been located since 1972. The upper school was first opened in 1998, with the first graduating class leaving in 2002. Currently, there are about 700 students in the upper school.

[edit] Academics

Harker is best known for its rigorous academic environment, boasting one of the best in the country.In academics, Students are accepted into highly selective college programs throughout the country, in huge quantities - many going onto schools such as Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, and Stanford University. Harker students are selected largely based on their academic aptitude. [2] They regularly boast very high SAT scores. In 2005, they were nationally acclaimed for Advanced Placement test scores for AP Computer Science and AP Chemistry, having the best overall program for small schools in the nation. In 2006, they were again given two top AP program awards, this time in AP Calculus AB and again in AP Chemistry. [3]

[edit] Athletics

Harker offers a large sports program, consisting of football, volleyball, soccer, track and field, basketball, baseball, tennis, softball, lacrosse, cross country running, swimming and diving, water polo, cheerleading, and wrestling. The school is in the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation, and is classified as Division IV.

[edit] Performing Arts

Harker has developed a reputation as having a strong performing arts program. Its conservatory program allows students to major in various artistic specializations, requiring them to take certain classes and participate in various events in order to graduate. At the end of their senior year, there is a senior showcase where candidates perform and then receive their certificate at the end of the show. These majors include vocal music, instrumental music, theatre, musical theatre, technical theatre, and dance. The middle school dance troupe named " showstoppers," is directed by former 49er cheerleader and current dance teacher Kristin Mauer. K-6 dance is run by longtime dance teacher Gail Palmer. The 4-6 grade dance ensemble is named "Dance Fusion."[4]

Vocal groups include the a cappela Guys' Gig, the classical and all-female Cantilena, the jazz-focused Downbeat!, and the choir, Bel Canto [5]. In addition, Harker has a play each fall, a musical each spring, and a student-directed showcase. This opportunity, which allows selected seniors (usually certificate students) a chance at directing, is like a graduate directing class which is a semester long process which culminates in a performance. The 2007 Spring musical, Urinetown,has been invited to the Edinburgh_Fringe festival. Its instrumental music program includes an orchestra and jazz band. The Harker Upper School Orchestra has over 35 members. This winter break, The Harker Upper School has been asked to perform in Paris, France. This is a prestigious parade festival. [6]The dance program at Harker focuses mostly on modern dance and also allows students to choreograph some of the numbers in the annual Dance Production.

[edit] Middle School

Harker Middle School building (Blackford campus).

The middle school is located on the Blackford campus, the former site of Blackford High School. The site was rented starting in the 2005-2006 school year. [7] Before 1998, the eighth grade was the final year at Harker; however, middle school graduates now have the opportunity to choose between matriculating to the upper school or continuing their education at another high school. Uniforms, which are navy blue, are required in the middle school. Free dress days occur ever other Fridays with the exception of photography days and certain rehersals. Full uniform days occur every Monday. The new Dean of Students is Joe Gill. Many components aid in the shift from the Lower School to the Middle School, including various athletic and artistic programs. This includes an audition-based group named Harmonics which prepares students for Downbeat! and other vocal groups.

[edit] Lower School

The elementary school is located on the Bucknall campus, the former site of Bucknall Elementary School. The campus was sold to Harker by the Moreland School District, and first used by the former in the 1998-99 school year [8]. Uniforms based around the color green and the Black Watch plaid print, are required in the lower school. Free dress days occur every other Wednesday with the exception of photography days and certain rehersals. Full uniform days occur every Friday.

[edit] Tuition

Harker's tuition is quite high compared to other schools in the Bay Area: a student in kindergarten will have to pay just over $20,000 for one year, while a high school education costs $27,865 per year. [9]

[edit] External links

• Harker's Home Page
• The History of Harker (from its webpage)