Presbyterian School

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"Presbyterian School" is an independent, coeducational day school which is committed to the development of the fullest potential of each of its students.  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.

History

In 1986, Dr. John William Lancaster, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 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.

Religious Affiliation

Presbyterian was founded on the belief that students should be educated in an environment integrating the three most important institutions in life: family, school, and church. Students are encouraged to develop their spiritual identities in a Christ-centered environment, as well as a sense of responsibility in relation to God. However, students of all religious backgrounds are welcome to attend Presbyterian School. All students attend Chapel once a week. In addition to weekly chapel, several all-community chapel services are held to unite the community, mark important events and manifest the Christian foundation of Presbyterian School. Of the families whose students attend the School, 17% are members of First Presbyterian Church of Houston.

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.

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.  Thus Presbyterian School forms part of an archipelago of the arts and academia located in Houston's vibrant Museum District.  These institutions and more serve as partners and / or resources in the creation of an outstanding independent school education for the over 530 girls and boys of Presbyterian School. At Presbyterian School, students benefit from modern wireless facilities on the main campus, which include two learning commons featuring over 35,000 books, four fully equipped science labs, two art rooms -including an in-house kiln, two music rooms, an Academic Enrichment Center, two gymnasiums, a 1200-seat theatre, sanctuary, and chapel.

In 2008 Presbyterian School expanded its campus to include a 14-acre Outdoor Education Campus (OEC) less than five miles away from the main campus. 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 the Outdoor Education Campus, Presbyterian School students will find enrichment and more opportunities to develop to their fullest God-given potential.  The Outdoor Education Campus provides space for environmental learning, sports and athletics, nature trails, play areas and outdoor worship. 

The School’s motto states that “As children of God at Presbyterian School, we respect ourselves, each other and the environment.” While Presbyterian School students can learn about the importance of conservation and environmental science in the classroom, not all learning can take place indoors.  To learn about the great outdoors, students need to be outdoors.  Moreover, an outdoor chapel will give Presbyterian School students more time and experience with the natural world that God created.

Academic Tracks and Curriculum

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.

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.

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.

Foreign Language

For lower school students, Spanish is taught through immersion instruction with emphasis placed on recognition and production of Spanish vocabulary. In third and fourth grades, students begin learning Spanish grammar, reading, and writing. In middle school, students continue studying Spanish grammar, reading, and writing as well as practicing spoken Spanish.

Fine Arts

"Presbyterian School" offers an art program focusing on the principles of design and aesthetic awareness, as well as art history. Prekindergarten to sixth grade students go to Art and Music class each week. Students also have opportunity for public performances through class plays (i.e. Kindergarten Circus), school wide programs (i.e. Lower School Poetry Program) or grade level productions (i.e. 8th grade musical). For students who wish to have additional music classes beyond the school day, they may join one of the School’s five choirs. Seventh and eighth grade students participate in fine arts electives each quarter. These electives include a wide variety of the arts including photography, film, drama, dance and writing.

Supplementing the School’s art program are strategic partnerships that occur during the school day with neighboring institutions of Arts. Early Childhood students walk across the street to the Museum of Fine Arts for story time each week. Lower School students walk across the street to the Glassell School of Art for art classes. Middle School faculty are partnering with the Museum of Fine Arts to help them develop middle school art curriculum. The school’s Director of Fine Arts continues to develop the School’s strategic vision of enhancing the Arts at the School.

Athletics

Fall Sports Winter Sports

Fall Sports Winter Sports Spring Sports
Cross Country (boys and girls) Basketball (Boys and Girls) Golf (Boys and Girls)
Field Hockey (girls) Soccer (Boys and Girls) Lacrosse (Boys and Girls)
Football (boys) Swimming (Boys and Girls) Track and Field (Boys and Girls)
Volleyball (girls) Wrestling (Boys)

Community Service

By means of creative programs in local and regional communities, Presbyterian School is training the next generation of leaders to understand that some of the greatest achievements of our time have been borne out of courageous service and that some of our most successful leaders subscribe to the adage that true leadership is about action and not position. Each grade in Lower and Middle School has a designated Service Project for the year.

Parent Involvement

All parents and guardians of Presbyterian School students are members of the Presbyterian School Volunteer Council. There is no membership fee or registration. The PS Volunteer Council sponsors 23 different committees to support students, faculty, and parents. The PS Volunteer Council objective is to (1) promote the general welfare and betterment of Presbyterian School and its students, (2) to serve as a communication link between the PS Volunteer Council, Administrative staff, Faculty, and Board of Trustees, (3) to support the mission of Family, School and Church united.

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.

Memberships & Accreditations

  • Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS)
  • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
  • Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE)
  • Educational Records Bureau (ERB)
  • Elementary School Heads’ Association (ESHA)
  • Houston Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)
  • Independent School Management (ISM) School Office Services (SOS)

High School Placement

After graduating from Presbyterian School students receive acceptance to and attend the following high schools:

Boarding Schools Include:

External links

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