University School

University School

Responsibility, Loyalty, Consideration
Location
Hunting Valley, Ohio, (Cuyahoga County)
United States
Coordinates 41°29′10″N 81°25′42″W / 41.48611°N 81.42833°W / 41.48611; -81.42833Coordinates: 41°29′10″N 81°25′42″W / 41.48611°N 81.42833°W / 41.48611; -81.42833 (Upper School Campus) and 41°28′56″N 81°31′57″W / 41.48222°N 81.53250°W / 41.48222; -81.53250 (Lower School Campus)
Information
Type Private, Day, College-prep
Religious affiliation(s) Non-sectarian
Established 1890
Founder Mr. Newton Anderson
Headmaster Mr. Benjamin I. Rein
Faculty 142 (full time)
Grades K-12
Gender Boys
Enrollment 455 Middle/Lower
407 Upper
862 Total
Average class size 14.789
Student to teacher ratio 8:1
Campus Suburban
Campus size 297 acres (1.20 km2)
Upper: 264 acres (1.07 km2)
Lower: 33 acres (0.13 km2)
Color(s) Maroon and Black[1]         
Song Hail, University!
Athletics 13 interscholastic sports
Athletics conference Premier Athletic Conference[1]
Mascot Prescott Prepper
Team name Preppers[1]
Accreditation National Association of Independent Schools[2]
Average SAT scores 618 critical reading
636 math[3]
Endowment US$84 million (2015)
Annual tuition $20,560-$31,760
Director of Athletics Mr. John Ptacek[1]
Website http://www.us.edu

University School, commonly referred to as US, is an all-boys K-12 school with two campus locations in the Greater Cleveland area. The campus located in Shaker Heights serves kindergarten through eighth grade students, while the campus in Hunting Valley serves grades ninth through twelfth grade students.

University School is a founding member of the International Boys' Schools Coalition and a member of the Center for the Study of Boys' and Girls' Lives and Cleveland Council of Independent Schools.

History and Headmasters

In 1890 the founding Headmaster of the school, Newton M. Anderson, established University School. The school's first building was erected on 10 acres (40,000 m2) at the corner of Hough Avenue and East 71st Street in Cleveland.[4]

At the turn of the century, Headmaster George D. Pettee led the entire student body to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, in 1901.[4][5] A few years later in 1908 Headmaster Harry S. Peters led University School during two World Wars, the Great Depression and, in 1926, to the 36-acre (150,000 m2) campus in Shaker Heights. He was the longest-tenured headmaster in University School history; however, ended up leaving the school in 1947.[4] That same year Headmaster Harold L. Cruikshank oversaw the building of the Hanna Wing on the Shaker Campus and guided the school through the end of World War II to the beginning of the 1960s.

Under the leadership of McKinley, the Upper School moved, in 1970, from Shaker Heights to nearly 200 acres (0.81 km2) of meadows and woodland in Hunting Valley. Tragedy struck the school in 1966 when a junior student was attacked and had his long hair cut off by upperclassmen; he dropped out of the School and later committed suicide.[6][7] The school drastically changed its disciplinary policies thereafter.

In 1988, Headmaster Richard A. Hawley, an author and educator, became the sixth headmaster of US.[8] With the support of the US community, Conway Hall on the Shaker Campus and the William S. Kilroy '43 Field House in Hunting Valley were built during Dr. Hawley's tenure.[4]

After Dr. Hawley’s departure from the school in 2005, Stephen S. Murray became the seventh headmaster for University School. He led the School in the fundraising and construction of a nearly $100 million, 52,000 square-foot academic wing, which features spacious classrooms and interactive technology. Extensive renovation of the original classroom building has allowed for a state-of-the-art facilities for the visual and performing arts.

After it was announced in August 2014 that Headmaster Stephen Murray would leave US to become the 13th Head Master of The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, Benjamin I. Rein of the Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia) assumed the position of Headmaster in mid-2015.

House System

University School has a House system, similar to that of the British tradition. Every student is assigned to one of ten houses, which integrates students from all grades and provides a structure for the boys to connect between grades with each other for companionship and support. Houses participate in community service activities and spirited athletic competitions. Every year, younger and older boys compete in Founders’ Day, a tradition that celebrates the school’s founding in 1890.[4] Houses are organized to encourage greater interaction between students, especially students at separate campuses and in different grades. As such, the House System is a large part of student life at University School. House meetings occur regularly at the Upper School, in which faculty and students may plan activities and community service projects such as the annual Thanksgiving food drive. Each House elects a prefect from the senior class who acts as the House leader.

Houses are typically named after former Headmasters or notable alumni donors, and each House has a color to represent it. The numbers, names, and colors of Houses, however, have changed over the years.

The current House names are: Anderson (maroon); Cruikshank (white); Goodwillie (navy blue); Hawley (purple); McCarraher (orange); McKinley (royal blue); Peters (red); Pettee (black); Murray (gray); and Sanders (yellow). Prior to the fall of 2015, there was a house called Pickands (green). Upon the departure of headmaster Steve S. Murray, a commemorative house was created as a replacement. The new house is called Murray and its color is gray.

Clubs and Activities

The special programs and activities offered by University School reflect student interests. If sufficient peer interest is present, a student may initiate a club or activity by gaining the support of a faculty sponsor.

Shaker Heights Campus (Grades K - 8)

Hunting Valley Campus (Grades 9 - 12)

Publications

Arts

US offers an art program for its boys that helps each student to grow and mature in their artistic pursuits. To participate in many of these programs, the freshmen at the upper school usually take Intro to the Arts, exposing them to fine arts, music, and drama. (This class is required to go into the next fine arts or drama levels, unless the student auditions for the Glee Club and is accepted.) At the lower school, all students are required to take some form of art class; different offerings are available to different grades.

Fine Arts

At both campuses, the school offers a variety of fine arts courses, including painting and drawing and additional graphic design courses. Woodworking is also highly popular at the upper school. Many students qualify for local, statewide and national art competitions.

Music

The school's most famous performing staple is its Glee Club. The US Glee Club sings multiple times throughout the year in assemblies, concerts, graduation, and also throughout the city of Cleveland, collaborating with ensembles such as Choral Arts: Cleveland, the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and other surrounding schools. In the past, the choir has toured throughout North America and Europe, performing in various concert halls and churches throughout the world. The US Glee Club sings a variety of music, including traditional men's chorus pieces, and arrangements by contemporary composers.

The US Males is an a capella ensemble for students of the Glee Club who show high-performing potential. These students perform more frequently than the Glee Club at sporting events and gatherings for school officials, alumni, and parents. This primarily student-run ensemble sings pop tunes, such as Rolling in the Deep by Adele, but also classics like All My Loving by The Beatles.

The US Chamber Orchestra consists of a variety of instruments and plays a variety of music, from Vivaldi to Gershwin. Every school year, the orchestra has multiple collaborations, usually with Hathaway Brown in March and with the Glee Club in December and in May.

The school does not offer traditional band like most high schools, however the jazz ensembles are outlets for the boys to pursue further instrumental expression. The jazz program consists of the 1 O'clock Ensemble (the performing and touring group for advanced students) and the 2 O'clock Ensemble (for students in training). In March 2011, the touring ensemble had its second tour to New Orleans (commonly referred to as NOLA by students of the program).

One smaller one-semester ensemble is the Guitar Ensemble. This class helps students to gain a stronger sense of the guitar and the work involved in being a band. The boys perform for the school and in venues throughout Cleveland. They usually continue as a band independently from the school curriculum.

The lower school also offers programs for students similar to the Upper Campus, including a 3-5 grade choir, a 6-8 grade choir, a chamber orchestra, a jazz ensemble, and additional music classes for students. These classes include instrumentation, music theory, and music technology, in which students learn to be accomplished musicians.

Drama

Every year, the drama department at US puts on a fall play and spring musical in collaboration with students from surrounding schools. The middle school offers drama starting in 6th grade and all students can participate. Students from surrounding schools also can participate.

Athletics

Traditionally has a rivalry with Western Reserve Academy, with the football games being the highlight of each schools season throughout the 20th century starting with the first 1895 meeting.[12]

US fields varsity teams in thirteen sports, five in the winter season and four in each the fall and the spring seasons: football, soccer, cross country and golf in the fall, ice hockey, wrestling, swimming, squash, and basketball in the winter, and in the spring, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, and baseball.

University School competes in the Premier Athletic Conference (PAC), 8-team conference. The cross country, wrestling, basketball, track and field and baseball teams began competing in this conference in 2009. Football began its PAC schedule in the fall of 2011.[13]

The 81,000-square-foot (7,500 m2) Kilroy Field House at the Hunting Valley Campus is a multi-purpose indoor practice facility featuring two basketball courts, three squash courts, a 200-meter cantilevered indoor track, and practice areas for track events. The complex also includes a fitness center equipped with the latest in weight training and aerobic equipment.

Wrestling rooms, a gymnasium and 25-yard indoor swimming pool with a separate diving well complete the indoor facilities at the Hunting Valley Campus. Outdoors, there is a football stadium and a new turf football field, an all-weather track, four soccer and other practice fields, two baseball diamonds, and seven tennis courts.

The physical education facilities at the Shaker Campus include a football field, 400-meter track, three baseball fields, two soccer fields, eight tennis courts, a double-size gymnasium, wrestling room, a four-lane, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, and a rock climbing wall.

In 2013, University School's student-created and student-led sports broadcasting network, USPN, started streaming live coverage of the school's football, soccer, basketball, hockey, lacrosse and baseball games.

In 2014, University School's squash team won the Division IV national championship at the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in Philledelphia, PA.[14]

Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Championships

Boys Division II Swimming - Records

Records at the OHSAA.[13]

Event Time Name Location Year
200 Yard Medley Relay 1:31.67 Kevin Stang, Korey Schneider, Russell Stack, Andrew Malone Canton 2011
200 Yard Freestyle 1.38.64 Ian Stewart-Bates Canton 2009
100 Yard Freestyle 0:45.44 Tyler Bailey Canton 2009
100 Yard Breaststroke 0:55.54 Andrew Malone Canton 2011
400 Yard Freestyle Relay 3:06.70 Tyler Bailey, Ben Stewart-Bates, Nicholas Crane, Ian Stewart-Bates Canton 2009

Other State Championships

Notable Alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory". Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. ↑ "NAIS".
  3. ↑ "University School: Quick Facts". University School. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hawley, Richard (1990). Hail, University. ISBN 0-929940-01-6.
  5. ↑ Clotfelter, Charles T. (2004). After Brown: The Rise and Retreat of School Desegregation. Princeton University Press.
  6. ↑ Shlachter, Barry (May 19, 2012). "Bullying incident still resonates years later: Barry Shlachter". The Plain Dealer.
  7. ↑ Shlachter, Barry (May 16, 2012). "High school bullying incident becomes a lesson in double standards". Star-Telegram.
  8. ↑ Hawley, Richard (1990). Hail, University. p. 29. ISBN 0-929940-01-6.
  9. ↑ http://www.us.edu/Page/Academics/Enrichment-Opportunities/
  10. ↑ "Executive Board Pre-File Application". OhioJCL.org - June 2007. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. 2010. Archived from the original on June 17, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  11. ↑ "OJCL Constitution". OhioJCL.org - July 2002. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2010. ... by paying both OJCL annual chapter dues and any annual chapter membership dues required by NJCL.
  12. ↑ Reserve Record US vs. WRA. (PDF) https://www.wra.net/uploaded/photos/reserve_record/12-01-2009_Vol-96_Issue_2.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Fall Release Oct 6, 2003". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  14. ↑ "University School wins Division IV national squash championship - cleveland.com". highschoolsports.cleveland.com. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  15. ↑ OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  16. ↑ OTCA. "Ohio Tennis Coaches' Association Web site". Retrieved 2007-03-08.

External links

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