Private School Guide - Memphis Association of Independent Schools

Special Advertising Section
2011
Private School
Guide
Special Advertising Section
Bodine School
E
ducation is the key to your child’s future. Whether your child attends a public
school or an independent school, we can agree, as parents, that this future is
worthy of our most important investment. Education unlocks the potential
in our children, and choosing the right learning environment is one of the most
important decisions that parents can make. The goal of this publication is to provide
you with more information about the many outstanding educational opportunities
that are available at the 31 independent schools holding membership in the Memphis
Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) to see if they might resonate with the
aspirations that you have for your child’s future.
Independent schools are distinctive by design. Each of the schools represented in
MAIS is guided by its own mission and philosophy toward education. Some specialize
in teaching younger students; some are geared for middle and high school students;
some are comprehensive in their grades, from prekindergarten through the senior year;
some are single-gender; others are co-educational; some have a spiritual component
to their learning environment; others are secular in their approach to teaching and
learning; some specialize in delivering quality education to a special-needs population;
some are traditional in their approach to education; others are more progressive. All
of the independent schools, however, are distinguished by their commitment to
educational excellence.
Independent schools are also distinguished by the depth of
relationships that develop between the students and teachers
and between the school and the home. Because the classes
tend to be small, teachers at independent schools have the
ability to develop relationships with their students that are
meaningful and rich. As a result, they have a keen insight into
their students’ learning and potential, inside and outside of
the classroom. These relationships, moreover, transcend the
school day as teachers often become life mentors for students
in independent schools.
Independent schools seek to prepare students for the next
challenges that they will face after they leave our schools.
Some of our schools prepare students for academic challenges
they will face in middle and upper school. Some of our schools
prepare students for academic challenges they will face in
college. All of our schools, though, prepare our students for
the challenges they will face in life. Accordingly, the learning
environments at independent schools are forward-thinking
and holistic, preparing students for the challenges they will face in the 21st century.
Importantly, teachers in independent schools are united by the reality that they
find meaning and purpose in their school’s philosophy and mission, particularly the
emphasis placed on excellence. Moreover, all of the schools represented in MAIS are
accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, which maintain rigorous standards while still
allowing each school to maintain their own distinctive independence.
It is a privilege to partner with Memphis magazine in presenting this information. MAIS
is grateful to the thousands of area families who are already investing in an independent
school education for their children. Please see the Q&A in this special section for
information about the value of independent education. For those who would like to learn
more about our schools, I would invite you to visit our web site, www.maisschools.com. I
would also invite you to attend the MAIS Admission Fair on September 19th at the Hilton
Memphis (939 Ridgelake Blvd.) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admissions representatives
from many of our schools will be on hand to answer questions and provide you with
additional information about the lifelong benefits of attending an independent school.
Bornblum Solomon Schechter
Briarcrest Christian Schools
Central Day School
Christ Methodist Day School
Christ the King Lutheran School
Christian Brothers High School
Evangelical Christian School
First Assembly Christian School
Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School
Harding Academy
Hutchison School
Incarnation School
Lamplighter Montessori School
Lausanne Collegiate School
Madonna Learning Center
Memphis University School
New Hope Christian Academy
Presbyterian Day School
Rossville Christian Academy
St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School
St. Benedict at Auburndale
St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School
St. George’s Independent School
St. Mary’s Episcopal School
Southern Baptist Education Center
Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Trinity Christian Academy
University School of Jackson
—William W. Taylor
President, Memphis Association
of Independent Schools
2 •Pri vat e school guide • sep t ember 2011
Westminster Academy
Woodland Presbyterian School
QA
Special Advertising Section
&
with
MAIS President Bill Taylor
By Suzie Frost
What’s the main difference between
public and independent schools?
So are independent schools all
privately funded through tuition?
While both are dedicated to educating young people,
the delivery of that education will be different.
Independent schools will be distinctive by design,
because of their independence. We are not beholden to
mandated assessments or curricula. While we are not
held to those standards, we are all held accountable to
our own accreditation standards.
Yes, through tuition and through gifts of financial
support from school constituents.
Are private and independent
schools the same thing?
Independent schools have private aspects
of governance and funding, but I think the big
difference between a private and an independent
school would be how a school views itself. Most
independent schools don’t consider themselves
private, in the sense of being exclusive. They are
private entities in the sense that they are privately
funded and are 501(c)3, non-profit institutions.
However, independent schools are inclusive and
want to be a part of the larger community.
There are several schools in
the area that do grant wishes
every year through Make-A-Wish.
They grant wishes to students
and young people right there in
the school, so the whole school
community sees the impact of
what that outreach means.
Do all private schools use basically
the same curriculum or are they
individualized at each school?
That’s one of the distinctions of independent schools:
each school has its own curriculum that will reflect
its own educational mission. With the help of various
accrediting bodies, we hold ourselves accountable to the
standards that fit our individual educational missions.
The majority of private schools are
religiously oriented. Why is that?
Public schools cannot be. In many cases that would be
the impetus for a religiously oriented school to be created.
Do you have any advice to parents
in helping them choose between a
school that is religiously oriented
and one that is not?
It’s a personal choice. Some parents who want a
spiritual component want that spiritual component to
be of a specific nature, while some parents may want
it to be of a more general nature. There are schools
that appeal to different interests and aspirations of
families. The advantage of independent schools is it
gives parents the options and choices. Some parents
want their children to have the opportunity for
religious education and for spiritual growth during
the school day. Some parents do not. There are
independent schools that meet both of these interests.
What is the MAIS Admissions Fair
and when and where will it be held
this year?
This is an opportunity for families in the Memphis
area to come and learn more about the outstanding
independent schools that are serving many students
and families in this region. The MAIS Admissions Fair
will be held on September 19th at the Hilton Memphis
at 939 Ridgelake Blvd., from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Are scholarships offered to independent school students? If so,
how are they funded?
Scholarships are often provided at independent
schools. Many schools provide for scholarship funding
through additional fundraising, their endowments,
or both.
What’s the criteria for receiving a
scholarship? Is it based on grades?
Each school has its own criteria. While some schools
do give merit-based scholarships, most are need-based.
What is the student-teacher ratio at
an independent school?
The ratios are small. Independent schools are smaller
by design, so the student-teacher ratio will be lower.
Some schools may have fewer than five in a class.
Some classes may be as large as 25.
What kind of class would have only
three or four students?
Some AP or highly specialized classes may be very
small. Some independent schools will serve students
with special needs and these classes will be small as well.
sep t ember 2011 • pri vat e school Guide • 3
Special Advertising Section
There can be no greater investment than
education. Education is going to be the
necessary skill in the 21st century.
Teachers can make a huge difference
in a student’s education. What are
the requirements for becoming a
teacher at an independent school?
In many respects the criteria will be the same as in
public schools in that we are looking for outstanding
teachers with great depth in their teaching area.
However, the teachers in independent schools are not
required, necessarily, to have teaching certificates
or education degrees, though many will have them,
particularly in elementary grades.
Are there any particular subjects in
which teachers are more likely not
to have teaching certificates?
What’s the most important
attribute for an independent school
teacher to possess?
The teacher must possess knowledge that is, again,
grounded in a deep appreciation for each individual
student in the class. An independent-school teacher must
have a real desire to work with young people and have
an appreciation for each student as a distinctive learner.
A commitment on the teacher’s part to his or her own
professional growth and development is also important.
Why do some parents choose
same-sex education as opposed to
co-education?
In many independent schools, particularly at the
secondary level, English teachers will have degrees
in English. Science teachers will have degrees in
chemistry or biology and so on. In many cases they
will have advanced degrees in those disciplines.
Independent schools provide parents with a choice. This
is another illustration of how independent schools are
distinctive by design. Some families prefer single-sex
education, believing that is more conducive to a stronger
learning environment for their son or daughter. Others
prefer coeducational environments for the same reasons.
How does hiring of teachers with
specialized degrees affect the
education of the students?
In addition to the academic program,
why else might parents choose independent education for their child?
There is a depth of knowledge that they possess
in their subject area and that is what independent
schools seek to find in teachers and then work to
make sure the delivery of that knowledge is grounded
in a deep appreciation for the gifts and talents of each
student in that class.
I think the quality of instruction and the smaller
environment of independent schools allow for very
strong and healthy relationships to develop between
teachers and students. And research shows that, next
to involved and engaged parents, relationships with
teachers and coaches that are deep and rich are one
of the main predictors of success later in life. Also,
because of the smaller size of independent schools,
there is a strong focus on helping each individual
student identify his or her gifts and talents.
Independent school students, therefore, can explore
and connect with a variety of athletic, co-curricular,
leadership, and service opportunities.
What role does technology play in
independent education?
Technology plays an important role in education
at these schools. Students at all these schools have
access to technology and all these schools teach young
people how to incorporate technology into the learning
experience. Some of the schools will do that on a one-toone basis, meaning each student will have a computer
or an iPad, and others will do that through computer
rooms and/or laptop carts. Some schools even teach
game theory as part of their mathematics programs.
How does the importance of
being a good citizen fit into the
equation of an independent school
education?
It’s critically important because our schools are
communities, and the communities are predicated
on the concept of citizenship. We grow stronger
and healthier as communities when everybody in
the community is putting forth strong effort, when
they care for one another and their environment. So
citizenship is something that we all take very seriously
and are quite deliberate in developing in our students.
The same would be true of leadership development.
How do independent schools
engender leadership and good
citizenship into their student bodies?
Most of our schools incorporate public recognition
of student leaders and of civic leaders in the life of the
school. Many of the independent schools also have
honor codes that permeate the learning environment
and promote integrity and character growth. We all
tend to promote service and service-learning as key
components of the student experience. In that area
we also are engaged with the larger community. It
is important that our students are not only leaders
within our schools; we want them to be engaged with
4 •Pri vat e school guide • sep t ember 2011
Special Advertising Section
service learning and leadership outside our schools
as well.
Service learning — is that volunteer
work?
Volunteer work is certainly included in that definition,
but I would take it to a higher level too. Service
learning is about understanding how volunteer work
impacts the community, how it impacts the lives
of individuals, and how all of that is interrelated.
If a student is volunteering at MIFA, for example,
we want to make sure they understand what MIFA
does and the ministries that they offer. If students
are helping to raise money for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation, making sure the students are not just
raising money for something, but they have a deep
awareness of what the Make-A-Wish Foundation
does for kids and how it impacts people in the
community. There are several schools in the area that
do grant wishes every year through Make-A-Wish.
They grant wishes to students and young people right
there in the school, so the whole school community
sees the impact of what that outreach means. Service
learning seeks to imbue the service into the students’
overall growth and understanding of what it means to
be part of a larger community.
What are some of the charity
organizations for which students
volunteer?
There are many. There are schools involved with Habitat
for Humanity, the United Way, the Salvation Army. There
are schools that are involved with the Collierville Food
Pantry, the Memphis Food Bank, all the various homeless
shelters, as well as the local animal shelters. They participate
in blood drives. The list is endless.
What’s the difference between the
learning environment at a private
school as opposed to a public
school?
While I do not wish to contrast independent
schools with public schools, I would state that
independent schools tend to be small and, as a result,
we have extremely close-knit communities where
relationships between students and teachers are rich
and vibrant. Small class sizes typically allow teachers
to know their students well and differentiate their
instruction depending upon the needs of individuals.
Students’ ability to participate in a wide variety
of athletic and co-curricular opportunities also
creates a dynamic learning environment. Moreover,
independent schools will have their own distinctive
mission and ethos that will shape and inform the
learning experience for each student.
What role do the parents play at
independent schools?
The parents play a critical role and they are very
involved in the educational process because, after
all, it is their choice. We want parents to be engaged
in the learning experience. They are part of our
communities, too.
Why is choosing an independent
school a good investment for
parents?
There can be no greater investment than education.
Education is going to be the necessary skill in
the 21st century. It is already. We read a lot about
unemployment rates. There are a million-plus jobs
that could be filled tomorrow, but we don’t have the
educated work force to fill them. A knowledge-based
economy is going to be critical to the economic
livelihood and future of the United States.
Should parents visit more than
one school when deciding on
independent education?
If they visit more than one, I believe parents will
better appreciate how each school is distinctive
and will better understand how to find the best
educational environment for their child.
Any particular thing parents should
look for in an independent school?
One thing that parents look for and that schools
will look to explain to parents is their educational
philosophy. Independent schools are distinctive by
design and a large part of that design will be each
school’s educational mission and philosophy. Some
schools will have different educational approaches
than others. We have some schools that take a more
traditional approach to education and we have some
schools that may be a little more progressive in
their design. Most schools are very attentive to what
students are going to need to be prepared in this
21st-century global economy.
Do most independent schools send
students to college?
Some independent schools end with elementary grades,
while others continue through the senior year. Most
of the independent schools have college preparatory
environments. Even elementary schools are geared
towards preparing students for a college-prep track.
How do independent schools
prepare their students for success
in college?
I think the small size of independent schools allow
the teachers to focus on strong communication and
collaborative skills which are critical to success in
today’s college environment. Small classes tend
to engender lively and engaged discussions. And,
with small classes, teachers can sometime offer
more constructive criticism on papers. Independent
schools often put strong emphasis on writing and on
public speaking because you can do that more easily
in a school with small class sizes. j
sep t ember 2011 • pri vat e school Guide • 5
Special Advertising Section
Private School Directory 2011
Tuition
Before- and AfterSchool Care
85
6:1
$14,000-$16,000
yes
Non-Denominational
747-2665
117
13:1
$12,350-$12,675
yes
(after - only)
PK-12/Coed
Non-Denominational
765-4600
1,650
13:1
$8,495-$12,395
yes
K-8/Coed
Non-Denominational
255-8134
320
17:1
$6,100-$6,900
yes
Christ Methodist Day School
411 Grove Park, 38117
cmdsmemphis.org
PK-6/Coed
Methodist
683-6873
350
20:1
$8,000-$9,995
yes
Christ the King
Lutheran School
5296 Park Ave., 38119
ctkschool.com
PK-8/Coed
Lutheran
682-8405
300
15:1
$7,135-$7,285
yes
Christian Brothers
High School
5900 Walnut Grove Rd., 38120
cbhs.org
9-12/Boys
Roman Catholic
261-4900
860
11:1
$9,100
no
Evangelical Christian School (ECS)
Middle & Upper School Campus
7600 Macon Rd., 38018
Fisherville Campus
11893 Macon Rd., Eads, 38028
Forest Hill Campus
1920 Forest Hill-Irene Rd., 38139
Ridge Lake Campus
735 Ridge Lake Blvd., 38120
ecseagles.net
K-12/Coed
Non-Denominational
754-7217
1,030
6:1
$4,800-$12,630
yes
(after - only)
JK-5
850-9652
JK-5
754-4420
JK-5
683-9013
First Assembly
Christian School (FACS)
8650 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, 38018
facsmemphis.org
PK-12/Coed
Christian
458-5543
800
11:1
$5,900-$7,775
yes
Grace-St. Luke’s
Episcopal School
246 S. Belvedere Blvd., 38104
gslschool.org
PK-8/Coed
Episcopal
278-0200
510
9:1
$6,600-$11,995
yes
(after - only)
2 years-12/Coed
Non-Denominational
767-4498
1,250
12:1
$7,795-$10,795
yes
(after - only)
School/Address/Website
Grades/Gender
Religion/Specialty/Contact
The Bodine School
2432 Yester Oaks Dr.,
Germantown, 38139
bodineschool.org
1-8/Coed
Non-Denominational
Dyslexia
754-1800
Bornblum Solomon Schechter
Day School
6641 Humphreys Blvd., 38120
bsssmemphis.com
1-8/Coed
Briarcrest Christian School
6000 Briarcrest Ave., 38120
briarcrest.com
Central Day School
2005 Winchester Blvd.,
Collierville, 38017
centraldayschool.com
Harding Academy
1100 Cherry Rd., 38117
Cordova Campus
8350 & 8360 Macon Rd., 38018
White Station Campus
1106 Colonial, 38117
hardinglions.org
JK-6
JK-6
Enrollment/
Student-Faculty Ratio
624-0871
767-2093
Hutchison School
1740 Ridgeway Rd., 38119
hutchisonschool.org
PK-12/Girls
Non-Denominational
762-6672
893
16:1
$10,988-$16,604
yes
(after - only)
Incarnation School
360 Bray Station Rd., Collierville, 38017
goics.org
PK-8/Coed
Catholic
853-7804
208
9:1
$4,850-$6,300
yes
Lamplighter Montessori School
8563 Fay Rd., Cordova, 38018
lamplighterschool.org
PK-8/Coed
Nonsectarian
751-2000
120
12:1
$9,496-$11,995
yes
Lausanne Collegiate School
1381 W. Massey Rd., 38120
lausanneschool.com
PK-12/Coed
Nonsectarian
474-1000
740
8:1
$11,800-$16,400
yes
(after - only)
6 •Pri vat e school guide • sep t ember 2011
Special Advertising Section
Tuition
Before- and AfterSchool Care
Grades/Gender
Madonna Learning Center
7007 Poplar Ave.. Germantown, 38138
madonna-learning.org
Non-Graded/Coed
Non-Denominational
Special needs, including Down syndrome and developmental delays.
752-5767
54
3:1
$9,700
no
Memphis University School
6191 Park Ave., 38119
musowls.org
7-12/Boys
Non-Denominational
260-1300
665
10:1
$17,500
yes
(after - only)
New Hope Christian Academy
3000 University St., 38127
3277 N. Watkins, 38127
newhopememphis.org
JK-6/Coed
Christian
358-3183
358-3529
425
16:1
Sliding scale based on
family size and income.
yes
(after - only)
Early Childhood
Religion/Specialty/Contact
Enrollment/
Student-Faculty Ratio
School/Address/Website
Presbyterian Day School
4025 Poplar Ave., 38111
pdsmemphis.org
PK-6/Boys
Presbyterian
842-4600
645
9:1
$11,300-$14,250
yes
(after - only)
Rossville Christian Academy
280 High St., Rossville, 38066
rossvillechristian.com
JK-12/Coed
Non-Denominational
853-0200
315
20:1
$4,680-$5,200
yes
Southern Baptist Educational Center
7400 Getwell Rd., Southaven, MS 38672
sbectrojans.com
PK-12/Coed
Baptist
(662)349-3096
1,000
15:1
$6,100-$8,176
yes
St. Agnes Academy &
St. Dominic School
4830 Walnut Grove Rd., 38117
saa-sds.org
PK-12/Girls
(St. Agnes)
PK-8/Boys
(St. Dominic)
Catholic
435-5815
910
8:1
$9,930-$12,470
yes
St. Benedict at Auburndale
8250 Varnavas Dr., Cordova, 38016
sbaeagles.org
9-12/Coed
Roman Catholic
260-2840
1010
14:1
$8,000-$8,700
no
St. Francis of Assisi
Elementary School
2100 N. Germantown Pkwy., Cordova,
38016
sfawolves.org
PK-8/Coed
Catholic
388-7321
874
14:1
$6,140-$9,455
yes
(after - only)
St. George’s
Independent School
Collierville Campus
1880 Wolf River Blvd., 38017
Germantown Campus
8250 Poplar Ave., 38138
Memphis Campus
3749 Kimball Ave., 38111
sgis.org
PK-12/Coed
Judeo-Christian
$5,140-$15,800
yes (PK-8)
6-12
457-2000
1200
9:1
PK-5
261-2300
PK-5
261-3920
St. Mary’s Episcopal School
60 Perkins Ext. & 41 N. Perkins Rd.,
38117
stmarysschool.org
PK-12/Girls
Episcopal
537-1472
861
10:1
$5,000-$17,010
yes
(after - only)
3 years-12/Coed
Christian
829-4221
620
18:1
$5,500-$6,942
yes
Trinity Christian Academy
10 Windy City Rd., Jackson, 38305
tcalions.com
PK-12/Coed
Christian
(731)668-8500
816
22:1
$5,715-$7,610
yes
University School of Jackson
232 McClellan, Jackson, 38305
usjbruins.org
PK-12/Coed
Non-Denominational
(731)664-0812
1,200
13:1
$5,890-$7,795
yes
(after - only)
Westminster Academy
2500 Ridgeway Rd., 38119
wamemphis.com
K-12/Coed
Christian
380-9192
340
16:1
$5,650-$9,990
yes
(after - only)
Woodland Presbyterian School
5217 Park Ave., 38119
woodlandschool.org
PK-8/Coed
Presbyterian
685-0976
365
9:1
$5,300-$9,700
yes
Tipton-Rosemark Academy
8696 Rosemark Rd., Millington, 38053
tiptonrosemarkacademy.net
sep t ember 2011 • pri vat e school Guide • 7