Presbyterian School

Private, Christian PreK–8 day school in Houston, Texas

Presbyterian School First Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian School School offices at 100 Oakdale

Presbyterian School is a private, coeducational Christian PreK-8 day school in the Museum District, Houston.[1] Presbyterian School is composed of three divisions: an Early Childhood division, PK3-Kindergarten, a Lower School division, first through fifth grade, and a Middle School division, sixth through eighth grade.

The school shares a campus with First Presbyterian Church as well as a standalone building and 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

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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 in the fall of 1989. The original goal was to starting with those kindergarten age and younger and add an additional grade each year thereafter.[2]

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.[1] That year, Ray Johnson, formerly the principal of All Saints School in Tyler, Texas, became the principal at Presbyterian.[3]

In 2005, Houston's Presbyterian School acquired over 14 acres (5.7 ha) of land 5 miles (8.0 km) from the school and embarked on a $6.5 million capital campaign to create a sports and outdoor education complex. As of that year it had 490 students.[1]

## Memberships and accreditations

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* 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)
* Houston Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)
* Independent School Management (ISM)[4]

## Campus

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Presbyterian School is located in the Museum District of Houston. The 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. The main campus includes two learning commons, four science labs, two art rooms (including in-house kiln), two music rooms, an Academic Enrichment Center, two gymnasiums, a 1,200-seat theatre, sanctuary and chapel.[5] Presbyterian School enrolls more than 600 children from age 3 through eighth grade.[6]

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. The Outdoor Education Campus provides space for environmental learning, sports and athletics, nature trails, play areas and outdoor worship.[7]

## Academics

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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.[8]

Lower School students are taught language arts, mathematics, and social studies in their primary classroom. Faculty with specialized training in science, art, chapel, library, music, and physical education provide instruction beyond the walls of a student's homeroom and in interdisciplinary activities.[9]

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 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, and Photography). [10]

Core classes include:

* Core academics (Language Arts and Writing, Math, Science ,Social Studies)
* Foreign Language (Spanish)
* Wellness (Chapel, Bible, PE)
* Fine Arts (Art, Music, Choir, Drama, Electives)
* Specialists (Center for Teaching & Learning, Learning Commons, Think.Make. Talk.)

Think.Make.Talk. is an authentic and research-based approach to challenge students to think deeply about problems, ideas, projects, and research; creatively make real-world applications that flow out of that thinking; and talk to members of our community about what they’ve made and how to make it even better.

## Extracurricular activities

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Students are encouraged to participate in activities that benefit the community through an annual day of service and yearlong service projects. Local organizations that have benefited from volunteer efforts include Child Advocates, Emergency Aid Coalition, Houston Food Bank, Main Street Ministries, Nehemiah Center, Kids Meals, Books Between Kids, and many more. By means of creative programs and incredible partnerships, every Lower and Middle School grade participates in a yearlong service learning project that is integrated into their curriculum.[11]

## Athletics

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Presbyterian School offers over 35 sports teams for student athletes throughout the year who strive for the greatest rewards. [12]

## See also

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* Christianity in Houston
* Christian school

Portals:

* Texas
* Christianity
* Schools

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Presbyterian School steps into The Great Outdoors". West University Examiner at the Houston Chronicle. December 15, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
2. ^ Stauss, Marilyn McCorkle (December 2, 2004). "Presbyterian School celebrates 15 years". West University Examiner at the Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
3. ^ Tenney, Mike (June 17, 2003). "Presbyterian School appoints Johnson new head of school". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
4. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "Who Are We?".
5. ^ "Presbyterian School of Houston". The Houston School Survey. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
6. ^ "Presbyterian School steps into The Great Outdoors". `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|url=` (help)
7. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "One School, Two Campuses".
8. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Early Childhood".
9. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Lower School Program".
10. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "Overview: Middle School Program".
11. ^ "Presbyterian School Middle School students serve in the community". December 30, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
12. ^ Lawless, Andrea. "Our Teams". Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2014.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Presbyterian School (Houston).

* Presbyterian School

* v
* t
* e

Houston Museum District

Institutions|

* Children's Museum of Houston
* Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
* The Health Museum
* Holocaust Museum Houston
* Houston Museum of Natural Science
* Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
* Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden
* First Presbyterian Church
* Logue House (Italian Cultural and Community Center)
* Asia Society Texas Center

METRORail stations|

* Museum District

Education|

* Houston Public Library
* Houston Independent School District
* Presbyterian School
* Post Oak High School

This list is incomplete.

* v
* t
* e

Harris County, Texas schools

Public high schools

Aldine ISD|

* Aldine High
* Aldine Ninth Grade
* Carver
* Benjamin O. Davis
* Eisenhower
* MacArthur
* Nimitz
* Victory Early College (Houston)

Alief ISD|

* Elsik
* Hastings
* Taylor
* Kerr (magnet)
* Early College (magnet)

Clear Creek ISD|

* Clear Brook
* Clear Lake
* Clear View
* Clear Horizons Early College
* Other schools are in Galveston County

Cy-Fair ISD|

* See template

Galena Park ISD|

* Galena Park High
* North Shore

Goose Creek CISD|

* Goose Creek Memorial
* Robert E. Lee
* Ross S. Sterling
* Impact Early College High School

Houston ISD|

* See template

Humble ISD|

* Atascocita
* Humble High
* Kingwood
* Kingwood Park
* Summer Creek
* Quest Early College (magnet)

Katy ISD|

* James E. Taylor
* Mayde Creek HS
* Morton Ranch HS
* Paetow
* Other schools are in Fort Bend County

Klein ISD|

* Klein High
* Klein Cain
* Klein Collins
* Klein Forest
* Klein Oak
* Vistas High School Program

Pasadena ISD|

* J. Frank Dobie
* Pasadena High
* Pasadena Memorial
* Sam Rayburn
* South Houston
* Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School

Spring ISD|

* Andy Dekaney
* Spring High
* Westfield
* Carl Wunsche Sr.
* Early College Academy at Southridge

Spring Branch ISD|

* Memorial
* Northbrook
* Spring Woods
* Stratford
* Westchester Academy for Int'l Studies

Tomball ISD|

* Tomball High
* Tomball Memorial

Other school districts|

* Channelview ISD (Channelview High)
* Crosby ISD (Crosby High)
* Deer Park ISD (Deer Park High)
* Huffman ISD (Hargrave)
* La Porte ISD (La Porte High)
* Sheldon ISD (C.E. King)
* Waller ISD (Waller High)

Charter schools|

* Amigos Por Vida Friends For Life
* Aristoi Classical Academy
* Houston Heights
* KIPP (multiple campuses)
* Harmony Public Schools (multiple campuses)
* KIPP Texas (multiple campuses)
* Pro-Vision
* George I. Sanchez
* YES Prep (multiple campuses)
* Northline
* Yzaguirre School

Former public schools|

* Benji's Special Ed Acad
* Girls & Boys Prep
* Gulf Shores Acad
* Galaviz Charter
* Galena Park ISD
* Fidelity Manor HS
* North Forest ISD
* Forest Brook HS
* Elmore HS
* Smiley
* University of Houston Charter School
* Victory Preparatory Academy

Independent schools

Secular private
high schools|

* Awty
* Briarwood
* British Int'l
* Chinquapin Prep
* Houston Sudbury
* Kinkaid
* Mirus
* Monarch
* Post Oak
* Rainard
* River Oaks Academy
* School of the Woods
* St. John's
* Tenney
* Village

Religious private
high schools|

* Al-Hadi
* Baytown Christian
* Beren Academy
* Christian Life Center
* Concordia Lutheran
* Covenant Prep
* Cristo Rey Jesuit
* Cypress Christian
* Darul Arqam North
* Emery/Weiner
* Episcopal
* Faith West
* Family Christian
* Frassati Catholic
* Grace Christian
* Houston Adventist
* Houston Christian
* Iman Academy
* Incarnate Word Academy
* Lutheran South
* Memorial Private
* Northland Christian
* Rosehill Christian
* Saint Agnes
* Saint John XXIII
* Second Baptist
* St. Francis Episcopal
* St. Pius X
* St. Thomas
* St. Thomas Episcopal
* Strake Jesuit
* Westbury Christian

| PK-8 only, HS closed|

* St. Stephen's Episcopal

|

Closed|

* Lutheran North
* Mount Carmel

Portions in the City of Stafford are served by the Stafford Municipal School District, which has its schools in Fort Bend County.
Sections of Clear Creek ISD, Katy ISD, and Waller ISD extend into other counties; this template only lists schools in Harris County. Pearland ISD and Dayton ISD extend into Harris County but do not operate schools there.

* v
* t
* e

Private schools in the Houston metropolitan area

Harris Co.|

| Secular|

* Awty
* Briarwood
* British Int'l
* Chinquapin Prep
* Harris
* Kinkaid
* LIH
* Mirus
* Monarch
* Parish
* Post Oak
* Rainard
* School of the Woods
* St. John's
* Tenney
* Village

| Closed|

* Alexander-Smith Academy
* Houston Sudbury
* Memorial Hall

|

Religious|

* Al-Hadi
* Baytown Christian
* Beren Academy
* Beth Yeshurun Day
* Cathedral HS
* Christian Life Center
* Concordia Lutheran HS
* Covenant Prep
* Cristo Rey Jesuit
* Cypress Christian
* Darul Arqam Schools/IEIT
* Emery/Weiner
* Episcopal
* Faith West
* Family Christian
* Frassati Catholic
* Grace Christian
* Houston Christian HS
* Iman Academy
* Imani
* John Paul II Catholic
* Incarnate Word
* Lutheran South
* Memorial Private
* Northland Christian
* Our Lady of Guadalupe
* Oaks Adventist Christian
* Presbyterian
* Regis of the Sacred Heart
* Rosehill Christian
* Saint Agnes
* Saint John XXIII
* Second Baptist
* St. Catherine's Montessori
* St. Francis Episcopal
* St. Pius X
* St. Stephen's Episcopal
* St. Thomas
* St. Thomas' Episcopal
* Shlenker School
* Strake Jesuit
* Westbury Christian
* Yellowstone Academy

| Closed|

* Lutheran North
* Mount Carmel
* North Houston Baptist

|

|

Fort Bend Co.|

| Religious|

* Darul Arqam Schools/IEIT (Everest Academy/South & SW Campuses)
* Fort Bend Christian Academy

|

Galveston Co.|

| Religious|

* Bay Area Christian School
* O'Connell College Preparatory School

| Closed|

* Dominican High School

|

Montgomery Co.|

| Secular|

* The John Cooper School

|

Religious|

* Covenant Christian School
* The Woodlands Christian Academy

Waller Co.|

| Secular|

| Closed|

* Brazos Valley Sudbury School

|

* v
* t
* e

Houston Area Independent Schools

* Annunciation Orthodox
* Ascension Episcopal
* Awty International
* Banff
* Beth Yeshurun Day School
* Branch
* Briarwood
* Corpus Christi Catholic
* Duchesne Academy
* Emery/Weiner
* Episcopal
* Fay
* First Baptist Academy
* Fort Bend Christian
* Frassati Catholic
* Grace School
* Holy Spirit Episcopal
* Honor Roll
* Houston Adventist
* Houston Christian
* Incarnate Word
* John Cooper
* Joy
* Kinkaid
* Lutheran South
* Monarch
* Parish
* Post Oak
* Presbyterian
* Regis
* River Oaks Baptist School
* Rosehill Christian
* Saint Agnes
* St. Anne Catholic
* St. Catherine's Montessori School
* St. Francis Episcopal School
* St. Francis de Sales
* Saint John XXIII
* St. John's
* St. Mark's Episcopal
* St. Pius X
* St. Stephen's Episcopal
* St. Theresa Catholic
* St. Thomas' Episcopal
* St. Thomas HS
* St. Thomas More Parish
* School of the Woods
* Second Baptist
* The Shlenker School
* Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
* Trafton Academy
* The Village School
* Wesley Academy
* Westbury Christian School
* The Woodlands Christian Academy
* Yorkshire Academy

* v
* t
* e

Religion in the Houston area

Christianity|

| Churches|

* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
* template
* Annunciation Greek Orthodox
* Antioch Missionary Baptist
* Christ Church Cathedral
* First Presbyterian
* Lakewood
* Second Baptist
* Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox
* Houston Texas Temple (Mormonism)
* Trinity Episcopal
* Windsor Village United Methodist

|

K-12 ed.|

* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
* template
* Bay Area Christian
* Christian Life Center Academy
* The Covenant Preparatory
* Episcopal High
* Faith West Academy
* Family Christian Academy
* Fort Bend Christian Academy
* Grace Christian Acad.
* Houston Christian HS
* Imani
* Lutheran South
* Memorial Private High
* Northland Christian
* Oaks Adventist Christian
* Presbyterian
* River Oaks Baptist
* Rosehill Christian
* Second Baptist
* St. Francis Episcopal
* St. Stephen's Episcopal
* St. Thomas' Episcopal
* The Woodlands Christian Acad.
* Westbury Christian
* Yellowstone Acad.

| Closed|

* Lutheran North
* North Houston Baptist

|

Tertiary ed.|

* Houston Christian University
* University of St. Thomas
* Bay Ridge Christian College

Judaism|

| Congregations|

* Beth Israel
* Beth Jacob
* Beth Yeshurun
* B'nai Israel

|

Schools|

* Emery/Weiner
* Robert M. Beren Academy
* Torah Day School of Houston

History|

* Galveston Movement

Media|

* Jewish Herald-Voice

Museums|

* Holocaust Museum Houston

Islam|

* Islamic Society of Greater Houston
* Islamic Education Institute of Texas/Darul Arqam Schools
* Ismaili Center Houston
* Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning
* Baitus Samee Mosque
* Iman Academy

Hinduism|

* BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston
* Hindu Temple of The Woodlands

This list is incomplete.

29°43′41″N 95°23′24″W﻿ / ﻿29.727995°N 95.390080°W﻿ / 29.727995; -95.390080
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