St. Francis Episcopal Day School (Texas)

St. Francis Episcopal School is a private Episcopal elementary and middle school located at 335 Piney Point Road in Piney Point Village, Texas, United States, near the city of Houston. With more than 830 students, St. Francis Episcopal School is the largest K–8 Episcopal parish day school in the United States and in the 1998-1999 school year was named a National Blue Ribbon School.[1] [2]

History and facilities

A coeducational school, St. Francis was founded in 1952 as a mission of St. Francis Episcopal Church. For its first year, it welcomed a class of 24 preschoolers and gradually expanded into elementary education.[3] In 1965, Sarah W. Woolrich, who originally joined St. Francis faculty in 1959 as a first-grade teacher, was named St. Francis' first head of school.[4]

The school continued to expand and by 1973 included sixth-grade classes. Between 1978 and 1985, capital campaigns funded the construction of a gymnasium, dining hall, additional classrooms, and the Sarah W. Woolrich Education Building. In 1997, the school added an Outdoor Activity Center and in 2001 opened a new Lower School Building, library, Fine Arts Center, and technology center, along with a renovated dining hall, gymnasium, and common area. The Woods Outdoor Classroom was established in 2011.

Today, the school serves students from age 2 years through 8th grade on two sites - a main campus and south campus - together totaling 39 acres providing ample room for the school's 600-seat state-of-the-art Fine Arts Center, 7,000-square-foot library and technology center, and nine acres of regulation playing fields for a wide variety of sports.[5][6]

Leadership and accreditation

Since its founding, St. Francis has been led by four heads of school: Sarah Woolrich (1965–1986); Dr. Kay P. Walther (1986–1993); Dr. Annette Smith (1994–2000); and Dr. Susan Lair, the present head of school, who has served St. Francis since 2001.

St. Francis Episcopal School is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.

In addition, the school is a member of the following organizations including:[7]

Athletics

St. Francis Episcopal School is a member of the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference (HJPC) and has won 23 conference championships including: Football 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011; Cross-Country 2006; Field Hockey 2002; Volleyball 2011; Boys Basketball 2008–09, 2011–12, 2013–14; Girls Soccer 2000–01; Wrestling 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06; Softball 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012; Baseball 2013; Boys Lacrosse 2007, 2012, 2014; and, Track and Field 2002.

After St. Francis

Students who graduated from St. Francis attended various private high schools in the Houston area, including Episcopal High School, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Second Baptist School, The Kinkaid School, Saint Agnes Academy, St. John's School, and Houston Christian High School. In two years, St Francis will open their own high school.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Blue Ribbon Schools Program 1983-2000" (PDF). US Dept of Education. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Why St. Francis?". St Francis Houston. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Kutchin, Joseph (2001). How Mitchell Energy and Development Corp. Got Its Start and Grew. Universal Publishers. p. 603. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Moody, Peg. "Alumni Notes". The Alcalde. 73 (4): 48. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Certified Classrooms". Nature Explore. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Graham (December 22, 2011). "Looking to expand, St. Francis Episcopal School finds hidden treasure nearby". Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Accreditation, Membership, and Awards". St Francis Houston. Retrieved 26 June 2014.

Coordinates: 29°45′30″N 95°31′08″W / 29.758414°N 95.518808°W / 29.758414; -95.518808

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