The John Cooper School
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The John Cooper School is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational day school located in The Woodlands in unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas.
| The John Cooper School | |
| From Curiosity To Wisdom | |
| Established | 1988 |
| School type | Independent Co-educational Non-residential |
| Religious affiliation | None |
| Headmaster | Michael F. Maher |
| Location | The Woodlands, Texas, United States |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Enrollment | 905 |
| Faculty | 80 Men and Women |
| Average class size | 16 (Upper School) |
| Student:teacher ratio |
1:11 |
| Average SAT scores (2005-2006) |
1308 |
| Athletics | Male and Female Varsity and Junior Varsity: Southwest Preparatory Conference |
| Color(s) | Green Black |
| Mascot | Dragon |
| Conference | Southwest Preparatory Conference |
| Homepage | http://www.johncooper.org |
Contents |
[edit] History
The school was founded in 1988 by John H. Cooper, who had previously served for several years as Headmaster at The Kinkaid School in Piney Point Village, Texas, near Houston. The concept had the full support and cooperation of George Mitchell, the developer of The Woodlands. Mitchell set aside a well-sized tract of land in what was then the town's outskirts specifically for the purpose of establishing a school. 175 students were enrolled in one building for the 1988-1989 school year in grades pre-kindergarten through seventh grade. A subsequent grade was added each year thereafter, and the pre-kindergarten program was dropped after 1992. In 1993, a gymnasium, a visual arts center, and a new academic building opened. The school's first senior class of twenty five students graduated in 1994, with George H.W. Bush as the keynote speaker at the Baccalaureate ceremony.
In recent years, the school has embarked on a major expansion program, called The John Cooper School Capital Campaign. This fundraising effort, which lasted over several years, yielded a track & field complex and a second gymnasium in 2002, the addition of a new wing to the high school building in 2003, the expansion of the fine arts complex in 2004, and a cafeteria and student center in 2005. Construction on an auditorium and performing arts facility have begun, and are scheduled to be completed late 2008/early 2009. After the announcement of reinstating the pre-kindergarten program after 16 year hiatus, a new wing was built in the Lower School in 2007. Plans have also emerged for the construction of a new library on the school's 40-acre campus, but no timeline has been put in place for this project.
[edit] Reputation
Although it is a relatively young school, John Cooper has in a very short time cultivated a reputation as one of the Houston area's most highly-regarded private schools. In keeping with the school motto, "From curiosity to wisdom", the John Cooper curriculum is heavily based in the liberal arts, and creative and persuasive writing are heavily emphasized in classes as early as elementary school. The faculty is exemplary, with many holding graduate and doctoral degrees from Harvard University, Duke University, and other esteemed national universities. Enrollment for the 2005-2006 school year was roughly 900 students. Despite its small size - the high school only has about three hundred students - Cooper has also created a noteworthy athletic program. In recent years, the Varsity Boys' Basketball and Girls' Cross Country teams have been awarded state titles.
Cooper is also highly regarded for its attractive, heavily forested campus, which includes an arboretum and several gardens and ponds. Since its construction in 1988, the lower school building has won several architectural awards for its aesthetic use of light and space.
The mean SAT score for John Cooper High School students for the 2003-2004 school year was 1302. As a college preparatory school, John Cooper has a 100% college attendance rate, with Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Boston University, and Vanderbilt University being particularly popular schools of choice for Cooper graduates.
[edit] Notable Former Students
- Elizabeth McIngvale, founder of Peace of Mind, an OCD awareness foundation, and daughter of Houston businessman Jim McIngvale (attended but graduated elsewhere)
[edit] Facts & Key Statistics
School Type: College preparatory, non-sectarian, non-profit, co-educational day school for grades Pre-K through 12.
Founded: 1988; first graduating class – 1994.
Location: The Woodlands, TX, a planned community 40 miles north of Houston, TX.
Accreditation: Accredited by The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS); member of The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Enrollment:
* Approximately 365 in Lower School (K - 5) * Approximately 240 in Middle School (6 - 8) * Approximately 300 in Upper School (9 - 12)
Faculty: 80 total; 60% hold advanced degrees
Average Class Size:
Student:Teacher ratio = 11:1 Upper School: 16 Middle School: 17 Lower School: 19 All Lower School grades also have full-time teaching assistants
Financial Aid: All financial aid is need-based; approximately 10% of the student body receives assistance, totaling over $600,000.
Diversity: The student body includes 26% who are students of color.
Campus & Facilities: 43-acre wooded campus includes:
A Lower School with:
Classrooms
3 Science Labs
Choir Room
Library
Multi-Purpose Room
Computer Lab
A Middle/Upper School with:
Classrooms
6 Science Labs
Library
Multi-Purpose Room
Band Room
2 Computer Labs;
Athletic Areas:
2 Gymnasiums
Lighted Baseball Field
Lighted Soccer Field
Lighted Softball field
4 Tennis Courts
Track
Other Buildings:
2 Visual Arts Buildings
A Student Center/Dining Hall
Performing Arts Center (Preparing for Construction)
Mean SAT Scores:
2005-06: 1308
2004-05: 1310
2003-04: 1302
2002-03: 1338
College Matriculation: 100% of graduates attend college
Advanced Placement: 15 different AP courses offered in Upper School (High School)
Abbreviation's LS = Lower School = Elementary [Pre-k to 5th Grade (Pre-K coming in 07-08 School Year)] MS = Middle School = Jr. High School (6th to 8th Grade) US = Upper School = High School (9th-12th Grade)
[edit] Tuition, Textbooks, and School Trips
Tuition Tuition at The John Cooper School varies by grade level, and is from $12,500 to $14,800 for the 2006-2007 school year (excluding textbooks and other expenses). Approximately 10% of the student body receives some sort of need-based financial assistance.
Here are the 07-08 School Year Tuition Prices:
Pre-Kindergarten: $10,600
Kindergarten: $12,725
Grades 1-5: $13,950
Grades 6-8: $15,020
Grades 9-12: $15,650
One-time new student registration fee: $500
Textbooks
Textbooks are provided for Lower School Students. Textbooks can be bought from VarsityBooks.com for Middle and Upper School Students from around $500-$800.
School Trips
Class trips are offered annually for students in grades 6-12 and range in cost from approximately $250 for upper school to $350 - $1,000 for middle school. School trips are not included in tuition.
[edit] Affiliations
The John Cooper School is accredited by The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Its athletic teams compete in the Southwest Preparatory Conference with other private schools in Texas and Oklahoma.
[edit] Administration
- Head of School, Michael F. Maher
- Assistant Head of School, Joseph Broccoli
- Head of Lower School, Karen Francis
- Assistant Head of Lower School, Kelly McPherson
- Head of Middle School, Lynn Baker
- Head of Upper School, Joseph Broccoli
- Athletic Director, Michael Cooper
- Assistant Athletic Director, Scott Holland
- Upper School Dean of Students, C. Randall Noll
- Middle School Dean of Students, Walter Steadman
- Director of Development, Troye Skipworth
- Director of Admissions, Craig Meredith
