Canterbury High School (Accokeek, Maryland)

Canterbury High School was a private Episcopal secondary school located in Accokeek, Maryland. It opened in 1961 and closed in 2000.

Profile (as of 1999-2000)

* 1999-2000 school year: 48 students were enrolled
* More than half of the student body belonged to ethnic minorities
* The school employed 10 teachers and 3 administrative and support staff
* Grades offered: 6-12
* Degree conferred: high school diploma

History

During its golden years, Canterbury was a highly regarded institution in the region. Compared to other private secondary schools in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Canterbury was inexpensive and a much less stressful commute for students living in the Maryland suburbs of D.C. Canterbury was well known for both its athletic and academic programs. Unfortunately, the school did not sustain this reputation and enrollment began to decline. While some speculateFact|date=December 2007 that this was due to racist reaction to population changes in the area, the true reason for its decline remains unclear.

Despite falling enrollment and an all-but-dissolved athletic program, Canterbury maintained efforts to restore itself. In the 1990s, however, questionable financial decisions and actions of the headmistress left the school in dire straits. Because of the school's progressive and liberal ideas, and declining attendance at its supporting parish, the school was suffering from a deficient budget. In the 1998-1999 school year, a new headmaster—Peter Meade, Ph.D.—was hired to attempt to salvage the failing school. Despite the support of the faculty and headmaster, the financial situation of the school was irreparable. One of the ten remaining teaching faculty left Canterbury during its final academic year, 1999-2000, due to its financial situation, forcing the headmaster to teach mathematics in addition to his administrative duties.

As the staff and the funds of the school continued to dwindle, the school issued a letter of closure to students and faculty in March 2000. The letter stated that the school couldn't continue to provide the quality education they had aimed for due to financial troubles, and that no contracts (staff or students) would be renewed for the 2000-2001 school year. Several meetings with students and parents followed, with several seniors making passionate arguments for the continuation of the school. A pledge drive was proposed but not executed, and in May 2000 the school held its final graduation ceremony.

Today

For four decades the school was used for academics, athletics, and special events such as the school's fall Apple Festival (a popular Accokeek event).

Sources

*"The Yearbook of the Canterbury School", 1999-2000
*Letter of Closure, March 2000