Roycemore School

Roycemore School is an independent, nonsectarian co-educational college preparatory school located in Evanston, Illinois serving grades junior kindergarten through the twelfth-grade. The School's current enrollment hovers around 250 day students.

Located near the campus of Northwestern University, Roycemore enjoys a reciprocal relationship with the university, in which Upper School Students can complete college level classes after completing the school's curriculum in the discipline. This program is known as the "Northwestern Option". Many other high schools in the Chicago area use this grant as well.

History

Roycemore School was founded in 1915 as an all-girls school; it became co-ed in 1962.

Its signature Prairie Style building was designed by noted Prairie School architect, Thomas Eddy Tallmadge [http://www.prairiestyles.com/tallmadge.htm] . Tallmadge, who worked with the renowned Daniel H. Burnham, later taught at Armour Institute (Illinois Institute of Technology) for twenty years before his premature death.

The Roycemore School building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, based upon its unique open Prairie Style school floor plan [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IL/Cook/state8.html] .

Upper School

Roycemore's Upper School serves grades 9-12, and prides itself on its small student population (averaging between 80 and 100 for all four grades), which provides an intimate and collegial environment. The current Upper School Head is John Novick, Jr.

January Short Term

Roycemore's Upper School students participate in January Short Term, a three week period of independent study between the first and second semesters. Students are given the option of participating in faculty led projects, or are provided with the guidance necessary to develop individual projects. Many January Short Term projects provide students with the chance to take advantage of the Chicago area's resources. Other projects allow students to undertake internships throughout the United States, as well as overseas. All students are required to keep a record of their progress during the term. The Upper School Librarian coordinates and administers the January Short Term.

College Preparation and Admissions

The Upper School maintains a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. The school's small size allows students to be counseled closely during the college selection process. In the past few years, Roycemore students have been admitted to Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Oberlin College, Grinnell College, Kalamazoo College, Wellesley College, Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, University of Wisconsin, Bryn Mawr College, Connecticut College, University of California at Santa Cruz, University of California at Santa Barbara, Occidental College, Harvey Mudd College, Knox College, Tulane University, University of Notre Dame, Miami University, Spelman College, Haverford College.

Middle School

Roycemore's Middle School serves grades five through eight. Class sizes average 17 students. Sara Dreiling serves as the Middle School Division Head.

Lower School

Roycemore's Lower School program serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through Fourth Grade. Students who turn three before September 1st can enroll in the Pre-Kindergarten program for that year. Class sizes range from 12 to a maximum of 18 in grades 1 through 4 and 25 in Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten, with classroom aides. Melinda Orzoff serves as the Lower School Head.

During the summers, Roycemore sponsors a program for gifted children entering grades 1 through 9. The Discovery Unlimited enrichment program was one of the first of its kind and continues to provide fun and challenging educational summer experiences for students from Roycemore and surrounding areas.

Activities

Roycemore offers its students a rich complement of activities. Upper School activities include Spanish Club, French Club, German Club, Community Service Club, Student Government, Math Team, and Scholastic Bowl. Lower School offerings are often headed by parents and vary yearly: Lego Building Club, Drama Club, Science Club, Happy Feet Club, and Community Service are recently sponsored activities. Middle School has a year long "Olympic" competition between different teams.

Athletics

The school prides itself on its no-cut athletic teams starting in the Fifth Grade, including Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball.

Roycemore's mascot is the Griffin and the school colors are blue and gold.

Each year, Roycemore School holds its Annual Palio Festivities, which the School's oldest tradition. Palio was modeled after the pageant that proceeds the Palio di Siena in Italy Palio_di_Siena. Students from grades 1-12 display the progress they have made in physical education classes during the year. The emphasis is on rhythmics, dance, gymnastics, and sports skills. Roycemore's Palio has a colorful procession, where each new Kindergarten class is handed down a coat of arms from the graduating Senior class that the students will carry until graduation in twelfth grade.

Notable alumni

Frances Badger (1904 - 1997) - Works Progress Administration (WPA) artist

Gloria Guardia (b 1940) '58 - UNESCO Vice President of PEN International

Stefanie Staffin Cragg '59 - TV producer

Olga Guardia Smoak '57 - UNESCO International Dance Council

External links

* [http://www.roycemoreschool.org/ Roycemore School's Official Site]