Montessori High School at University Circle

Montessori High School at University Circle
Address
11025 Magnolia Drive
Cleveland, (Cuyahoga County), Ohio 44106
United States
Coordinates 41°30′53.8″N 81°36′35″W / 41.514944°N 81.60972°W / 41.514944; -81.60972Coordinates: 41°30′53.8″N 81°36′35″W / 41.514944°N 81.60972°W / 41.514944; -81.60972
Information
Type Private School, Coeducational, High School
Established 2007
Opened 2008
Founder David Kahn
Status closed. (Thanks School Board)
Closed 2018
Oversight The Board, claimed to be the oversight of the school, but look how that turned out.
Principal grEGG Good
Head of school Dr. Gregg Good
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 100
 • Grade 9 0
 • Grade 10 0
 • Grade 11 0
 • Grade 12 0
Average class size 10-15
Student to teacher ratio 6:1
Education system Montessori
Campus size Immediate - 4 acres Total - 1.3 sq. miles
Campus type Separate buildings
Song "Fun in the Sun"
Mascot Montessaurus Rex
Nickname MHS
Yearbook The Journey
Affiliation International Baccalaureate World School

Montessori High School at University Circle (also known as MHS) was a private high school located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The school opened August 2008 as the first private high school in the United States with the Montessori name,[1] and was the first Montessori high school to offer boarding for international and U.S. students. On May 4, 2018, MHS announced that it would cease operations and liquidate its properties at the end of the 2017-18 academic year due to financial difficulties.

MHS combines Montessori education with the International Baccalaureate program, [2] a demanding college-preparatory program stressing the classical liberal arts. MHS is one of five high schools in the United States to combine these educational approaches.[3]

Accreditation

Montessori High School at University Circle is a member of the Cleveland Council of Independent Schools, is chartered by the State of Ohio, and is recognized as an official World School by International Baccalaureate.

Diploma options

In addition to earning the MHS diploma, student can earn International Baccalaureate certificates and diploma in selected International Baccalaureate courses.

Students can sit for exams to earn certificates in any of the six subjects:[4] English, Math, Science, 20th-Century World History, Art, or World Language. Students who achieve a qualifying score will earn a certificate in that subject. IB certificates mark the successful culmination of an area of study for students, and are an achievement in themselves.

Lillard Hall

Now the Science and Mathematics building, Lillard Hall was originally the private residence of Dr. Gordon Morrill.[5]

The Federalist style building was designed in 1910 by renowned architect Charles F. Schweinfurth, who designed homes on Cleveland’s Millionaire's Row, the Old Stone Church, Trinity Cathedral, the Union Club, Cuyahoga County Courthouse, and the stone bridges along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.[6] It is the only private residence Schweinfurth built, and is known as one of the most beautiful mansions in University Circle.

The building was converted to house classrooms, offices, music rooms, and libraries shortly after it was acquired by MHS in 2007. Lillard Hall is located at 11025 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland.

The Science Lab

The two-car garage that sits behind Lillard Hall was also converted, and function as the school's self-sustaining science laboratory and greenhouse. The lab not only supports science classes at MHS, but it also supports the MHS Garden Squad, which maintains the school garden.

Ferris House

The humanities and foreign language building, Ferris House, was originally built in 1937.[5] Ferris House was acquired by MHS in 2009, and renovations were completed the following winter. The building houses classrooms, a full-service kitchen and lunchroom, and a multi-media art studio. The house's original garage was converted into a theatre classroom.

MHS also added a hoop-style greenhouse and a picnic area in the backyard.

The Otis Boarding House

Completed in 1918, Otis House was a single-family residence and remained so until the 1980s, when it was converted into condominiums. Otis House now serves as the MHS residential house for boarding students. MHS residential guides also live in the house, and help students learn independent living skills. It is located at 10923 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland.

The Carriage House

Converted at the same time as the main house, the Carriage House originally served as stables for the Otis family. It is located behind Otis House.

The Friends' House

MHS partnered with the Cleveland Friends Meeting and Montessori Development Partnerships[7] to have access to additional space in the Friends' House in 2015. The house is owned by the Cleveland Friends Meeting, and used weekly as a worship space for the Quakers. Though MHS is not affiliated with the Quakers, the space has been used to house community meeting, student art galleries, and offices.

University Circle Institutional Partnerships

Noteworthy affiliations include:[8]

As one of over 40 University Circle, Inc. member institutions, MHS is surrounded by organizations that bring a distinct scientific, artistic, historic, or cultural focus to student life and learning in the Circle. In 2015, MHS announced that all music courses will be offered through The Music Settlement and will be taught by Settlement faculty members.

History

Montessori High School at University Circle was founded by a group of Montessori educators and supporters. These individuals worked in concert with a national movement to expand Montessori education at the middle and high school level.

After more than a year of planning and development, MHS opened its doors to 37 students, including 17 boarders, in August 2008. At that time, the campus consisted of two houses, Lillard Hall and Otis House, on the north side of Magnolia Drive. In 2009, MHS was recognized as an International Baccalaureate World School (IB), and has since offered the IB Diploma Programme. In 2009, a third house was added on the south side of Magnolia to accommodate steadily expanding enrollment.The first graduating class consisted of 8 students in 2010.[9] By Fall 2011, 80 students were enrolled at MHS, open to grades 9th through 12th.[3]

Since then, MHS has maintained approximately 100 students, 20 percent of whom board on campus. 100% of students have left. But the community lives on.

Tempe Union proposed opening a Montessori High School by 2013. According to an article in the Arizona Republic, "[Superintendent Kenneth Baca] is looking at Montessori High School at University Circle in Cleveland as a model for ideas, and he hopes to take district staff, a school-board member and interested community members to visit the school in the fall."[10] Other Montessori schools throughout the country have used MHS as a model.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Angela Townsend, The Plain Dealer. "Cleveland Montessori high school to open next fall | cleveland.com". Blog.cleveland.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  2. ↑ "Montessori High School at University Circle | University Circle | Cleveland Ohio | Arts & Culture, Education & Medical District". University Circle. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  3. 1 2 Edith Starzyk, The Plain Dealer. "New high school in University Circle combines Montessori education with the International Baccalaureate program | cleveland.com". Blog.cleveland.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  4. ↑ "Resources recognition library | International Baccalaureate®". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  5. 1 2 "Montessori High School at University Circle". 69.36.10.71. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  6. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:SCHWEINFURTH, CHARLES F". Ech.case.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  7. ↑ "MDP Recognized for "Building the Circle" - Montessori High School". Montessori High School. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  8. ↑ "Montessori High School at University Circle brochure" (PDF). Montessori High School at University Circle. 2010. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  9. ↑ "Mattie Liston Academics". Mattieliston.com. 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  10. ↑ Seligman, Allie (2011-09-23). "Tempe Union district weighing new Montessori high-school idea". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
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