The Meadows School

The Meadows School is a non-profit, coeducational, nonsectarian, independent college preparatory day school located in the affluent Summerlin area of Las Vegas, Nevada. The campus serves just under 900 students in grades pre-k through 12 spread among four divisions – Beginning School (Pre-K), Lower School (Grades K-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Upper School (Grades 9-12).

For the 2014-15 school year, The Meadows has an estimated enrollment of 881 students and a teaching staff of 86 faculty, giving a student to faculty ratio of 10:1. Class sizes are limited to 18 students in the Beginning and Upper Schools and 20 students in the Lower and Middle Schools.^[3]

The Upper School offers students 24 AP courses and in 2014 had an AP exam pass rate of 100%.^[4] In 2016, The Washington Post named The Meadows School the #2 most challenging high school in Nevada, and the #97 most challenging private high school in the country.^[5] Since its first Upper School Commencement in 1991, 100 percent of graduates from The Meadows School have been accepted into four-year colleges or universities.^[6]

History

Origins

The Meadows School was first conceptualized by Carolyn Goodman in the early 1970s. She and her husband, attorney Oscar Goodman, had recently settled in Las Vegas and were looking to enroll their four children in schools with academic standards comparable to the top college preparatory schools on the East Coast. Through her search of area schools, Goodman was introduced to Dr. LeOre Cobbley, a longtime educator in the Clark County School District who championed a no-nonsense, traditional system of elementary education.^[7]

Modeled largely after her alma mater, The Brearley School in Manhattan,^[8] and the teaching philosophy of Dr. Cobbley, Goodman incorporated the nonprofit School in 1981 as the "Clark County Day School." Three years later and with Dr. Cobbley serving as the founding Headmistress, The Meadows School officially opened on September 4, 1984, with an enrollment of 140 students in grades K-6.^[9]

Meadows Lane temporary campus

At the time that The Meadows School opened in 1984, a permanent campus site had not yet been found. In lieu of a permanent location, Goodman raised $300,000 and purchased 5,000 square feet of temporary modular buildings that were set up on a parking lot behind a car dealership. The lot was loaned to the School by Board Member Fletcher Jones, Jr. and was located, coincidentally, on Meadows Lane in northern Las Vegas. These buildings served as the School’s classrooms until the permanent campus was opened four years later.^[10]

Scholar Lane permanent campus

In 1985, Carolyn Goodman was introduced to William Lummis, the nephew of Howard Hughes and the Chairman of the Board for the Summa Corporation (rebranded as the Howard Hughes Corporation in 1994). The Summa Corporation was in the early stages of developing the northwest area of Las Vegas, later known as Summerlin. Recognizing the correlation between strong communities and good schools, the Summa Corproation donated 40 acres of undeveloped land to the School for a permanent campus.^[11]

Construction on the new campus began in the fall of 1987. The permanent campus was situated on Scholar Lane, a street name chosen by the students for their new school. While the construction of the Summerlin campus was underway, the Summa Corporation also provided additional funding to the School to add new modular buildings to the temporary campus to accommodate its growing student enrollment, which by 1987 had increased to 200 students in grades K-8.^[12]

One year later, at the beginning of the 1988 school year, Lower School students moved into The LeOre Cobbley Lower School building on the new campus. Middle and Upper School students followed suit in December of that year and moved into classrooms created from the previous modular buildings on Meadows Lane, which had been relocated to the permanent campus.

Academics

Curriculum

The Lower School program is based on the educational philosophy developed by founding Headmistress Dr. LeOre Cobbley, with special emphasis on her reading program that allows for advanced groupings with great focus on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students study English, mathematics, and social studies on a daily basis, and take specialized classes throughout the week in science, physical education, and music. Students in grades K-5 are also required to study Spanish as part of their curriculum.^[13] In addition to the academic curriculum, strong emphasis is also placed on learning and exemplifying good citizenship.

The Middle and Upper School programs follow a traditional curriculum modeled primarily after that of the top East Coast preparatory schools.^[14] In addition to the traditional subject matter, students at these levels must also study fine arts and foreign languages, with Middle School students required to take three years of Spanish and one and a half years of Latin,^[15] and Upper School students required to take at least three sequential years of a foreign language.^[16] Outside of their academic studies, students in these divisions must also participate in either physical education classes or interscholastic athletics.

In addition to the regular school year, The Meadows School also offers several summer classes for incoming and current Upper School students.

Technology integration

Recognizing the importance that technology plays in the 21st century classroom, The Meadows School introduced a number of technology initiatives at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The School established a technology curriculum guide to set the standards for tech skills and integration at each grade level. In addition to partnering with Google Apps for Education and installing a SMART Board in every classroom, the School purchased iPads for use in grades PreK-2 and Google Chromebooks for use in grades 3-5. The School also implemented a Bring-Your-Own-Device (B.Y.O.D.) program in its Middle and Upper School to ensure that all students are properly equipped to participate and collaborate in their technology-infused classes.

The Meadows School has also embraced the opportunity to infuse elements of online learning into its curriculum. In 2013-14 the School partnered with Khan Academy in a pilot program to test the effectiveness of integrating the site’s online lessons into student instruction in the math and sciences. As of the 2014-15 school year, The Meadows School is also a member of Global Online Academy, a consortium of independent schools around the world that offers a variety of online courses in line with the School’s rigorous academic standards.^[17]

College counseling program

The Meadows School has two full-time college counselors dedicated to guiding its students through the college process.^[18] The counseling program begins in eighth grade and offers a series of meetings, assignments, and workshops throughout the years to help keep families informed and the application process on schedule.

The Meadows School has a strong record of student acceptances at the nation’s top educational institutions. Beginning with the School’s first graduating class in 1991, 100 percent of its graduates have been accepted into four-year colleges or universities.^[19]

Tuition

Tuition to attend The Meadows School for the 2015-16 school year is $9,635 (half-day)/$15,500 (full-day) for Beginning School (Pre-K), $17,740 for Lower School (grades K-5), $19,780 for Middle School (grades 6-8), and $25,775 for Upper School (grades 9-12).^[20] In addition to the tuition, Middle and Upper School families are responsible for purchasing their textbooks each year. Families also have the option of paying to enroll in the School’s lunch program.

The Meadows School offers need-based financial aid. Approximately 11% of enrolled students receive financial assistance, and student scholarship grants for the 2014-15 year total an estimated $1,500,000.^[21] Due to the generosity of a donor foundation, the School has also been able to offer five scholarships to kindergarten students each year since the fall of 2012 to fully fund their education through graduation. Moreover, in the fall of 2014, a major donor made possible a new 50/50 scholarship opportunity for prospective Upper School students that awards five incoming freshman with 50% of their tuition throughout their four years in the Upper School.

Campus facilities

Academic facilities^[22]

• The Carolyn G. Goodman Beginning School opened in 1999 and houses the School’s Pre-K classrooms.
• The LeOre Cobbley Lower School opened in 1988 and is home to grades K-5 and the Beginning/Lower School Library.
• The Fertitta-Sturm Middle School opened in 2005 and overlooks the mall lawn. It is home to students in grades 6-8 and houses the Rufty Family Math and Science Wing and the Jimmerson Humanities Wing.
• The Sarah D. Barder Hall (Upper School) opened in 1993 and houses classrooms for grades 9-12, as well as the newly renovated Middle/Upper School Social Learning Commons.
• The Wanda Lamb Peccole Center for the Arts (CFA) is the School’s fine arts facility. Opened in 2000, the building houses the Bonnie Hayes Schreck Performing Arts Wing and features the 333-seat Simon Ham-Peto Auditorium, a black-box theater, a carousel theater for small recitals, the Mary B. Smith Art Gallery for student work, and several classrooms for instruction in the arts.
• The Administration Building opened in 1989 and originally housed Middle and Upper School classes. The building itself was built by adding a façade to the original modular buildings from the temporary campus on Meadows Lane.

Athletic facilities^[23]

• The School's Athletic Complex originally opened in 1992. It was renovated and expanded in 2010 and now houses the School’s main gym (the Richardson-Beckley Gymnasium) and its auxiliary gym (the Windsong Gymnasium). The building also features the Key Fechser Fitness Center, a trainer’s facility, a sports studio, locker rooms, a concession stand, and the Linda R. Richardson Hall of Athletes.
• The Creel (Football) Field opened in 1995 and sits adjacent to Athlete's Grove. It was converted to turf grass prior to the 2009 football season.
• The Levin/Richardson Track is a full-sized high school track that opened in 1995 and surrounds Creel Field.
• The Lincy Foundation Tennis Complex was completed in 1995 and contains eight full-sized tennis courts.
• The Plaster Diamond, the School’s regulation-sized baseball field, had its first inaugural game pitched by Tommy Lasorda in 1993.^[24]
• The L. Harkness Jewett Field House is a storage facility for athletic equipment, and houses the outdoor concession stand.
• The Chris Kaempfer Field is home to the School’s softball team.

Other facilities

• The Richard K.C. Lee Mustang Corral is the newest and final building on the School’s campus. It opened in 2013 and is home to the campus kitchen and dining service.^[25]

Athletics

Interscholastic sports

The Meadows School is a member of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Southern conference and participates in athletics at the Division III level (with the exception of its Tennis and Bowling Teams, which compete in Division I-A). It offers students a variety of interscholastic sports to choose from, including football, volleyball, cheer, tennis, and cross country in the fall season; basketball, cheer, and bowling in the winter season; and baseball, softball, track & field, and golf in the spring season.^[26] The School has also offered wrestling, swimming, dance, and co-ed soccer in the past but has not fielded teams in recent years due to lack of interest.

The Meadows School also offers many of the same interscholastic sports at the Middle School level^[27] as a member of the Red Rock Athletic Conference.

Athletic accolades

In addition to numerous Academic State Champion awards and NIAA Awards of Excellence (in Academics, Athletics, and Citizenship), The Meadows School has taken home the title of State Champions in the following years:^[28]

• Baseball: 1996
• Basketball (Boys): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Cheer: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Cross Country (Girls): 1996, 2013
• Dance: 2007, 2008
• Football: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009
• Golf: 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
• Softball: 2003
• Tennis: 1992 (Boys Doubles), 2010 (Girls Team), 2012 (Girls Team), 2013 (Girls Team)
• Track & Field: 1995 (Girls), 1996 (Girls), 1997 (Girls), 1998 (Girls), 1999 (Boys), 1999 (Girls), 2000 (Boys), 2000 (Girls), 2003 (Girls), 2012 (Girls)
• Volleyball: 1996, 2001, 2002, 2009
• Wrestling: 2000

The Meadows School at one time held the Nevada State record for most consecutive wins for a football team (51 consecutive wins during 1997-2001).^[29] In 2006, its Boys Golf Team became the first Nevada team to win five consecutive state championships, a state record the School still holds to this day.^[30]

Student life

Dress code

Students in all divisions of The Meadows School are expected to wear a school uniform. The importance of the uniform is derived from part of Dr. Cobbley’s education philosophy that "students get the message that proper behavior is expected and recognized through dress standards and good manners."^[31]

Community service

Students at all levels are expected to be good citizens in the School community and the community at large. In Lower School, this ideal is encouraged through its "Good Citizens" program that recognizes those individuals who show respect for themselves and others and demonstrate dedication to high academic and moral standards.^[32] In Upper School, students are required to complete 144 hours of community service over their four years before graduation, although many students exceed that number.^[33]

Extracurricular activities

The Meadows offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students in the Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions. Students in Lower School can participate in MAPS classes (Meadows After-School Programs)^[34] to learn skills like playing Chess, playing the Violin, Chinese, and more.

The Middle and Upper Schools offer students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities such as the National Junior Classical League, Mock Trial, the Make-A-Wish Club, the Honor Code Committee, the Science Bowl Team, and the Asian Culture Club, among others.^[35] In addition, The Meadows School has a well-established Fine Arts program, and many students participate in extracurricular activities relating to theatre, photography, and music. The Meadows is also well known for its Upper School Forensics Team, which competes on the national level and hosts "The Meadows Debate Invitational Tournament" on campus each year. The Upper School is also home to one of the nation’s first student-run microbanks,^[36] which is managed solely by students in the Mircobank Club.

Traditions

In the 30 years since the School opened, The Meadows has established many annual events that have become staples on campus. Some of the most highly anticipated events each year include the 2nd Grade Valentine’s Day Bake Sale, the Chinese New Year Parade, the annual Pancake Breakfast, the Kindergarten Fashion Show, and the Parents Association’s Fiesta Carnival.

Notable Alumni

• Justin Blau (3LAU) '09 - American DJ and producer
• Lindsey Horvath '00 - Politician
• Coleman Hutzler '02 - College football coach
• Daria Snadowsky '97 - Author
• Katy Yoder '05 - Actress

References

Coordinates: 36°11′45″N 115°16′56″W / 36.19591°N 115.282181°W / 36.19591; -115.282181