The new school year brings new students, facilities and programs to local private high schools. Among the changes: a new science and student life building at Sacred Heart Preparatory, a new gym at Menlo School, and a new football program at Woodside Priory.
Woodside Priory
Woodside Priory in Portola Valley resumed classes Aug. 26 with a total enrollment of 360 in the middle and high school.
There are 74 students entering the ninth grade, 18 of whom are returning from the middle school, said Director of Admissions Al Zappelli. Priory was able to provide $1.7 million in financial aid, he said.
Due to a new multi-building solar power system, the school has reduced its electricity bills by 45 percent, said Sean McLain Brown, director of communications.
“We are also pleased to announce that this will be the first year we have a football team,” he said. “This is a huge addition to our athletic program, and we are all very excited for our season to start.”
Priory is joining the seven-man football Coast Athletic League this season.
Menlo School
Menlo School in Atherton began classes Thursday, Aug. 27, after holding an orientation program for the 144 incoming freshman the day before, according to Director of Upper School Admissions Cathy Shelburne.
The school is in the middle of building a new gym for the upper and middle schools. The project costs $21.3 million, and is expected to be completed by September 2010.
Sacred Heart Prep
Classes began at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton on Monday, Aug. 31. There are 533 students enrolled in grades 9-12, according to Director of Communications Millie Lee.
Tuition is set at $29,755, a 3.9 percent increase over the prior year, she said.
Sacred Heart Prep built a new science and student life building on campus this year. The structure is one of the first high school buildings in the area to be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmentally Design) standards for new construction, Ms. Lee said.
She added that the two-story building, which encompasses 44,000 square feet, houses eight state-of-of-the-art science labs, an assembly hall with seating for 700, a student cafeteria and outdoor patio.
Mid-Peninsula
Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park starts classes Tuesday, Sept. 8, with 47 incoming students and a total enrollment of 120 for grades 9-12, said Barbara Brown, director of admissions.
Tuition increased slightly, and now stands at $25,462.
“We also saw an increased need for financial aid among new and returning families,” she said.
Mid-Peninsula allocated $772,000 to financial aid for the 2009-2010 school year, which enables about a third of the families to receive some aid, she said.
The school’s new American sign language class became approved for UC credit during the summer, she noted.
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