Why Canterbury
At Canterbury we nurture the development of each student and encourage and
embrace their creativity, passion, and intellectual curiosity to guide them through the
many challenges of the academic world and beyond.
Nurturing community
At Canterbury, there is a genuine sense of community that cultivates a love of learning with openness, intelligence, and energy. All students are known and valued, encouraging meaningful and lifelong personal connections. As an independent school, Canterbury attracts a variety of students from a wide range of backgrounds, and we value and respect differences. Diversity fortifies our community and school programs.
Children don’t grow up too fast
Canterbury students engage in age-appropriate activities and events, without the influence and pressure of older students. Three times a week our sixth grade boys and girls escort their kindergarten “chapel buddies”, hand-in-hand, to chapel where they sit together for the service. Such interactions are unique to a K-8 independent school.
Vibrant program
Students have every opportunity to stretch themselves beyond the traditional classroom setting. Canterbury is focused on developing the whole child, which includes education in the arts and music, in addition to physical and spiritual education. Canterbury also has an Outdoor Education Program that offers an abundance of leadership and team building experiences. Technology is on the forefront. Each classroom is outfitted with a SMARTBoard (interactive whiteboard). Students have access to laptops and a variety of software and hardware.
Outstanding faculty
Canterbury’s 43 faculty members are experts in teaching Kindergarten through eighth grade girls and boys. Our teachers average 12 years of teaching experience, with 56% of our staff holding advanced degrees. Faculty members receive generous on-the-job training and professional development opportunities.
Spirituality
Nurturing the spiritual core is an integral dimension of a child’s growth and development. Canterbury students are encouraged to explore, articulate, and reflect their own faith beliefs through spiritual development and theology classes. As an Episcopal day school, we gather for chapel three times a week to sing, pray, and bring the community together spiritually. Service projects are integrated into academic and spiritual development at each grade level.
Students thrive
Middle school students are not “caught in the middle”. Canterbury’s oldest students act as role models for the entire student body. They serve on student council and have leading roles in drama productions and on athletic teams. Students in the upper grades also have unique leadership opportunities in the school’s outdoor education center. They have the chance to model and to teach younger students about teamwork, communication, and safety.
School traditions
Strong Episcopal and school traditions help shape our community and are woven throughout the school’s academic calendar. We believe a variety of experiences develop capable adults. Students build confidence through service learning projects, becoming chapel buddies, and delivering a sermon in 8th grade.
Change at the ninth grade is good
Educating children in a consistent family-like environment is ideal for the elementary and middle school years. After strong educational, moral, and social foundations have been established, transition at the ninth grade is a positive change. Students are well prepared and developmentally ready for any secondary school experience they will encounter.
Distinguished alumni
Canterbury can claim many “distinguished alumni.” Our alumni have achieved many honorable distinctions including: Morehead Scholar, merit scholarship recipients, “best all around” athletes, National Honor Society, Robertson Scholarship, class valedictorian, annual citizenship awards, and more. Our alumni are awesome!
