August 07, 2019
Dear CSS Families, Alumni, Past Parents, Grandparents, and Friends,
Isn’t education interesting? The beneficial effects of our work take time to manifest, and sometimes we give our students what they need - not what they want. Complicated, right?
Given these factors, how do we know we are excellent at what we do? Consider the following: As we prepare students for an ever-evolving dynamic world, research shows that talented teachers creating authentic and relevant academic experiences transform not only how students think about academics but how they think about themselves and their place in the world.
Research also shows that what we do outside of the classroom is nearly as important as what we do inside of it; that social and emotional intelligence can be taught; and that students disconnecting from their daily habits and digital devices increases their ability to recognize facial expressions and act as leaders. Testimonies from our graduates make it clear many found their purpose, their resiliency, and determination, both in college and beyond, from a CSS teacher or in a CSS classroom or seminar.
Here is another way we know we are on the right track: Local and international parents have responded to the timely and timeless nature of a CSS education. This fall, we will open our doors with our third year of growth out of the last four.
For nearly 60 years, The Colorado Springs School has succeeded in offering its students a world-class education. We’re proud of our mission, our faculty, our students, and our graduates. We are prepared to make the 2019-2020 school year our best ever. Please read on to see some of our recent achievements and accolades.
By the Numbers: 2018-2019 Points of Pride
#1 Ranking as the Best K-12 Private School in Colorado Springs by the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Niche.
#1 Best Private School (Colorado Springs Business Journal)
#1 Best Private School for College Readiness in Southern Colorado (Niche)
#2 2019 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Colorado (Niche)
3.1 Million dollars in college merit scholarships were awarded to the Class of 2019. On average, that is $135,000 in merit scholarships per graduate.
4 Seniors claimed National Merit recognition: two as Finalists and two as Commended students.
5 Choir and floor microphones, new wireless lavaliers and headsets, and modern LED lighting upgrades bolstered the performance quality in the theatre this spring. This purchase was made possible by a major gift to the theatre.
6 Alumni of the school are sending their children to CSS. Check out the ongoing series of alumni profiles on Alumni News & Notes. Additionally, alumni from all eras share their expertise with the school by serving on the Board of Trustees, coaching teams, speaking to classes and seminars about their professional pursuits, and even play in the Pep Band.
8 Student-teacher ratio while the national average is 16:1. Small class sizes provide increased student engagement and opportunities to enhance social and emotional learning critical to student achievement.
9 Children’s School assemblies were conducted. Themes included friendship, courage, cooperation, independence, sincerity, and patriotism, as well as Veteran’s Day, mindfulness, poetry, and music.
18 Teachers on staff are certified by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) having completed an intensive, two-day Wilderness First Aid certification. This positions them to lead students in the field with confidence. Additionally, 100% of faculty, staff, coaches, and bus drivers are Heartsaver CPR AED and first aid certified.
18 International students shared global perspectives from Australia, Guatemala, China, South Korea, Germany, Spain, and Japan.
26 The average number of days CSS students are off campus gaining real-world experiences.
30 Class of 2019’s average ACT score. National Average: 20.8; Colorado Average: 23.9.
30 Robustly-designed experiential learning opportunities were delivered and included 6 Fall Adventures, 6 Colorado Expeditions, 8 Middle School Seminars, 4 Upper School Mission Centered Seminars & 6 Experience-Centered Seminars.
36 Zip codes are represented by CSS families across the region. More than 42% of students live outside the school’s 80906 address.
58 Percent of faculty and staff held advanced degrees in addition to their tremendous life and professional experiences.
90 Colleges accepted students from the Class of 2019. Read more about their impressive college matriculation.
91 Advanced Placement (AP) exams were taken by 58 students this year. On average, 94% of CSS students earned a score of 3 or greater, which typically earns them college credit.
100 Percent of Kindergarten - 5th Grade students were on stage in Holiday Tea and Dessert Theatre. Twenty-five percent of Middle School students performed in Shakespeare at Gravel Gulch and 55% of Upper School was in the cast, crew, or orchestra of Radium Girls and Oklahoma!
100 Percent Faculty/Staff and Board of Trustee participated in the Annual Fund.
102 Tours given to prospective families during the 2019-2020 admission season…and counting! Thanks to parent ambassadors for bringing the CSS experience to life. To date, 70 new students will join us for the new school year.
113 Upper School students participated in a sport that went to Districts, Regionals, Playoffs, or State.
145 Healthy lunches were served daily in the CSS Dining Hall, from sandwiches and hot meals to soups and a salad bar, promoting nutrition and wellness.
197 4th - 12th grade students represented the Kodiaks in 248 team competitions this year in competitive sports.
334 Students were inspired by masterful teachers at CSS during the 2018-2019 school year.
539 Years of teaching and professional service to CSS were dedicated by its faculty and staff.
750 Seeds were planted in the CSS Garden. In the spring, Children’s School launched an Adopt-a-Crop program, starting plants from seeds. More than 24 different crops and flowers are in the school garden.
1962 is the year The Colorado Springs School was founded. As we approach the school’s 60th birthday, we are honored to be the only PreK - Grade 12 independent school in the region and deliver such an important and enduring mission.
2,707 Library books were checked out by Children’s School students on campus this year for an average of 22 books per student.
4,112 Number of service hours completed in 2018-2019 by our high school students.
73,759 Lines of code programmed this year by Upper School students in the Introduction to Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles courses. Additionally, students programmed with Python in Middle School Science.
112,334 Miles driven in CSS vans, buses, and rentals: 27,500 miles for experiential trips and competitions and 84,834 miles on our four daily bus routes and the late route.
424,129 Dollars were raised in this year’s Annual Fund thanks to parents, grandparents, faculty/staff, alumni, and past parents who believed enough in our mission to invest philanthropically. Plus, strategic priority projects attracted $59,000 in restricted funding. With a robust “Raise the Paddle,” an additional $131,931 was raised at the Gala & Auction in the spring. View the 2018-2019 Honor Roll of Donors online.
Please consider joining us at the Parents Association Welcome Coffee and my State of the School Presentation on the morning of Tuesday, August 27, 2019, to learn more on these topics.
Warmly,
Aaron Schubach
Head of School
