Summary: Our 300 female students are free to explore new opportunities and possibilities in a supportive, encouraging environment. Girls are encouraged to try new paths, to follow ambitions, and to pursue leadership roles. In finding her voice and comprehending her value, a student at Grier comes to recognize the power and potential of being a girl in the 21st century. Grier girls are challenged in the classroom and find support from teachers and peers to develop academic perseverance. In addition, Grier students develop critical thinking and communication skills that empower each girl to step forward, speak out, and get involved. Students find a wide variety in the Grier curriculum, which offers classes ranging from college preparatory to Advanced Placement (AP) and in-depth scholarship through electives and advanced offerings. At Grier, small classes, passionate teachers, and hands-on experiences involve students and immerse them in a culture of achievement. The standards of faculty and instructors are high, as are the levels of concern and support provided to ensure that students experience success. At Grier, girls become emboldened, engaged, and poised for the future. Lemuel Grier, the first in our founding family, conveyed this sentiment best: “Our aim is not to stuff the mind with undigested knowledge from the Text Book, but to train its powers, so that the student may be able to think for herself.” Today, the tradition to develop students’ critical thinking abilities—as well as the other 21st century skills—inspires both our pedagogy and curriculum, which offers classes ranging from college preparatory to Advanced Placement (AP) and in-depth scholarship through electives and advanced offerings. The standards of faculty and instructors are high, as are the levels of concern and support provided to ensure that students experience success.

Department Director

Student/Teacher Ratio: 9:1

Average Class Size: 9

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 48

Number of AP Courses Offered: 21

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 75%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

• Evening Study Assistance
• Learning Differences Support
• Technology Center
• Writing Center
• ADD/ADHD Support

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 11

Average Students Per Dorm: 20

Number of Girls Dorms: 11

Number of Boys Dorms: 0

Dorm Amenities

• Laundry Facilities
• Lounge
• Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

Being a boarding student helps a young person to develop independence very quickly. Along with this independence, a student at Grier develops self-reliance and a true sense of self that helps her to manage life’s small and big challenges. In the dorm, students learn the value of co-existing and cooperating with others in a very tight community. They enjoy the caring ways of their Resident Advisors who support girls much the way parents do. When you live with lots of other young people, the smallest experiences can become some of your best memories. Boarding students at Grier live in dormitories or cottages. Each dormitory building or wing and each cottage is supervised by a duo of Resident Advisors, affectionately called “housemoms.” In the dormitory suites, which are connected or adjacent to the the main building, two students share one bedroom and two bedrooms share one connected bathroom. Returning upperclass students can choose to live in one of the seven cottages throughout the Grier campus. These cottages offer girls a comfortable living room and full kitchen in addition to bedrooms and bathrooms for students and Resident Advisors. A robust schedule of chaperoned weekend activities ensures that our students’ free time enriches their Grier experiences and builds relationships among students and with the faculty. There are local trips, trips to major cities, and regular events with boys' schools. Students can also enjoy activities and downtime on campus. On-campus activities are hosted by teachers, clubs, casual groups of students, and housemothers. These activities include open-mic nights, dormitory dinners, bonfires, movie screenings, pick-up games of badminton, capture the flag, and art projects. Additionally, girls can relax or make use of facilities such as the fitness center, music practice rooms, the library and media center, and student lounges.

Facilities

• Fitness Center
• Indoor Basketball Court
• Pool
• Technology Center
• Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

• Soccer Field
• Four Horse Barns
• Two Outdoor Riding Rings
• Two Heated Indoor Riding Arenasc Performing Arts Center
• Auditorium
• Instrumental Music Building
• Vocal Music Suite
• Multiple Sound-insulated Music Practice Rooms
• Open-plan Art Studio
• Graphic Art Computer Lab
• Ceramics Studio
• Metal Arts Studio
• Observatory Coffee and Snack Shop

Clubs & Organizations

• Astronomy Club
• Community Service
• Diversity Club
• Environmental Club
• Fencing Club
• Foreign Language Clubs
• Gardening Club
• Honor Council
• Horseback Riding
• Model UN
• National Honor Society
• Newspaper
• Outing Club
• Science Bowl
• Snowboarding Club
• Student Government
• Student Publications
• Theater Club
• Yearbook
• Yoga Club

Summary: Grier’s Signature Programs in dance, horseback riding, and the arts are the areas for which we are renowned and that distinguish Grier from other schools. At Grier, girls can pursue their passions and appreciate each other’s talents in a friendly and inclusive environment. Appropriate courses and instruction are available both for the novice and the aficionada. Our programs continue to grow and evolve as a reflection of student interest. That growth is reflected in the construction of new facilities on campus, which include the Performing Arts Center, two indoor and outdoor riding arenas, the Fine Arts and Vocal Music Building, and the brand-new Instrumental Music Building. The visual and performing arts programs at Grier boast 15 full-time and 10 part-time faculty members to instruct and inspire students in visual art, dance, music, musical theatre, and drama. At Grier, girls work to achieve a balance of analytical thinking, creative expression, and physical fitness. Students are required to participate in physical activities four times per week, during the afternoon hours. Grier offers a variety of sports, including competitive varsity sports and recreational sports which include options of team sports and individual sports.

Arts Department Director: Heidi Zimbler

Athletics Department Director: Cherie Gates

Arts

Interscholastic Sports

• Basketball
• Dance
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Horseback Riding
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Recreational Sports

• Aerobics
• Alpine Skiing
• Alpine Ski Racing
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Canoeing
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country Running
• Dance
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Martial Arts
• Outdoor Education
• Paddle Tennis
• Snowboarding
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Summary: The College Counseling department assists students in the college exploration and application process. Grier School College Counselors help students identify colleges that are a good fit academically and socially through self-evaluation. We educate our students on the college admissions process and how to use the resources available to them for their college search. This is done through individual meetings and structured small group seminars in the sophomore, junior, and senior years. In addition, students in their junior year attend a National College Fair to meet with college admissions representatives. Though students are responsible for the completion of their applications, they receive assistance through weekly individual meetings and application workshops. To supplement our college advising, all students meet with their college counselor yearly to discuss their academic goals. In this meeting, students and counselors review the student’s academic record, discuss their post high school plans, and choose courses for the following year.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

Summary:

Department Director:

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 18%

Average Merit Scholarship: 20,000

Current Endowment Amount: $35,000,000