The Archer School for Girls

The Archer School for Girls
Location
11725 Sunset Boulevard
Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA 90049
United States
Information
Type Independent
Motto "ambitious, joyful learning"
Established 1995
Founders Megan Callaway
Victoria Shorr
Diana Meehan
Faculty 64
Grades 6–12[1]
Gender Girls only[1]
Enrollment 490[1]
Classes 155[1]
Average class size 16
Student to teacher ratio 8:1
Campus 7 acres[2]
Color(s)          
Athletics

Fall: Volleyball, tennis, cross country, swimming, equestrian
Winter: Soccer, basketball, equestrian

Spring: Equestrian, softball, swimming, track and field, tennis
Mascot The Panther
Newspaper The Oracle
Tuition $35,000[1]
Website www.archer.org

The Archer School for Girls is an independent, college preparatory, fee-paying girls' school, grades 6–12, located in West Los Angeles, California, United States. Archer currently enrolls 490 students from 86 different zip codes and 151 feeder schools. Thirty-nine percent of Archer girls identify themselves as students of color.[1] Tuition fees were $35,000 a year as of 2014.[3]

Naming

The school derives its name from the Greek goddess Artemis, called Diana in later Roman myth, classically depicted taking aim with her bow and arrow, guided by the moon. In addition to being a skilled hunter, Artemis was also traditionally a protectress of girls and women, teaching girls in her protection to be self-sufficient and strong before rejoining society.[4]

History

Archer was founded in 1995 by Megan Callaway, Victoria Shorr, and Diana Meehan, all graduates of girls' schools and all parents of daughters who were about to enter middle school. The school started in a converted Pacific Palisades dance studio with just over 30 sixth and seventh grade students. In 1999 the school purchased the Eastern Star Home for Women and relocated to its present site in Brentwood Village.[4] Built in 1931, the Home was designed by California architect William Mooser,[5] famous for his work in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The building has been designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument[6] and is listed in the California Register of Historic Places.

Academics

Archer offers 155 classes in subjects including arts, languages, and science.[7] The school also partners with the Online School for Girls to offer additional courses to students.[8] Archer puts on an annual STEM symposium as part of an initiative to increase female participation in these fields.[9] The school also has an extensive film program including an annual film festival.[2]

Traditions and extracurriculars

One of Archer's long standing traditions is the raising of a maypole each year in spring. The tradition began in 1981 when an anonymous donor arranged to have the maypole erected for the residents of the Eastern Star Home for Women then located at the site. Archer has continued this tradition, with sixth graders performing a maypole dance on the last day of school.[10]

Awards and recognition

In 2003, Archer received the LA Conservancy Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse[11] and in 2007 received an award from the Brentwood Historical Society for Outstanding Repurposing of an Historic Landmark.

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Most Coveted Private Schools in Los Angeles". ParentPick. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 Capuano, Erin P. (19 February 2015). "Review: Archer School for Girls". Digital Journal. Los Angeles. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Ethics guru, exclusive private school spar over discipline of daughter LA Times, Harriet Ryan, July 1, 2014
  4. 1 2 Meehan, Diana (2007). Learning like a girl : educating our daughters in schools of their own (1st ed.). New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-410-1.
  5. ↑ "Eastern Star Home, 11725 Sunset, Brentwood, Los Angeles. March 30, 1932.". Huntington Digital Library. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "(#440)" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  7. ↑ JB (2015-10-21). "The Most Coveted Private Schools in Los Angeles | ParentPick Blog". Parentpick.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  8. ↑ "Online School for Girls puts focus on connection, collaboration". LA Times. 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  9. ↑ Esons, Dave. "THE ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 2nd Annual S.T.E.M. Symposium Sets New Standard for Girls, Math and Science". Patch. Brentwood, CA. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "A magical mystery maypole rises in Brentwood - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. 2004-05-02. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  11. ↑ Reynolds, Christopher (March 30, 2003). "Preservation projects praised - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.

Further reading

Coordinates: 34°03′54″N 118°28′16″W / 34.064933°N 118.471167°W / 34.064933; -118.471167

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.