Francis W. Parker School (San Diego)
Encyclopedia
Francis Parker School, also known simply as Parker, is an elite college preparatory independent day school in San Diego, California
, serving students from junior kindergarten
through twelfth grade. Parker was founded in 1912 by Clara Sturges Johnson and William Templeton Johnson
, themselves recent arrivals to the West Coast
. The Johnsons' nieces had attended the original Francis W. Parker School
in Chicago
, founded eleven years earlier, and sought to recreate the same progressive education standards at the original institution.
While the institutions are both named after Colonel Parker, the schools themselves differ in their day-to-day operation as well as the structure of institutions such as the student government.
The original Parker campus was established in 1912 at its current location in Mission Hills
32.7541°N 117.1769°W; a second campus, containing a middle and upper school, was established subsequently in Linda Vista 32.7723°N 117.1770°W
. The upper and middle school campuses underwent a complete $45 million dollar renovation, which was completed in 2010.
Parker's main academic rivals are The Bishop's School located in La Jolla and La Jolla Country Day School
also located in La Jolla.
In 2008, Francis Parker was recognized in the Wall Street Journal for being a top school that sends its students to prestigious colleges and in 2011, CBS Moneywatch named it one of the best Ivy League feeder schools on the West Coast.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, serving students from junior kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through twelfth grade. Parker was founded in 1912 by Clara Sturges Johnson and William Templeton Johnson
William Templeton Johnson
William Templeton Johnson was a notable San Diego architect. He was a fellow to the American Institute of Architects in 1939.Johnson is known for his Spanish Revival buildings, all in San Diego unless otherwise noted:...
, themselves recent arrivals to the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. The Johnsons' nieces had attended the original Francis W. Parker School
Francis W. Parker School (Chicago)
Francis W. Parker School is an independent day school serving students from junior kindergarten through grade twelve of high school. Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school is based on the progressive educational philosophies of John Dewey and Colonel Francis Wayland Parker,...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, founded eleven years earlier, and sought to recreate the same progressive education standards at the original institution.
While the institutions are both named after Colonel Parker, the schools themselves differ in their day-to-day operation as well as the structure of institutions such as the student government.
The original Parker campus was established in 1912 at its current location in Mission Hills
Mission Hills, San Diego, California
Mission Hills is a neighborhood of San Diego, California, USA. It is located on hills just south of the San Diego River valley and north of downtown San Diego, overlooking Old Town and San Diego Bay. It was subdivided on January 20, 1908 as a smaller portion of what is now referred to as Mission...
32.7541°N 117.1769°W; a second campus, containing a middle and upper school, was established subsequently in Linda Vista 32.7723°N 117.1770°W
. The upper and middle school campuses underwent a complete $45 million dollar renovation, which was completed in 2010.
Parker's main academic rivals are The Bishop's School located in La Jolla and La Jolla Country Day School
La Jolla Country Day School
La Jolla Country Day School is a highly selective private school in La Jolla, a community of San Diego, California. It was founded as the Balmer School by Louise C. Balmer in 1926. The school contains a lower school , a middle school , and an upper school...
also located in La Jolla.
In 2008, Francis Parker was recognized in the Wall Street Journal for being a top school that sends its students to prestigious colleges and in 2011, CBS Moneywatch named it one of the best Ivy League feeder schools on the West Coast.