Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School, often referred to as Kirby or GBK is a non-profit independent school
, located in Santa Cruz, California
. The school educates in grades 6-12 and enrolls 220 students as of the 2009-2010 academic year.
In August 2006, the school moved to the Tarantella building, formerly a high-technology complex in the Harvey West area of Santa Cruz.
The school provides access to financial aid services for families who show interest in enrolling their children. For the 2009-2010 academic year more than one-quarter of the students received financial assistance.
Kirby enrolls 80 students in the middle school grades and 140 in high school. The average class size is 12 students. Only the choirs reach above 25 students.
recognized Kirby students as the "Best in the World" in Art History
performance by a school with 300 or fewer students. In the spring of 2009,
Kirby students took 99 AP exams. 94% scored 3 or higher (college credit)
and 47% achieved the maximum score of 5.
From 1999 through 2009, Kirby graduated 250 students, of which thirty-six (15%) earned National Merit recognition.
recognized by the Columbia School of Journalism, the Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll for its quality reporting. INK has
garnered numerous Certificates of Merit, First Place ratings, Gold Circle
Awards, and National Winners.
community service projects. The School’s primary ongoing service project in 2008-2009 has
been to help build the Ufani Primary School in Tanzania.
Middle School: boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, mountain biking, track and field, and cross country.
High School: boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ volleyball (JV and Varsity), mountain biking, ultimate Frisbee, track and field, cross country, and swimming.
Students can also participate in sports clubs which meet regularly but do not officially compete: surfing, tennis, fencing, martial arts, soccer, and softball.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, located in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. The school educates in grades 6-12 and enrolls 220 students as of the 2009-2010 academic year.
Mission statement
History and general information
Established in 1994, Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School is named for a Santa Cruz pioneer, early suffragist, educator, and public speaker.In August 2006, the school moved to the Tarantella building, formerly a high-technology complex in the Harvey West area of Santa Cruz.
The school provides access to financial aid services for families who show interest in enrolling their children. For the 2009-2010 academic year more than one-quarter of the students received financial assistance.
Kirby enrolls 80 students in the middle school grades and 140 in high school. The average class size is 12 students. Only the choirs reach above 25 students.
Visual and performing arts programs
The Music Department offers a range of theory and application courses and offers a selection of musical performance groups including chorus, chamber choir, jazz choir, jazz instrumental ensemble, and/or orchestra. These groups participate in musical and theatrical performances and in state and national musical competitions. Many Kirby students audition and are selected for the Central Coast Section, Regional, and State Honor Choirs and Orchestras by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Music Educators Association (CMEA). The theater program puts on two performances each year. Auditions for the performances are open for all grades and genders.Academic achievements and recognition
In 2006, the Board Advanced Placement Report to the Nationrecognized Kirby students as the "Best in the World" in Art History
performance by a school with 300 or fewer students. In the spring of 2009,
Kirby students took 99 AP exams. 94% scored 3 or higher (college credit)
and 47% achieved the maximum score of 5.
From 1999 through 2009, Kirby graduated 250 students, of which thirty-six (15%) earned National Merit recognition.
Student newspaper
INK is published by students in Kirby’s Journalism course and is regularlyrecognized by the Columbia School of Journalism, the Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll for its quality reporting. INK has
garnered numerous Certificates of Merit, First Place ratings, Gold Circle
Awards, and National Winners.
Civic involvement
The student council and individual classes sponsor school-wide andcommunity service projects. The School’s primary ongoing service project in 2008-2009 has
been to help build the Ufani Primary School in Tanzania.
Athletics
Kirby is a member of the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation and participates as part of their Mission Trails Athletics League.Middle School: boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, mountain biking, track and field, and cross country.
High School: boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ volleyball (JV and Varsity), mountain biking, ultimate Frisbee, track and field, cross country, and swimming.
Students can also participate in sports clubs which meet regularly but do not officially compete: surfing, tennis, fencing, martial arts, soccer, and softball.