Glenelg Country School
Encyclopedia
Glenelg Country School is a nonsectarian, co-educational independent day school in Howard County, Maryland
, adjacent to Columbia, Maryland
and between Baltimore
and Washington, D.C.
The School offers a continuous, college preparatory program from Pre-Kindergarten 3 through grade 12 to students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds who are highly motivated and have a strong desire to learn. GCS was founded in 1954, enrolling 35 students in grades one through seven. In the fall of 1985, the new Upper School division opened with 10 students. The first class graduated in June of 1989. Today, Glenelg Country School enrolls over 800 students between the four divisions. Despite its growth in size, the School has maintained a commitment to personal attention and small class sizes, which still averages 15.
General Joseph Tyson, Assistant Postmaster General under President John Tyler
, added the newer part of the mansion, which is of Norman Tudor style, in 1845. The massive granite blocks used as decoration in the addition were quarried near Ellicott City, while the marble at the entrance and in the fireplaces was imported from England. The spacious rooms were of such dimension that each had one or more fireplaces. General and Mrs. Tyson called their home "Glenelg" after an old estate in Scotland and "because it spelled the same from either end.".
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
and his wife Mary Thorne Gould, along with Mr. and Mrs. John T. Mason, Jr., Judge James Macgill and Mr. and Mrs. William Shippen. Miss Marjorie Dunn was the first Headmistress for Glenelg Country School and served from 1954-1956. Following Ms. Dunn were: Beatrice Pfefferkorn (1956-1959); Edward L. Jones (1959-1964); Peter T. Terry (1964-1966); Thomas J. Barlow (interim head in 1966 for Peter Terry); Frederic W. Rhinelander (1966-1977); Charles H. Miller, Jr. (1977-1990); Ryland O. Chapman III (1990-2007); and Gregory J. Ventre (2007-present day).
Athletic Highlights:
Art classes include: painting, drawing, film and digital photography, ceramics, wood-working, metals, and an array of other specialized classes. Each division has its own fully equipped studio space, and the Upper School has separate 2-D and 3-D facilities, along with a fully equipped black and white photography lab.
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, adjacent to Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
and between Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The School offers a continuous, college preparatory program from Pre-Kindergarten 3 through grade 12 to students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds who are highly motivated and have a strong desire to learn. GCS was founded in 1954, enrolling 35 students in grades one through seven. In the fall of 1985, the new Upper School division opened with 10 students. The first class graduated in June of 1989. Today, Glenelg Country School enrolls over 800 students between the four divisions. Despite its growth in size, the School has maintained a commitment to personal attention and small class sizes, which still averages 15.
History
What is today known as "Glenelg Manor" forms the nucleus of a sprawling structure, which houses the Glenelg Country School elementary division. The "Manor House" portion was itself built in two sections: the old "L" wing dating from the middle or late 18th century, and the newer front section built in 1845. The original house is believed by many historians to have been erected by Ephraim Howard, son of Sarah Dorsey Howard who received the land from her father, John Dorsey, in 1735 as part of her dowry. Sarah's husband, Henry Howard, called the property "Howard's Resolution."General Joseph Tyson, Assistant Postmaster General under President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
, added the newer part of the mansion, which is of Norman Tudor style, in 1845. The massive granite blocks used as decoration in the addition were quarried near Ellicott City, while the marble at the entrance and in the fireplaces was imported from England. The spacious rooms were of such dimension that each had one or more fireplaces. General and Mrs. Tyson called their home "Glenelg" after an old estate in Scotland and "because it spelled the same from either end.".
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
Glenelg Country School
The original building was rented in 1954 when the Glenelg Country School was founded by Kingdon Gould, Jr.Kingdon Gould, Jr.
Kingdon Gould II , a great-grandson of Jay Gould, is a former ambassador, businessman, and philanthropist.-Biography:Gould was the third child of Kingdon Gould, Sr., and his only son....
and his wife Mary Thorne Gould, along with Mr. and Mrs. John T. Mason, Jr., Judge James Macgill and Mr. and Mrs. William Shippen. Miss Marjorie Dunn was the first Headmistress for Glenelg Country School and served from 1954-1956. Following Ms. Dunn were: Beatrice Pfefferkorn (1956-1959); Edward L. Jones (1959-1964); Peter T. Terry (1964-1966); Thomas J. Barlow (interim head in 1966 for Peter Terry); Frederic W. Rhinelander (1966-1977); Charles H. Miller, Jr. (1977-1990); Ryland O. Chapman III (1990-2007); and Gregory J. Ventre (2007-present day).
Overview
- 800 boys and girls in grades Pre-K3 through grade 12
- 140 faculty members; 50% of faculty hold advanced degrees
- Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Average Class Size: 15
- 38% of the student body belong to ethnic minorities
- Curriculum: Integrated, college preparatory; designed to foster strong intellectual discipline, superior academic skills, athletics, the arts, leadership, friendship, and cultural understanding
- 23 Advanced Placement courses offered, with over 50% of juniors and seniors enrolled in at least one each year
- Tuitions for the 2010-2011 school year are: $7,600 (Pre-K3); $11,720 (Pre-K4); $19,760 (Kindergarten); $20,350 (Grade 1 - Grade 4); $21,490 (Grades 5-7); $22,100 (Grade 8); and $23,460 (Grades 9-12)
- 38% of students receive financial aid grants
- Accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education; the Association of Independent Maryland Schools; and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Athletics
Glenelg Country School offers physical education classes from pre-kindergarten on, with interscholastic sports available starting in sixth grade. GCS has garnered 10 Championships in the last five years, and 77% of Upper School students participate in sports. The 35,000-square-foot athletic center includes two basketball courts, a multipurpose athletic room, fitness and training centers, locker rooms and offices. Additionally, there is a Lower School gymnasium, four playing fields, a baseball field, five tennis courts, an outdoor pool and three playgrounds.Athletic Highlights:
- 2006 - Varsity Girls Tennis won the IAAM B Conference Championship
- 2006 - Ice Hockey won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2007 - Varsity Boys Basketball won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2007 - Women's Cross Country won the Private School's State Championship
- 2008 - Varsity Tennis won the MIAA B Conference Championship; the team also brought home two individual titles
- 2008 - Ice Hockey won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2010 - Varsity Golf won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2010 - Varsity Golf won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2011 - Varsity Women's Field Hockey won the IAAM B Conference Championship
- 2011 - Varsity Women's Cross Country won the IAAM C Conference Championship
- 2011 - Varsity Boys Basketball won the MIAA B Conference Championship
- 2011 - Varsity Boys Basketball Team moved up to the MIAA A Conference
The Arts
Music and art classes begin in pre-kindergarten and continue through twelfth grade. Music classes include: choruses; recorder ensembles; bell choirs; bands; a jazz ensemble; a woodwind trio; a string quartet; Lower, Middle and Upper School plays; and an Upper School musical, with 50% of Upper School students participating in the performing arts. There are music rooms in each division and a 350-seat Mulitz Theater that includes a scene shop and spacious dressing rooms.Art classes include: painting, drawing, film and digital photography, ceramics, wood-working, metals, and an array of other specialized classes. Each division has its own fully equipped studio space, and the Upper School has separate 2-D and 3-D facilities, along with a fully equipped black and white photography lab.
External links
- School official site
- Profile in Private Schools Review
- Glenelg Manor, Howard County, including photo from 2001, at Maryland Historical Trust