Summit School
Encyclopedia
Summit School is an independent, co-educational day school for pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
, USA. Summit is nationally recognized for the quality of its academic programs, its attention to individualized education, and the strength of its extracurricular activities. The school's stated mission is to "provide a challenging curriculum within a caring environment to help students develop their full potential." The school has a staff of 125 and an enrollment of 606.
, invited Miss Futrell to found a school. Mrs. Wingate Johnson donated the use of a vacant home at 405 Summit Street and on 26 September 1933, eighteen students and three teachers began the first day of school. Summit grew rapidly, spreading into nearby buildings during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The school was incorporated in 1938. In 1939, the school merged with Miss Lillian Dalton's Twin City Primary School a few doors away. In 1944, Mrs. Charles Babcock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Reynolds, offered the school a 4.5 acres (18,210.9 m²) plot of land on her Reynolda estate near Reynolda Village
. In 1945, construction began on a new building, its design inspired by an exhibit mounted by The Museum of Modern Art and showing the potential of modern architecture in a school setting. The new campus opened in 1946.
In 1957, Douglas R. Lewis became headmaster of Summit, a capacity in which he served for thirty-three years. Mr. Lewis oversaw the expansion of the school including the 1962 construction of a junior high building and gymnasium, the 1977 construction of a science building and another gymnasium, the 1984 construction of a teaching/learning center, and the 1986 construction of a middle school building. By 1987, the school had three sections at every level from junior kindergarten through ninth grade.
Dr. Sandra Adams became head of school in 1990. She retired in 2008 following the celebrations of the school's 75th anniversary. During her tenure the school constructed a 3-story state-of-the art library. The school has recently added a new sports facility and an Arts and Technology Building. Dr. Michael Ebeling is the head of the school.
and Wake Forest University
. The campus comprises ten instructional buildings and two residences. In addition to 53 classrooms, the school has a 300-seat arena-style theatre, three dining rooms, three sports fields, a pottery studio, a photography studio, a television studio, a screening room, and specialized rooms for art, music, computers, robotics, and other activities.
Every classroom has high speed internet access and there are 420 computers available for student use.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, USA. Summit is nationally recognized for the quality of its academic programs, its attention to individualized education, and the strength of its extracurricular activities. The school's stated mission is to "provide a challenging curriculum within a caring environment to help students develop their full potential." The school has a staff of 125 and an enrollment of 606.
History
Summit was founded in 1933 by Miss Louise Futrell. Miss Futrell (born 1893) had previous experience as both a teacher and administrator. A group of Winston-Salem parents, concerned about funding cuts to the public schools during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, invited Miss Futrell to found a school. Mrs. Wingate Johnson donated the use of a vacant home at 405 Summit Street and on 26 September 1933, eighteen students and three teachers began the first day of school. Summit grew rapidly, spreading into nearby buildings during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The school was incorporated in 1938. In 1939, the school merged with Miss Lillian Dalton's Twin City Primary School a few doors away. In 1944, Mrs. Charles Babcock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Reynolds, offered the school a 4.5 acres (18,210.9 m²) plot of land on her Reynolda estate near Reynolda Village
Reynolda Village
Reynolda Village is a shopping and business complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina created from the servant and agricultural buildings of the former R. J. Reynolds estate, Reynolda. At present, it is owned and operated by Wake Forest University. It is the location of the first Village Tavern in...
. In 1945, construction began on a new building, its design inspired by an exhibit mounted by The Museum of Modern Art and showing the potential of modern architecture in a school setting. The new campus opened in 1946.
In 1957, Douglas R. Lewis became headmaster of Summit, a capacity in which he served for thirty-three years. Mr. Lewis oversaw the expansion of the school including the 1962 construction of a junior high building and gymnasium, the 1977 construction of a science building and another gymnasium, the 1984 construction of a teaching/learning center, and the 1986 construction of a middle school building. By 1987, the school had three sections at every level from junior kindergarten through ninth grade.
Dr. Sandra Adams became head of school in 1990. She retired in 2008 following the celebrations of the school's 75th anniversary. During her tenure the school constructed a 3-story state-of-the art library. The school has recently added a new sports facility and an Arts and Technology Building. Dr. Michael Ebeling is the head of the school.
Physical plant
Summit is situated on a 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) campus within walking distance of Reynolda VillageReynolda Village
Reynolda Village is a shopping and business complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina created from the servant and agricultural buildings of the former R. J. Reynolds estate, Reynolda. At present, it is owned and operated by Wake Forest University. It is the location of the first Village Tavern in...
and Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
. The campus comprises ten instructional buildings and two residences. In addition to 53 classrooms, the school has a 300-seat arena-style theatre, three dining rooms, three sports fields, a pottery studio, a photography studio, a television studio, a screening room, and specialized rooms for art, music, computers, robotics, and other activities.
Every classroom has high speed internet access and there are 420 computers available for student use.
Programs
In addition to a rigorous academic program at every level, Summit provides numerous enrichment opportunities for its students. Summit is known for its innovative approach to experiential education. Long-standing traditions such as Pioneer Day, Native American Day, and an annual Medieval Feast are just a few of the ways in which the school uses a multi-intelligence approach to learning. The school offers a varied program of extracurricular activities, including sports, drama, art, music, robotics, radio/television, computer animation, and pottery. The school offers after-school and morning care as well as an extensive summer program of academic, athletic, and extracurricular camps.Distinguished alumni
- Jennifer EhleJennifer EhleJennifer Ehle is an American actress of stage and screen. She is known for her BAFTA winning role as Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice.-Early life:...
, BAFTA and Tony Award-winning actress - Stephen L. NealStephen L. NealStephen Lybrook "Steve" Neal was a North Carolina Democratic politician who served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
, United States Congressman - Lyons Gray, CFO of the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
- Kate Miller, producer of the Academy Award-winning film The Two Soldiers
- R. Philip Hanes, CEO of Hanes Corporation, philanthropist, author
- Lisa Valk, first woman publisher of TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine - Barbara Babcock Milhouse, founder of Reynolda House Museum of American Art
- Eric Wallace- Collegiate basketball player for Depaul University