Neha Patil (Editor)

Montessori High School at University Circle

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Established
  
2007

Head of school
  
Nathaniel J. McDonald

Phone
  
+1 216-421-3033

Founded
  
2007

Opened
  
2008

Grades
  
9-12

Founder
  
David Kahn

Type
  
Private School, Coeducational high school

Motto
  
An innovative approach to academic and experiential learning

Address
  
11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

Similar
  
Laurel School, St Martin De Porres High Sch, Cleveland Central Catholic, Beaumont School, Hawken School

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Montessori High School at University Circle (also known as MHS) is a private high school located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The school opened August 2008 as the first private high school in the United States with the Montessori name, and was the first Montessori high school to offer boarding for students. The campus includes three mansions converted into classrooms and rooms for boarding students. MHS combines Montessori education with the International Baccalaureate program, one of three to do so in the United States.

Contents

Diplomas

MHS is certified by the State of Ohio which allows graduates to earn an Ohio High School diploma. The students may choose to take International Baccalaureate exams to earn the International Baccalaureate diploma or certificates in selected International Baccalaureate courses.

Campus buildings

Lillard Hall and Otis House sit next to one another, with a campus quad situated between them. Ferris House sits across from the quad, next to the recently acquired Friends' House. In 2015, MHS announced that all music courses will be offered through The Music Settlement and will be taught by Settlement faculty members.

  • Otis House: Completed in 1918, the Otis House was a single-family residence, and remained so until the 1980s, when it was converted into condominiums. The Otis House now serves as the MHS residential house for boarding students. MHS Residential Guides also live in the house, and work as house parents to help students learn independent living skills. It is located at 10923 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland.
  • Carriage House: Converted at the same time as the main house, the Carriage House originally served as stables for the Otis family. It is located behind the house.
  • Lillard Hall: Now the main classroom building, Lillard Hall was originally the private residence of Dr. Gordon Morrill. The Federalist style building was designed in 1910 by renowned architect Charles F. Schweinfurth, who designed homes on Cleveland’s “Millionaire's Row,” the Old Stone Church, Trinity Cathedral, the Union Club, Cuyahoga County Courthouse, and the stone bridges along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. It is the only private residence Schweinfurth built, and is known as one of the most beautiful mansions in University Circle. The building was converted to house classrooms, offices, music rooms, libraries, theatre and dance storage, and a multi-media conference area shortly after it was acquired by MHS in 2007. The two-car garage that sits behind Lillard Hall was also converted, and function as the school's environmentally-friendly science laboratory and greenhouse. Lillard Hall is located at 11025 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland.
  • Ferris House: The secondary classroom building, Ferris House, was originally built in 1937. The Ferris House was acquired by MHS in 2009, and renovations were completed the following winter. The building houses classrooms, a full-service kitchen and lunchroom, a multi-media art studio, and offices. The house's original garage was converted into a theatre classroom. MHS also added a hoop-style Greenhouse and water feature behind the main building, and a picnic area.
  • Friends' House: MHS acquired space in the Friends' House in 2015. The house is owned by the Cleveland Friends Meeting, and used weekly as a worship space for the Quakers. Though MHS is not affiliated with the Quakers, the space will be converted and used for additional classroom space for MHS students and for Cleveland Montessori students.

    • University Circle Institutional Partnerships

    The curriculum combines Montesori-based developmental learning with formal disciplines, partnering with neighboring University Circle institutions as interdisciplinary resources for reinforcement of education. These affiliations include:

  • Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Cleveland Museum of Natural History
  • Cleveland Botanical Garden
  • Western Reserve Historical Society
  • Cleveland Institute of Music
  • Cleveland Institute of Art
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • University Circle Inc
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
  • Judson Manor
  • The Music Settlement

    • History

    In 2008, the campus opened up with 37 students, including 17 boarders, and two houses: Otis House & Lillard Hall. Upon opening the school was only open to grades 9th through 11th. The entire campus cost a combined $6 million, including $2.5 million used to buy Lillard Hall in 2006. Lillard Hall was renovated and then occupied in 2007. The first graduating class consisted of 8 students in 2010. By Fall 2011, 80 students were enrolled at MHS, open to grades 9th through 12th.

    Tempe Union proposed opening a Montessori High School by 2013. According to an article in the Arizona Republic, "[Superintendent Kenneth Baca] is looking at Montessori High School at University Circle in Cleveland as a model for ideas, and he hopes to take district staff, a school-board member and interested community members to visit the school in the fall."

    References

    Montessori High School at University Circle Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA