Topeka Collegiate School

History

Topeka Collegiate School was founded in 1982 as Shawnee County Day School by Susan and Kent Garlinghouse, with its first year having an attendance of 40 students and 7 teachers. As the school grew, it moved to its current location at 2200 SW Eveningside Drive Topeka, Kansas. In 1996, additional classrooms, a new gymnasium, and commons area were built to accommodate the growing amount of students. Notable principles include Mac Grives (1982), Dick Patterson (2008-2011), and Mary Beth Marchiony (2012-2016.)

Curriculum

Topeka Collegiate School offers grade preschool to grade 8, with preschool having afternoon or morning classes. The average grade size is 16, with the graduating class of 2016 having a total of 27. Each grade at Topeka Collegiate is required to do an annual class play, presented in front of the school. This is renowned as it prepares students for public speaking. In addition, the optional annual choir musical, annual middle school play, and winter and spring concerts provide students a speaking opportunity.

--Tuition-- Topeka Collegiate's tuition is approximately $12,000 USD, although 40% of families receive financial aid. Topeka Collegiate School is made up of two grade groups: lower school and middle school.

--Lower School -- Topeka Collegiate Lower School has the most enrollment with grades Pre-K to 5. There are many notable special projects that each grades complete, such as the 3rd grade recreation of the Amazon Rainforest using paper maché and the 4th grade wax museum where students depict many European explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan.

Grades Pre-K to kindergarten participate in a special Halloween assembly where they sing spooky songs and act out plays.

--Middle Schoo-- There are 9 total classes in middle school, including core classes as well as electives, fine arts, physical education, and Spanish and (optional) Latin and mythology.

Topeka Collegiate School requires middle school students to complete and compete in National History Day and Science Day, two half-year research projects in which the student presents their studied research on a topic. In the past, many students have competed in regionals, state, and national competitions, with Taman Kanchapali (class of 2016) going to nationals twice in a row. Like lower school, middle school students participate in various special activities, including a 7th grade trip to Arkansas and a 8th grade trip to the Florida Keys to study marine biology. Usually each year, a small group of students travel abroad on a field trip. Past destinations include Spain and Peru. The middle school participates in a special tradition that occurs at the end of each year, called the awards ceremony, in which outstanding students receive awards including the elite Mac Grives award with a compensation of $100. Afterwards, students shower the graduating class (8) with roses, a farewell to their high school years ahead. Most graduating students attend Washburn Rural High School but some attend Topeka High School and Topeka West High School.

Extracurricular Activities

Topeka Collegiate schools offers several extracurricular activities. Both grade groups have the option of attending Aftercare, in which the student may join a club. Similarly, Collegiate is known for its summer program, in which students participate in various summer activities. Sports are mainly offered to only middle school students. They include: boys' basketball, coed soccer, girl's volleyball, and coed track and field. The boys' soccer team has one the regional schools tournament for three years in a row under coaching by athletic director Nicole Bishop. Collegiate has renounced music department, headed by Kay Seibert. Students participate in musicals and plays, and several attend a local competitive music festival. Collegiate is also known for its math department, headed by Phyllis Hoyt. Several students compete in local and state math competitions.

Notable Facutly

Mac Grives, principle (1982) Deborah Pallukak Phyllis Hoyt, middle school math Gail Franklin, middle school social studies and Latin Kay Seibert, music Allen Macfarland, middle school science Blake Zachritz, lower school art