Canterbury School is an independent co-ed private day school in Fort Myers, Florida, that claims the distinction of sending 100 percent of its graduates on to colleges or universities. Given such impressive academic stats, Canterbury students regularly get admitted to top universities in the United States, including Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Duke and Yale.
The school spans 32 acres, comprising four divisions: Lower (grades K-3), Intermediate (grades 4-6) Middle (grades 7-8) and Upper (grades 9-12). The Lower and Intermediate schools have dedicated art and music classrooms, science laboratories and computer labs and classrooms with a shared library. While the Middle and Upper schools have a shared library and music classrooms, they also share science labs, computer labs, classes, and common areas. All schools share the school’s dining hall, gym, and sports center. There is also an outdoor marine biology touch tank, classroom, and performing arts center.
Part of Canterbury’s high academic performance is due to its low student/teacher ratio of 10:1 as well as the average class size of 17. One of Canterbury’s greatest secrets is that it has many pre-school partners. The Canterbury guidance counselors have built strong relationships with many colleges and universities. Canterbury’s reputation has been built over the years for its graduates, who are both highly skilled in leadership and academics. Each year, Canterbury students are awarded top honours at local, regional, national, state, and international academic, athletic, or arts competitions. These traditions, coupled with the strong ties between guidance counselors and college admissions officers, pave the way for exceptionally high admissions percentages.
Canterbury begins the college selection process as soon as students enroll in their classes “upper years,”Or the equivalent to grade 9. Counselors work together with students to determine the best schools for them based on their academic strengths, specialties and the school’s size. According to the Headmaster, Tony Paulus, students continue to receive one-on-one attention through their upper years so that they can gain admittance to the college or university best suited to that child.
Canterbury students aren’t just focused on academics. According to Canterbury, athletic competition and being part of a team is integral to the school’s educational experience. According to a recent press release, 85% of all Middle and Upper school students participate in athletics and can choose from soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, golf, cross-country, cheerleading, track & field, softball and lacrosse. The fall 2008 season included wins in the boys’ district soccer and girls’ volleyball. Michelle Shin (Canadian’s best female golfer) finished second at the state championships.
While a Canterbury education is not cheap, the school actively seeks a diverse student body and offers a range of financial aid options. As an example, in the 2008-2009 school year, Canterbury provided over $1,100,000 of financial assistance to 18% of the student body, with awards that ranged from 20%-95% of tuition.
As graduates, many Canterbury alumnae continue to exceed expectations, following prestigious careers in government, science, law, and the medical front. Online reviews are a common source of praise for students. “As an alumni, this school prepared me endlessly for success in the future. Small class sizes and great teachers make this a great fit for every child.”