Episcopal High School focuses students on the ‘Four Pillars’
When Nancy Eisenberg tells prospective families about Episcopal High School, the assistant head of school and principal usually starts with the “Four Pillars.”
The school encourages students to pursue experiences in each of its Four Pillars — academics, arts, religion and athletics — to enhance their education, cultivate new interests and build upon their talents.
“Beyond the academics, the pillars allow students to try new things,” Eisenberg said. “My son learned to pole vault. We have football players who take photography or studio art.
“We believe students need to grow in a number of ways. We provide opportunities, and we strengthen the gifts and talents students bring to us.”
Episcopal High School, 4650 Bissonnet, had 680 students in grades nine through 12 at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
Those students represent 73 ZIP codes and came from 40 middle schools from throughout greater Houston.
Since the school was founded in the early 1980s, more than 99 percent of its graduates have gone on to attend a four-year college or university.
Eisenberg credits the strength of the school’s academic program, and the support students receive from faculty and administration.
Also impactful, she says, is the opportunity to complement students’ academic training with other
experiences: the other pillars.
In the area of the arts, students can choose from courses and extracurricular activities in the visual and performing arts, including media arts, publications, studio arts, theatre, dance and music.
“We have partnerships with nonprofits throughout the city,” Eisenberg said. “They speak to our students and perform here.”
In athletics, Episcopal High School is a member of the Southwest Preparatory Conference.
The school has 46 teams and three sports seasons.
“Over 70 percent of our students participate in a sport at least one season.” Eisenberg said.
During the winter, the boys’ soccer team won the SPC championship.
Students experience the pillar of religion through their courses: which includes Old Testament and New Testament studies for freshmen and sophomores, a choice of world religions or the history of Christianity for juniors and ethics for seniors.
Episcopal High School also holds chapel in the mornings with prayer, music and a short service.
“The religion pillar allows us to have a common language for the questions students have on the meaning of life,” Eisenberg said, adding that most of the school’s students are not Episcopalian, and many are not Christian.
“We follow the Episcopal morning prayer and appreciate the time of reflection as a community.”
Another part of the Episcopal High School experience is the interim term: a two-week period between semesters during the first two weeks of January.
Seniors volunteer in the city during that period at schools, senior citizen residences and shelters.
Underclassmen can take courses beyond their regular curriculum including grade-level courses: technology for freshmen, life skills for sophomores and college counseling for juniors.
Students also have the option of traveling during the interim term.
During the last school year, the school hosted trips to China, Washington, D.C., Disney World and through several southern states. Each experience tied in with an academic or elective program.
The Disney World trip, for instance, tied science in with the amusement park’s rides and activities.
The trip through the South, the theater department’s Freedom Tour, allowed students to visit sites related to the Civil Rights Movement.
Participating students also presented scenes from their last two productions.
“Forty students participated,” Eisenberg said.
“They went to the church in Birmingham, Alabama where four girls were killed and the bridge in Selma, (where protesters were attacked).
“It was life changing for many students.”
Currently, the high school is in the midst of an $80 million capital campaign, launched about a year ago, to support additions to its campus.
The school has raised $35 million so far, which is funding the construction of a new field house.
That building is scheduled for completion in early 2017, when Episcopal High School will then begin building a student center. School plans also call for re-building and expanding Benitez Chapel, named in honor of Founding Bishop Ben Benitez, building a performing arts center and renovating several athletic fields. Details: 713-512-3400 or go to www.ehshouston.org/