Dig Deeper at St. David's School

S T DAVID ' S S CHOOL

.

DIG

DEEPER

AT S T . DAVID ' S S CHOOL

At St. David’s School, we consider it an extraordinary gift to journey with students as they learn and grow, developing an imagination for how to animate their gifts and live their lives with faithfulness. A St. David’s education invites students to push themselves, going beyond expectations, persevering through challenges, and developing resilience to face life’s inevitable challenges. A purposeful blend of rigorous academics coupled with competitive athletics, a robust fine arts program, engaging student life and co-curricular opportunities, and the intentional integration of faith formation provides a unique educational experience – in the classroom, on the field, and in the arts. By building a foundation of trust, our faculty inspire students to dig deeper in all areas of their educational experience – acknowledging that students are capable of more than they ever thought possible.

OUR MISSION St. David’s is an independent school in the Episcopal school tradition that prepares young men and women for college and life by challenging them to excel in the vital areas of faith, virtue, and knowledge. Our mission comes directly from the text of 2 Peter 1:5 –“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge…”

FAITH, VIRTUE, AND KNOWLEDGE Faith, virtue, and knowledge – these are the hallmarks of a St. David’s education. They are what make us unique, and the reason our students are uniquely positioned to take on the challenges of both college and life in an ever-changing world. We invite you to take a closer look and discover how your child can dig deeper at St. David’s.

Serving grades Pre-K to 12 with comprehensive integrated curriculum

More than 650 students 2022-23 enrollment

Dually accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)

JOURNEY A STUDENT’S

FROM START

TO FINISH

Through the lens of our mission, the path to graduation for each St. David’s student is an individual journey, preparing every graduate for college and life. We know that God has set each of our students on a pilgrimage along “a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31), complete with peaks, valleys, contours, and obstacles, all unique to each student.

We celebrate the distinctive journeys that lead each of them to new heights and depths in their pursuit of faith, virtue, and knowledge, knowing that at the end of their time at St. David’s, they will be on their way to becoming uncommon people who learning, lead with humility, seek Christ, collaborate generously, persevere through challenges, and pursue excellence.

With this uncommon graduate in mind, these six characteristics paint the portrait of graduate. Our desire is that each graduate will possess these qualities upon the completion of their St. David’s studies and will continue to refine, embrace, and exemplify them throughout the rest of their lives.

PURSUE EXCELLENCE

Guided by faculty who convey enduring wisdom, St. David’s graduates live deep-rooted, whole-hearted lives, striving for excellence and doing all they do unto the glory of God.

LEAD WITH HUMILITY

St. David’s graduates lead the way in generously offering their gifts, talents, and resources to others, humbly recognizing that, even at their best, they are always on the way toward Christlikeness.

PERSEVERE THROUGH CHALLENGES

St. David’s graduates embrace worthy challenges that foster courage, steadfastness, and resilience, and they take responsibility for the impact of their actions and inactions.

SEEK CHRIST

St. David’s graduates are on a journey to know, love, and follow Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

COLLABORATE GENEROUSLY

St. David’s graduates creatively, competently, and collaboratively engage with others across every sphere of society, uniquely equipped to contribute meaningful good to their communities.

EMBRACE LEARNING

As life-long lovers of learning, St. David’s graduates continually dive deeper in search of understanding. They are unhurried, critical thinkers; winsome communicators; and calm, flexible problem solvers.

BUILD A FOUNDATION

The Lower School program establishes a strong foundation, inviting our youngest students to embrace learning, and equipping them with all the resources needed to confidently begin their academic journey. Small class sizes, a safe, nurturing environment, and an intentional, experienced faculty instill confidence and enthusiasm in young learners. The integration of fundamental and innovative teaching methods permeates both the daily and enrichment curriculums, capturing students’ minds in such a way that fosters creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Teachers engage students’ hearts and minds, meeting individual needs and preparing them for success as they transition to the Middle and Upper Schools.

lower school average class size

The teachers are so loving and invested in these kids and their education. There’s a lot they do that is above and beyond.

- Lower School Parent

DAILY CURRICULUM

Reading, language arts, writing, math, science, social studies, recess, and daily P.E.

ENRICHMENT CURRICULUM

Instrumental & choral music, visual arts, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), and Spanish.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

FORGE A DIRECTION

At St. David’s we celebrate the Middle School years by partnering with students and parents as they make a forward-thinking decision for education. Our curriculum harnesses the creativity and wonder of the adolescent mind to create a truly unique learning environment. With its warm atmosphere, small classes, and robust advisory system, the Middle School provides the ideal combination of individual support, structure, and freedom, providing ongoing opportunities for students to learn, engage, and collaborate generously with one another. Teachers promote free and creative inquiry, hands-on learning, and confident public speaking, while students benefit from diverse opportunities in traditional core academic subjects, modern and ancient languages, a wide range of STEM and humanities electives, and rich co-curricular offerings. Within this structured and nurturing environment, the faculty cultivate discernment and empower students to

CLUBS & ELECTIVES

middle school

LEGO ® Robotics

Model United Nations National Junior Honor Society Student Council

Junior Classical League Beginning Guitar Concert Band Theater Arts: Comedy or Drama Vocal Ensemble Innovations in Fashion & Textiles

Media Production Personal Finance Innovation & Design Song Writing 101 Piano

Writing Studio

Anatomy and Physiology Music Technology

Digital Storytelling & Game Design Math in Sports Art & STEM Yearbook

Tactics & Trenches: Exploring WW1 Board Games, Logic Puzzles & Mindbenders Their Finest Hour: A Journey through WW2 Great Female Protagonists U.S. Civil War Lifetime Sports Elements of Engineering Newspaper

UPPER SCHOOL

FINISH WITH DISTINCTION

Students in the Upper School grow into young men and women ready for the future. They learn to apply their skills and talents as they pursue excellence –both for themselves and for their community. Our teachers are not only experts in their fields; they embody the insatiable, intellectual curiosity we seek to kindle in our students, and they put forth the rigorous challenges that help students to achieve their goals. Our challenging curriculum is made possible with a combination of small classes, a robust advisory system, and an engaged and intentional faculty eager to mentor each student. The course of study, rooted in tradition and yet uniquely innovative, allows students to pursue their passions – whether writing and directing an original play through our theater program, 3D-printing a prosthetic arm in the Innovation Warriors Lab, or exploring programming in AP Computer Science. With an annual college acceptance rate of 100 percent, our students regularly earn admission to some of the most selective colleges and universities around the country.

HONOR PLEDGE

I do solemnly pledge my honor that as long as I am a member of St. David’s School, I will faithfully uphold the principles of the Honor Code, will cherish and guard its traditions, and will respect and observe its requirements. I make this pledge in view of God and the pledges of the students and faculty, which signifies our mutual trust and resolve to keep our honor secure.

20+ AP courses offered

40+ elective offerings

70% of Upper School faculty hold advanced degrees

Senior Seminar – an examination of the distinctions between moral frameworks and the basic doctrines of the Christian faith

upper school average class size

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

University of Alabama

American University

Appalachian State University School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Auburn University Baylor University Belmont University Boston College Boston University Bucknell University University of California Berkeley University of California Los Angeles Campbell University Case Western Reserve University

The Citadel Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Colby College College of Charleston

University of Colorado at Boulder

Colorado College Colorado School of Mines

Connecticut College Cornell University Davidson College University of Denver Duke University East Carolina University Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emerson University Emory University

Fashion Institute of Technology University of Florida Florida State University Fordham University Furman University George Mason University The George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology University of Georgia Gordon College

Hampden-Sydney College High Point University Hollins University

Howard University University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Indiana University Bloomington James Madison University Johns Hopkins University University of Kentucky Lafayette College Lehigh University Louisiana State University Loyola University Maryland Macalester College

Manhattan School of Music University of Mary Washington Marymount Manhattan College Meredith College

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

The New School

New York University

NYU-Abu Dhabi University of North Carolina Asheville University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina Charlotte University of North Carolina Greensboro University of North Carolina Wilmington

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Central University North Carolina State University

Northwestern University University of Notre Dame Oberlin College

Ohio University

The Ohio State University Pace University

Pennsylvania State University Pratt Institute

Providence College Purdue University Reed College Rhodes College Rice University Roanoke College University of Rochester Rochester Institute of Technology University of Richmond Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design

Sewanee: The University of the South University of South Carolina University of Southern California Southern Methodist University University of St. Andrews

St. John’s College

Syracuse University

University of Tennessee

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

Tufts University

Tulane University University College London (UK) Vanderbilt University Villanova University

U.S. Military Academy at West Point University of Virginia Virginia Military Institute Virginia Polytechnic and State University

Wake Forest University

University of Washington Washington University in St. Louis Washington and Lee University

Wheaton College College of William and Mary University of Wisconsin-Madison Wofford College

CLASSROOM BEYOND THE

TRIPS FIELD

ENGAGE THE WORLD

Inherent in the St. David’s experience are opportunities for students at all grade levels to engage in experiential learning opportunities that include curriculum-based educational field trips and off-campus service-learning opportunities, traveling to places that increase their appreciation of history, science, literature, art, and the broader world. They encounter occasions to engage in the greater Triangle community, as well as across the country and around the world, with ongoing opportunities that challenge students to learn to lead with humility – both with their peers on campus, as well as others outside the St. David’s School community.

Lower School students travel our state, exploring the North Carolina Zoo, Old Salem, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, and the North Carolina coastline. Middle School students participate in annual grade-level field trips, bringing the classroom to life –whether camping, on a rafting trip, exploring a rock quarry, or visiting a

Thai restaurant. The Middle School experience culminates with the annual eighth-grade field trip, which takes students to northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The Upper School experience begins with the annual freshman retreat – an off-campus trip designed as a time of inspiration, fun, and team building –and culminates in the senior trip to Greece, where seniors walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. In between, Upper School students enjoy opportunities to explore local venues including the NC Symphony, area colleges and universities, as well as local businesses and volunteer agencies. In addition to stateside community and service engagement, many students also serve on annual mission trips to international locations including Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

From the creek that borders our campus, to distant oceans and cities, the world is indeed our classroom!

ARTS FINE

EXPLORE

YOUR PASSION

Our commitment to the fine arts emanates from our understanding of the important role of the arts in history and culture and how we reflect our Creator’s image. We believe a well-rounded education includes a study of the arts. St. David’s offers an award-winning, comprehensive arts curriculum from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Our fine arts faculty provides experiences in visual arts, media production, vocal music, instrumental music, and theater arts. Advanced Placement courses, honors courses, and independent studies in a variety of fine art mediums round out our curriculum. Through both visual and performing arts, students encounter ongoing opportunities that invite them to collaborate generously with their peers in a variety of grade levels, and they are able to express themselves, their gifts, and their talents thoughtfully, confidently, and artistically throughout all grades.

“ “

Families want to know that their child’s individual gifts and abilities will flourish – that they can learn Latin, run on the cross country team, sing in the choir, work on the stage crew, and run for student government. You can do all of that at St. David’s.

- Fine Arts Teacher

ATHLETICS

CHALLENGE

St. David’s seeks to equip young men and women to excel in all areas of life. We believe athletics should encourage the positive attributes of sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, dependability, selflessness, loyalty, self-discipline, and a strong work ethic, while encouraging our students to persevere through challenges. With many head coaches having experience at the collegiate level, both as players and coaches, our athletes are exposed to a wealth of knowledge and competitive training.

GO WARRIORS!

Athletic eligibility begins in 6th grade

20 sports offered year round

for middle school, junior varsity & varsity

7 Wells Fargo Cup championships for outstanding independent school athletics in N.C.

“ “

Being a part of the cross country and track and field teams have added so much happiness and joy to my school experience.

- Upper School Student

FIND YOUR F I T

AT S T. DAVID ' S

Throughout the entirety of their St. David’s experience, students are afforded ongoing opportunities that encourage them to dig deeper –finding ways to generously offer their gifts, talents, and resources, and lead the way with humility. Our mission remains constant – we challenge our students in ways that encourage them to pursue a journey toward Christlikeness , while excelling in the vital areas of faith, virtue, and knowledge.

The Admissions Office invites you to dig deeper and explore the variety of opportunities available to you as you find your fit at St. David’s School!

Admissions Office, school administrators, faculty, students, and parents, and tour the campus to see the school in action.

VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES

In addition, the Admissions Office is pleased to offer a variety of resources for you to discover St. David’s virtually. Visit us online at stdavidsraleigh.org/admissions to learn more!

For a complete list of upcoming admissions events, to schedule your visit, or to request information regarding the application process, please contact the Admissions Office or visit our website.

ST. DAVID'S SCHOOL ADMISSIONS OFFICE

admissions@sdsw.org | 919-782-3331 stdavidsraleigh.org/admissions

ABOUT THE DESIGN

A central design element throughout this document is the shape of a shield. This inspiration was taken from the St. David’s School shield, which is a central element in the history and mission of the school.

The school’s motto: “Fides, Virtus, Scientia” translates to “Faith, Virtue, Knowledge” and comes from the Latin text of 2 Peter 1:5: “Curam omnem subinferentes ministrate in fide vestra virtutem, in virtute autem scientiam,” meaning “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge…” (KJV).

The white cross in the blue field represents Faith, the scales of justice represent Virtue, and two books represent Knowledge. The book facing up represents knowledge gained by general revelation, and the book facing down represents knowledge gained by divine revelation. The open and faced-down books were used by Harvard University in their crest for its first 200 years of existence to represent the dynamic relationship between reason and divine revelation.