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Kirby Hall School
Categories: Elementary Schools, Preschools [Edit]
Neighborhood: University of Texas306 W 29th St
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 474-1770
Open House at Kirby Hall School
September 14, October 5, November 2, December 7, February 2, March 2, April 12, May 3.
12:30 pm…
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- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
1 review for Kirby Hall School
I was a teacher for 12 years in the public schools, and we regrettably enrolled our daughter in KH's high school. I think KH can be a wonderful place for younger kids, but they just don't have the funding and resources for a decent high school program. The materials, activities, top teachers, etc. for a good high school program are VERY expensive, and KH just doesn't have it.
Plus, their political climate is horrible. They go through principals like candy, as well as teachers. The place is rife with people on petty little power trips, trying to "play school." They wouldn't last a week in a real school environment.
Even the graduation ceremony was warped: the speaker gave what was a bible-thumping church sermon, while the five graduating students sat BEHIND him.
The high school science class was in a tiny little storage room off one end of the cafeteria. There was nothing in there but a few microscopes and some bottles of chemicals on a shelf. That's their ENTIRE science department. Our daughter's sole science experiment consisted of collecting 100 different plants, identifying them and gluing them into a scrapbook.
Their one, single Physics class was taught by the Spanish teacher, who used an 8th grade level textbook. This is typical. They couldn't find a Physics teacher. They didn't even HAVE a Chemistry class; what in the world would they teach it with? Chemistry sets from Toys-R-Us?
Our neighborhood public high school, in contrast, had Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Chemistry III, Organic Chemistry, Molecular Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Special Projects Chemistry, etc. and had science lab budgets in the TENS of MILLIONS of dollars.
One student's parents who were good friends of ours actually sued KH, because their daughter went through with straight A's and couldn't get accepted to a decent college. After "graduating" from KH, her parents actually put her in a public high school for an additional year, to "catch up."
We got tired of their constant begging for money - like, we'd get an invitation in the mail to a student art show, with a note, "be sure and bring your checkbooks!!!" Oh, please.
Remember, a LOT of these middle and high school KH students are kids who can't fit in a public school environment. They have emotional problems up the wazoo. Our daughter's best friend was on 80 mg. of Prozac, had major depression, and had sex with every boy in the KH high school. Everybody called her "the psycho."
Drug use was universal. Remember, these are spoiled, immature little rich kids with all kinds of emotional issues, and with plenty of money to spend on whatever they think will make them happy at the moment.
Our daughter graduated with straight A's, and like the others, couldn't get into a decent college anywhere. She finally got a summer probationary admission to UT. Whoopity-doo.
Think VERY carefully before putting a teenager in a place like KH. Yes, it's warm and fuzzy, but remember, your kid won't learn about the real world by growing up in a closet. For example, an old friend's daughter went to a huge Austin high school with about 3,000 students. A classic big-city, urban high school. She came home crying every day because some other kids were teasing her, or some crazy teenage daily trauma.
BUT.. that is REAL LIFE. There are all kinds of people out there, and you HAVE to learn to deal with them. That's part of your education. What happened to this girl? She ended up going to UT as a Plan II Honors student, with a double major in Mathematics and Neurobiology, and earned a full scholarship to Duke University Medical School. She's currently a neurosurgery resident. Would she have made it that far if she'd gone to Kirby Hall and its little rinky-dink "science room"? Uh, I don't think so.
I think KH needs to drop its secondary school (9-12) program and shift those funds and effort to its elementary program. KH is a great place for the young kids. It's a very warm, rich environment that brings back memories of the old neighborhood school I went to back in the 50's. I loved going into the KH building, and I wouldn't hesitate to enroll my younger child there, up to about the 6th or 7th grade.
But for the older kids, Kirby Hall, with all good intentions, is simply in way, WAY over its head.
Specialties
The mission of Kirby Hall School is to prepare bright and kind young people for a life of academic success, personal fulfillment and satisfaction, and service to their community. A gifted faculty with genuine affection for children and teenagers helps each student meet his or her greatest potential by setting high standards for academic achievement and honorable behavior, while recognizing and rewarding individual strengths and being sure that all students are taught to respect and support their fellow schoolmates. Kirby Hall pursues its goals through a traditional course of study and small classes, where individual attention is possible and is given daily to each student. We believe that children achieve and grow in a more wholesome way when they are well-nurtured, happy and having fun. The environment reflects the values of kindness, humility and mutual respect.
History
Established in 1976
The success of Kirby Hall School results from the work of many hands and the wisdom of many heads. In 1970 when Dr. and Mrs. Howard F. Rase were presidents of a public school PTA, they saw that the major accepted effort of educators had changed from teaching basic education to remedial education for the increasing number of students requiring remedial help.
The founders of Kirby Hall wanted their children at home and not in boarding schools and they hoped to avoid the isolation of home-schooling. They preferred a school with small classes in which their children were with other well-behaved and academically able students.
In addition to good academics, they wanted their children to be treated with respect. It was thought that if students were given recognition for their individual talents and strengths, each student would feel secure and approach the effort to learn with a greater trust of their own abilities and that success would come more readily.
Meet the Business Owner: Beverly R.
Beverly Rase founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director and donor of Kirby Hall School, is the wife of U.T. Professor of Chemical Engineering , Dr. Howard F. Rase, and the mother of two Kirby Hall graduates.Mrs. Rase graduated from Dana Hall Preparatory School and Wellesley College. She helped organize the Laguna Gloria Women's Art Guild and the first Laguna Gloria Fiesta. She also served as the first vice-president of Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Inc. and president of the Texas Fine Arts Association. She founded the Elizabet Ney Museum Guild and was its first president. Her community work has included serving on the Good Shepherd Altar Guild and, in 1970, a term as the president of Casis School PTA. In 1971, she began work on the formation of a private school for college-bound students. Since Kirby Hall School's opening in 1976, she has served as Director and Chairman of the Board, working without salary until 1985 and donating summers until 1996.
