June 28, 2013 by Shelby Joe

The Emery/Weiner School

The Emery/Weiner School is an independent, college-preparatory, co-educational day school for students in grades six through twelve. Founded in 1978, The I. Weiner Jewish Secondary School began with a student population of fewer than 20 students. In 2001, the school expanded its scope with the establishment of Emery High School. With the integration of a sixth through twelfth grade curriculum, these schools were jointly renamed The Emery/Weiner School. Currently, the high school boasts that it is the largest per capita Jewish community high school in the nation. The Emery/Weiner School is an accredited member of ISAS.

The Emery/Weiner School

9825 Stella Link, Houston, TX 77025 Mr. Stuart Dow, Head of School

832-204-5900 Ms. Caroline Sarnoff, Director of Admissions

www.EmeryWeiner.org

Religious Affiliation

Emery/Weiner is pluralistic, accepting students of different faiths and affiliations. Its mission is to “educate and develop students whose intellect, moral character and Jewish identity provide a lifelong foundation for personal growth, commitment to the Jewish people and Tikkun Olam – improving the world in which we live. “ Emery/Weiner offers Judaics courses and electives, which facilitate an understanding of the faith through the development of core academic skills such as literary analysis, analytical writing, and oral argument. Students also participate in grade level retreats to help students bond with one another and build a solid foundation for religious exploration.

Location and Facilities

The Emery/Weiner School’s campus is located just south of the I-610 Loop on 15 acres of land in Southwest Houston. Housing over 100,000 square feet of classroom space, the campus features a 500 seat theater, state of the art science and computer labs, art and media studios, a multi-court gymnasium, and a commons area housing a library and glass-enclosed student center. The Emery/Weiner campus is also home to athletics fields, including a new multipurpose, artificial turf field and stadium complex, slated for completion in fall 2013.

Admissions

Students applying for admission to Emery/Weiner must complete the online application form. All students also must take the ISEE and submit scores to Emery/Weiner. Students entering 10^th-12^th grades may submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores in place of the ISEE. Applicants also must submit two teacher recommendation forms (math and English), as well as official transcripts, school records, and standardized test scores. Students will be interviewed during the recommended “shadow” day, which typically occurs in the fall.

Academic Tracks and Curriculum

Emery/Weiner offers courses across separate academic tracks. Middle School students may be placed in On-Track or Advanced classes. Upper School tracks include On Track, Honors, and Advanced. Additionally, qualified students are afforded the opportunity to self-design independent studies. Although Emery/Weiner does not offer officially designated AP courses, interested students are prepared for AP exams through their coursework and sit for AP exams offered and administered on campus.

Students must earn 23 credits in total and complete 30 hours of community service annually to graduate: English (4), Judaic Studies (4), History (3), Math (3), Science (3), Foreign Language (2), Fine Arts (2), and Physical Education (2).

Special Needs

A counseling department serves students seeking help with academic, learning, social, emotional, college, and career related issues through small groups and individual appointments.

Foreign Languages

Students may enroll in either Hebrew or Spanish as part of their foreign language graduation requirement. Students may take up to Conversational Hebrew and Spanish V Advanced.

Arts

Emery/Weiner offers a wide array of fine arts classes and extracurricular opportunities. Students may participate in dance, theater arts, choir, instrumental music, graphic design, photography, painting, and more. Every spring, the Fine Arts Department at Emery/Weiner presents the Evening of the Arts, a program showcasing its students’ studio and performance artwork. Student artwork is regularly on display in the Hope/Kaplan Odyssey Gallery, a part of the Stein Fine Arts Complex. Two state theatres house four major theater productions throughout the year. Here, students study acting, directing, playwriting, film study, set design, and stage management.

Technology

Technology is heavily integrated into Emery/Weiner’s curriculum. The school offers a 6th grade digital literacy course and a curriculum for technology integration in all core classes. The school’s Technology Integration Specialist works with teachers to assist them in utilizing tools and resources. The school offers students access to PC and Mac computer labs, supports interactive whiteboards in most classrooms, and encourages students to bring their own laptops or tablets for academic use.

Extracurricular Activities

Emery/Weiner hosts a large number of clubs and community service opportunities for its students. Some of the clubs featured at Emery/Weiner include Architecture, Knitting, Trivia, Humane Society, Gay-Straight Alliance, Israel Advocacy, Jewish Student Union, Model UN, and Young Independents. Tikkun Olam Council, a group that organizes community service opportunities, is the largest and most active of these groups.

There are several class trips students can participate in. In the sixth, seventh, and eight grades, students take 3-4 day Spring Culture Trips to Galveston, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., respectively. In the ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades, students take five-day trips to the “Deep South,” San Francisco, and New York City, respectively. Students in ninth to eleventh grade also partake in weeklong outdoor education trips to Big Bend, the Texas Hill Country, and Eagle Lake. Senior year, students participate in the World Religion Program, a weeklong exploration of different faiths through site visits, and take a four-week trip to Poland and Israel.

Athletics

Athletics is a key component of campus life at Emery/Weiner. More than 80% of the student body participates in athletics. Students are required to take Physical Education in the Middle School and for at least two years in the Upper School. Emery/Weiner Upper School students have the opportunity to participate in Cross Country, Cheerleading, Six-Man Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Golf, Lacrosse, and Tennis. Students in the Middle School may participate in Six-Man Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Golf, Track & Field, and Cross Country.

Parent Involvement

Many parents support the school community through their involvement in the Parents Association. The Parents Association organizes fundraisers and activities for students, faculty, and staff. These opportunities include luncheons, the Capital Campaign auction, Jewish Life programming, the Fine Arts Booster Club, the Athletics Booster Club, grade level representatives, and library volunteers.

Parents are invited to attend an annual Open House and Meet the Teachers Night. Additionally, administrators and faculty members are available for scheduled individual appointments. Parents are kept up-to-date with online postings communicating student progress.

The Emery/Weiner School Fast Facts

Overview
School Type	Religious, Coeducational
Religious Affiliation	Jewish
Uniforms	Yes
Date Founded	1978
Endowment (7/1/2011)	$9.8 million
Grades Served	6-12
Enrollment	434
Grade 12	60
Grade 11	56
Grade 10	50
Grade 9	76
Grade 8	68
Grade 7	62
Grade 6	62
Student to Teacher Ratio	7:1
Faculty with Advanced Degrees (#/%)	21/40%
Minorities in Student Body	4%

Curriculum
Academic Tracks Offered	On Track, Advanced Track
Advanced Placement Courses Offered	N/A
Languages Offered	Hebrew, Spanish
Calendar (Semester / Trimester / Other)	Semester
Interscholastic Sports Programs	12

Graduating Seniors
National Merit Semi-Finalists (#/%)	1/2%
Average SAT Scores (Class of 2010)	N/A
Mathematics	605
Critical Reading	605
Writing	N/A
% Students Admitted to 4 Year University	100%

Admissions
Prime Entry Points	6, 9
Grades 6-8Grade 8 Trip Fee	$19,340$1,456
Grade 9-12	$22,308
New Student Fee	$250
Students on Financial Aid	33%