Magnolia School, one of many well-regarded private schools in Spring Branch, is expanding to include kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
The all-girls, non-profit, independent liberal arts school opened its doors in 2019 with grades 2-8 at 9902 Long Point Rd. Last year the school welcomed students into its new first grade class and now is ready to expand once again to a younger class.
“We recognized that there was a good healthy interest in kindergarten now that we established the first-grade curriculum. Our goal is to give girls access to an excellent education as soon as possible. Offering kindergarten just made sense to meet family and student needs faster,” said Margaret Cronin, director of admissions and communications.
The school acquired the property between the lower and middle school campuses to fit its long-term plan as enrollment grows.
“We had a growth point this year which resulted in the need to create our first double homeroom size for our fourth-grade students,” added Cronin.
Leaders of Magnolia School had always envisioned growth to include class in the early education years. The curriculum is designed to educate the “whole person, mind. body and spirit.”
We can see the many positive effects of a Magnolia education in each of our graduates. They are confident, truly known and loved for who they are as young women, and they have learned how to think,” Head of School Annamarie Omanga said. “Our students want to be here every day, they want to experience this exciting, life-giving education.
“It is wonderful to know that with the addition of kindergarten, we will begin partnering with families even earlier in their daughters’ lives, allowing all of us more time to work together to help each girl grow and develop in the best ways possible,”
Students study core curriculum classes like math, history, science, and language arts along with religion classes in the Catholic faith, music and theatre.
Additionally, “personal development classes vary from year to year. We look for areas to help our students lead a more flourishing life. We invite guest speakers and teachers to talk about areas like finance, etiquette and other life skills,” according to Cronin.
Applications for grades 1-8 are considered on a rolling basis. The school will welcome kindergarten applications starting Nov. 1.
Amber, a Spring Branch resident and parent of Magnolia School students, shared her experience with the school.
“Our daughters have truly flourished at Magnolia School. The liberal arts curriculum has renewed our daughters’ joy in learning. They come home daily with excitement, giving detailed accounts of the knowledge they acquired that day,” she said. “The Magnolia School faculty strive to educate the whole child by offering an exceptional one-to-one mentoring program.”
Every student is paired with a faculty advisor who serves as a personal mentor.
The school served 92 students when I visited in 2021. Now, 137 girls attend.
The school keeps its teacher-to-student ratio low at 1:7, allowing for more individualized attention.
The school offers several events throughout the year in support of funding and community involvement.
Its signature fall event Magnolia by Moonlight takes place Nov,. 11 at the school.
Proceeds from the evening fund the Monarch Enrichment Fund. Auction items include a pair of shoes worn by Houston Astro Jose Altuve during the 2022 World Series. The shoes come with the dirt still intact.
— by Jessika Leal
