Bishop Seabury Academy

Accreditation and Memberships

Bishop Seabury Academy is fully accredited with the Independent Schools Association of the Central States; the school is affiliated with the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools, the Kansas State High School Activities Association, the Kansas City Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of College Admission Counselors.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Bishop Seabury was founded in 1997 and serves students in grades seven through twelve.  Seabury is an intimate learning community that strives to maintain a high level of accountability at all times. 

• Average class size is ten to fifteen students.
• All students are required to participate in two seasons of extra-curricular activities per year.
• The school day begins with an all-school meeting followed by an advisory group of about eight students.
• Lunches are served family-style, with a faculty member as head of each table.
• Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is 147 students.
• There are 22 students in the Class of 2011.

Diversity and Financial Aid

Bishop Seabury Academy is committed to serving students of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• 26% of students come from a minority background. 
• More than 25% of our students receive need- or merit-based financial aid and scholarships.

Local Community

Lawrence, Kansas, is home to the University of Kansas and to Haskell Indian Nations University.  The community as a whole places a high value on education, as evidenced by the lectures, concerts, and numerous cultural and artistic activities associated with the two universities.

Admissions

Admission to Bishop Seabury is selective.  Students must submit elementary school grades, test scores, and recommendations from two teachers and from the principal of their previous school. 

FACULTY

Seventeen out of twenty-three full- and part-time faculty members hold advanced degrees.  Faculty age and experience are diverse.  Many have taught at the university level and have extensive experience in their fields. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Part of the vision of Bishop Seabury Academy is to promote a sense of responsibility for self and respect for others as members of the community.  To achieve this vision, Bishop Seabury requires all students to complete 30 hours of community service during each academic year.  The community service requirement is consistent with Seabury’s commitment to encouraging character development and personal growth in each student, and it also reflects the degree of community involvement that we expect of all of our students. 

Please note that although service has been an important aspect of the Seabury culture since the founding of the school, the school did not begin tracking community service hours until the 2008-2009 school year.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Each year, Bishop Seabury admits a select number of international students who are qualified to participate successfully in our academic programs.  International students whose native language is not English will be enrolled in English as a Second Language courses until they reach a qualifying score on an English language placement exam.  International students who enroll simultaneously in English literature and ESL coursework are graded on a credit/no credit basis with a focus on content and development of ideas as long as they are making satisfactory progress in ESL class.

HONORS CURRICULUM

Honors courses are offered primarily in junior- and senior-level classes.  The purpose of the Honors Curriculum is to offer more rigorous instruction to those students who seek additional academic challenges.  The Honors Curriculum is consistent with our school’s intent to emphasize depth of study over breadth of study.  Many of the Honors classes are designed to prepare students for AP examinations in May.  Honors courses are weighted by one-half point.

AP SCORES: Nine students in the Class of 2011 took exams in one or more subject (English Language, Calculus AB, US History).  The average score for all exams was 3.76, and 92% of scores were 3 or higher.

NATIONAL MERIT: Bishop Seabury Academy has produced seven National Merit Semi-Finalists since 2008.

RANK: Bishop Seabury Academy does not rank unless such information is specifically required for eligibility for scholarship or other programs. 

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES, 2006-2011

78 students have graduated from Bishop Seabury Academy since 2006; 96% have matriculated to four-year colleges. 

Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple acceptances; bold type represents one or more matriculations.