Chinquapin Preparatory School

Chinquapin Preparatory School is a nonprofit private college-preparatory school, grades six through twelve, which serves low-income youth, particularly minorities, from the Greater Houston area. The school, accredited by the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools, is located in Highlands in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, USA, near Baytown.^[2]

Chinquapin Prep, along with Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston and Yellowstone Academy, is one of the few Greater Houston private schools that caters to low income students.^[3]

History

The Chinquapin School was founded by Robert P. Moore — formerly head of the English Department at St. John's School in Houston — and his wife Maxine. Incorporated in March 1969 as a school for boys, it was funded with an initial five-year grant of $250,000 from The Brown Foundation of Houston.

The Moores had planned to locate the school on their property near Palestine, Texas — where a branch of Chinquapin Creek and several Chinquapin trees can be found — but were convinced they needed to be closer to Houston. Inner-city students — the school's target prospects — were located there, as was the donor base who were more plentiful in Houston and who would want to see the impact they were making in their city.

Chinquapin was originally located in the city of Baytown on Tri City Beach Road. Board members soon discovered nearby the current Highlands location (a former egg farm); doors opened there in August 1973. The school became coeducational in 1978, letting in its first female student on a trial basis.

The school's name comes from the Algonquian word meaning "large". The school motto is Quid pro Quo (Latin: Something for Something). It's been the school's motto since its founding, and its simple message pervades almost every aspect of the school.

The Chinquapin School changed its name to Chinquapin Preparatory School in 2010.

Student life

All students who attend Chinquapin Prep are on scholarship and pay a fraction of the $12,500 per student operating cost — $8,500–$12,000+ a month, based on family income. To fulfill the school's motto of Quid pro Quo, students give back by performing daily chores and helping in the community.

Girls and sixth grade boys are bussed to the school daily. Boys in seventh through twelfth grades stay Monday through Friday on campus dormitories.

Academics

In 2010, Chinquapin added the Urban Teaching Fellows Program, an initiative that allows recent college graduates to gain exposure to all aspects of life at a boarding school including teaching, coaching and residential life. The courses are:

6th Grade Reading, Language Arts, Social Studies (Ancient Civilizations), Mathematics, Integrated Science I, Skills I, Physical Education

7th Grade English, Language Arts, Social Studies (Texas History), Pre-Algebra, Integrated Science II, Skills II

8th Grade English, Language Arts, Intro. to American History, Algebra I, Integrated Science III, Skills III, Intro. to Art

9th Grade English I, Language Arts I, Algebra I or Advanced Algebra II, Physics, Spanish I or Advanced Spanish I, Health, World Geography I

10th Grade English II, Language Arts II, World History, Speech, Geometry or Advanced Trigonometry, Chemistry, Spanish II or Advanced Spanish II

11th Grade English III, Language Arts III, U.S. History (Reconstruction to the Present), Algebra II or Advanced Pre-Calculus, Biology, Spanish III or AP Spanish, Electives*

12th Grade AP English, U.S. Government, Economics, Precalculus or AP Statistics, Environmental Science, World Geography II, Technology Applications II, Senior Seminar, Electives*

All students who do not participate in team sports also take Physical Education.

Piano, Guitar Ensemble, Studio Art, Journalism, and Drama are available as one-half credit electives for 9th-12th grade students. All students must take two half-credit courses in a Fine Art: Piano or Guitar (or other music options), Studio Art, Drama, and/or a Fine Arts elective.

Athletics

Chinquapin is grouped in TAPPS Division 2A and competes in baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Chinquapin holds one state championship, that of the 1982 basketball team coached by Bill Heinzerling.

Chinquapin's soccer team has been in the TAPPS State Final Four in four of the past five years. For the 2004-05 season the Burrs lost to Carrollton Prince of Peace 2-0, placing second in state. In the semifinals of the 2005-06 season they lost to Austin Concordia 3-0, placing third in state. In the 2006-07 season they lost to Dallas Fairhill 1-0, placing fourth in state. In 2008-09 they lost to Universal City First Baptist 3-0, placing fourth in state.

Chinquapin's 2006-07 junior varsity soccer team ended with a 14–0 record in their district.

Chinquapin's Speech and Debate Team has made it to the TAPPS State Tournaments held at Concordia University in Austin,TX for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.

There have been 8th grade MVPs in Flag Football: Robert Stephenson (2013-14) and Joseph Pedraza (2012-13)

Notable alumni

• Jarvis Johnson, member of the Texas House of Representatives
• Nhial "Simon" Malia, a Lost Boy of Sudan^[4]

Notes

References

External links

• Chinquapin Preparatory School
  • About the school