Roycemore School

Roycemore School Corp. is an independent, nonsectarian, co-educational college preparatory school located in Evanston, Illinois serving students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. The school's current enrollment is approximately 222 students as of 2020. The school's old building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Roycemore School
Address
1200 Davis Street, Evanston, IL

Evanston
,
Cook County
,
Illinois
60201

United States
Coordinates42°2′47.2″N 87°41′22.3″W
Information
TypePrivate
Co-educational
MottoStrength and Careful Judgement Together
Established1915
FounderJulia Henry
CEEB code141850
Faculty63
GradesK–12
Student to teacher ratio6:1
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Blue and gold    
Team nameGriffins
AccreditationISACS
Tuition$31,792 (2019-20 for 9-12th)
Websiteroycemoreschool.org

In 2019, for the state of Illinois, Niche ranked Roycemore School as the fourth most diverse private high school,[2] the eleventh-best private high school,[3] and the sixth-best private K–12 school.[4] The school currently has a six-to-one student-to-teacher ratio.[5] Roycemore also offers the NU Option program, in which its high school students can take courses at Northwestern University and earn credit, making it the only Independent school to have such a partnership with Northwestern.[6]

History

Roycemore School was founded in 1915 by Julia Henry and a group of North Shore parents at 640 Lincoln Street, Evanston, IL. Henry was originally the Lower School principal at the Girton School for Girls in Winnetka, IL, taking several faculty members and students with her to the new Roycemore. The school was named after Henry's grandfather, Andrew Royce, a Congregational minister in Barre, Vermont in the 1800s. The school took on the Royce family crest inspiring the blue and gold school colors, the motto "fortis et prudens simul," or strength and careful judgement go together, and the mascot, the griffin. In 1968, the first boy graduated, alone in a class of six.

Its original location was in north Evanston, Illinois, near Northwestern University. The former Roycemore School building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[1]

The National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form identifies the two architecture firms that were involved in the design and realization of Roycemore’s original school buildings. It says that architect Lawrence Buck designed the buildings, with the firm of Talmadge & Watson involved as associated architects. Thomas Eddy Tallmadge is identified as the lead representative for his firm.[7]

In discussing the style and importance of the buildings in Section 8 of the form, the NRHP nomination says;

“Roycemore School is of considerable architectural significance because it is one of only two examples known to exist in the Midwest of an educational building designed according to the principles evolved by such famous early modern architects in England as Charles Voysey and M. H. Baillie Scott. As such it eschews the accoutrements of the historic styles and emphasizes instead the stern virtues of simplicity of form and honesty of expression that gave sustenance to the English progressive movement from Pugin through Eastlake to Morris and Voysey....”[7]

In June 2013, long-time Headmaster Joseph Becker retired (1976-2013), having ushered in a new era of Roycemore in time for the school to celebrate its centennial throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

Relocation

As its property lease with Northwestern University for the lot at Lincoln St. and Orrington Ave. was due to end in 2014, in early 2000 the school began looking for another Evanston location that would allow room to continue a trend of enrollment growth that had occurred over the previous 10 years, with updated technology and to accommodate a larger, regulation-sized gymnasium.

Roycemore began classes at 1200 Davis Street in Evanston on January 6, 2012. The 3-acre lot, adjacent to Evanston's Alexander Park, was the location of a 55,000-square-foot building that was once the headquarters of the General Board of Pension Funds for the United Methodist Church. Roycemore completely renovated the building and added a nearly 8,000-square-foot gymnasium.

Athletics and Extracurriculars

The school has no-cut athletic teams starting in the fifth grade, including Basketball, Soccer, Cross Country and Volleyball. Roycemore's website states, "Participation is given a higher priority than competing to win at all grade levels, but competing to win does take on increased focus as the participants become older."[8]

Roycemore's mascot is the Griffin and the school colors are blue and gold.

Each year, Roycemore School holds its annual Palio, which is the school's oldest tradition. Palio was modeled after the pageant that proceeds the Palio di Siena in Italy. Students from grades 1–12 display the progress they have made in physical education classes during the year. The emphasis is on rhythmics, dance, gymnastics, and sports skills. Roycemore's Palio has a colorful procession, where each new Kindergarten class is handed down a banner with the coat of arms from the graduating Senior class that the younger students will carry until graduation in twelfth grade.

Another longstanding tradition at Roycemore is their tumbling program. Starting in third grade, students can be found participating in mounts, lifting other students, or flying through the air as part of their performance. The program culminates in three annual all-school performances, including Palio, for fellow students, parents and alumni.[9]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "2019 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Illinois".
  3. "2019 Best Private High Schools in Illinois".
  4. "2019 Best Private K-12 Schools in Illinois".
  5. "Roycemore School".
  6. "Upper School: Northwestern Classes".
  8. https://roycemoreschool.org/student-life/athletics/.
  9. "School Activities and Clubs".
  10. Schulman, Daniel. "Frances Badger". chicagomodern.org. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Badger
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Garrett
  13. Inspiring Excellence, Celebrating Individuality (PDF). Roycemore School. p. 9. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Goldberg_(director)
  15. Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The International Who's Who of Women 2002 (3rd ed.). Europa Publications. p. 221. ISBN 9781857431223. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Guardia
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Narducy
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Jones_(musician)
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