John Burroughs School Explained

John Burroughs School
Address:755 South Price Road
City:Ladue
State:Missouri
Zipcode:63124
Country:U.S.
Type:Private college-preparatory school
Gender:Co-ed
Religious Affiliation:Nonsectarian
Affiliation:National Association of Independent Schools
Head Of School:Andy Abbott
Enrollment:639 (2019–20)
Teaching Staff:116.0 (FTE) (2019–20)
Ratio:5.5 (2019–20)
Grades:7–12
Mascot:Bombers
Rival:Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
Endowment:$70M[1]
Tuition:$31,240 (2021–22)[2]
Campus Type:Suburban
Campus Size:49acres
Colors:Blue & Gold

John Burroughs School (JBS) is a private, non-sectarian college-preparatory school with 631 students in grades 7–12. Its 49-acre (49acres) campus is located in Ladue, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Founded in 1923, it is named for U.S. naturalist and philosopher John Burroughs.

John Burroughs has long had a school philosophy of liberal and progressive education. It has been recognized as one of the nation's premier preparatory schools.[3] In 2007, the Wall Street Journal ranked it among the top 50 schools in sending graduates to eight top universities.

As of 2020, the faculty includes 96 full-time and 32 part-time members. Since 2009, the Head of School has been Andy Abbott, formerly an English teacher and the school's head of college counseling. He replaced Keith Shahan, who served as headmaster for 23 years.[4]

History

In 1922, a group of St. Louisans announced their intention to open a private school in a suburb of St. Louis. "This school is being established to meet a very definite demand for another country day school, and is an outgrowth of a condition whereby existing schools are unable to accept all pupils applying for entrance," the St. Louis Star and Times reported.[5]

In "executive charge" of the campaign to build the school was Edna Fischel Gellhorn, a co-founder of the League of Women Voters.[6] The 18-acre site, located on the streetcar line from Clayton, was purchased for $18,000 ($ today) and the initial campus buildings, including a gymnasium, were built for $180,000.[7] Tuition was $500 per year, with scholarships available to up to 10 percent of students.

Classes began on Oct. 2, 1923, ahead of a formal cornerstone-laying ceremony the following week. The gym was completed in December at a cost of $38,000; the main speaker at its dedication ceremony was Branch Rickey, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.[8]

The school's founders wrote, "Burroughs was established upon the conviction that each child has latent possibilities of power, and that it is the chief purpose of the school to cooperate with parents in discovering, fostering and developing that power so that in adulthood he shall make his contribution to the improvement of human society. The child's mind is not a tablet to be written upon or a cistern to be filled, but a living, growing entity to be guided, developed, trained and inspired."

In the 1930s, JBS participated in the Eight-Year Study, an experiment that tested how American progressive secondary schools would prepare their students for college when released from the curricular restrictions of college admissions requirements.[9]

In April 2020, the school received $2.5 million in federally backed small business loans as part of the Paycheck Protection Program. The school received scrutiny over this loan, which was meant to protect small and private businesses, and returned the money to the Treasury Department the following month.[10] [11] [12]

The school is fundraising to raise its endowment to $100 million by June of 2026.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The Bombers football team won the state championship in Division 2A in 1975, 1980 (tie), 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995 (tie) and 2001; and won the 3A title in 2015. As of 2020, former NFL kicker Neil Rackers is an assistant coach.[13] Former NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte was head football coach from 2011 to 2013.[13] [14] In 2016, the program was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.[15]

In 2023, John Burroughs' varsity baseball team won the state championship.[16]

Notable alumni

Arts, sciences, and education

Business

Government and politics

Journalism and literature

Military

Philanthropy

Sports

Faculty

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Endowment & Scholarships . John Burroughs School . John Burroughs School . 27 July 2024.
  2. Web site: JBS @ A Glance - John Burroughs School . John Burroughs School . www.jburroughs.org . October 6, 2020 . October 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201010125834/https://www.jburroughs.org/about-jbs/burroughs-at-a-glance . live .
  3. News: WSJ.com . The Wall Street Journal . 2017-03-14 . 2007-12-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071228042019/http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COLLEGE0711-sort.html . live .
  4. Web site: Legacy of Leadership - John Burroughs School. 2020-11-02. www.jburroughs.org. en-US. 2020-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092243/https://www.jburroughs.org/our-community/faculty-staff/legacy-of-leadership. live.
  5. News: 1922-11-16 . Country Day School to Open Oct., 1923 . 15 . The St. Louis Star and Times . 2023-10-14 . 2023-11-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101231904/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-st-louis-star-and-times-country-day/133432222/ . live .
  6. News: Martyn . Margeurite . 1923-11-28 . Mrs. George Gellhorn Active in League of Women Voters . 28 . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 2023-10-14 . 2023-10-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020231420/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-mrs-george-gell/133430549/ . live .
  7. News: 1923-10-13 . Dedication Scene at New John Burroughs School . 3 . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 2023-10-14 . 2023-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231014163943/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dedication-scene/133431089/ . live .
  8. News: 1923-12-18 . New $38,000 Gym Opened at John Burroughs School . 12 . St. Louis Globe-Democrat . 2023-10-14 . 2023-11-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101231908/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-new-38000-gym/133431523/ . live .
  9. Feldmann. Doug. Watson. Tim. 2003-09-01. The Eight-Year Study Revisted: John Burroughs School, St. Louis, Missouri. Educational Research Quarterly. 27. 1. 5. 0196-5042.
  10. News: Think Twice, Mnuchin Tells Prep Schools Seeking Virus Loans. 13 May 2020. nytimes.com. May 2020. John Burroughs School near St. Louis, which qualified for a $2.55 million loan, has an endowment of more than $50 million.. Protess. Ben. McCabe. David. 13 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200513183648/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/us/prep-schools-coronavirus-loans.html. live.
  11. News: Elite Prep Schools, Set Back by Virus, Face a Quandary on Federal Aid. 13 May 2020. nytimes.com. 29 April 2020. Mr. Abbott said the school planned to keep the money. The school needed the loan to support its operations, he said, and to avoid furloughs for its more than 200 employees and continue paying them benefits.. Protess. Ben. McCabe. David. 16 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200516164604/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/us/prep-schools-coronavirus-loans.html. live.
  12. Web site: Brown. Graham. Checks and Unbalance. 2020-11-02. The World. 2020-10-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022175712/https://jbstheworld.org/2789/news/checks-and-unbalance/. live.
  13. Web site: Latsch. Nate. Frerotte leaving Burroughs, heading back to Pennsylvania. 2020-11-02. STLtoday.com. en. 2021-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201153649/https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/football/frerotte-leaving-burroughs-heading-back-to-pennsylvania/article_7d89a132-f172-11e2-b16b-001a4bcf6878.html. live.
  14. Web site: Brett. Auten. Frerotte named football coach at Burroughs; Small to retire. 2020-11-02. STLtoday.com. en. 2020-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813195019/https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/football/frerotte-named-football-coach-at-burroughs-small-to-retire/article_975a25c4-2419-11e0-aad1-0017a4a78c22.html. live.
  15. Web site: Hall of Fame announces Class of 2016 . 9 December 2015 . Missouri Sports Hall of Fame . 24 February 2017 . 20 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160220030731/http://mosportshalloffame.com/hall-of-fame-announces-class-of-2016/4544/ . live .
  16. Web site: MSHSAA . John Burroughs High School State Championships . 2023-10-07 . www.mshsaa.org . en . 2023-10-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231007152638/https://www.mshsaa.org/MySchool/SchoolChampionships.aspx?s=524 . live .
  17. News: Andrews. Lisa. Actress and Screenwriter Puts Creve Coeur in the Spotlight. August 20, 2014. Patch Media. February 21, 2011. January 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160108064723/http://patch.com/missouri/crevecoeur/actress-and-screenwriter-puts-creve-coeur-in-the-spotlight#.U_QvqmOwQSE. live.
  18. Web site: 2012-02-24 . St. Louis Hometown Stories: Ellie and Carrie Kemper, Actress/Writers . 2023-02-23 . www.stlmag.com . en-us . 2012-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609103414/http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/January-2012/St-Louis-Hometown-Stories-Ellie-and-Carrie-Kemper-Actress-Writers/ . live .
  19. News: Pennington. Gail. From VP queen ...to 'The Office' John Burroughs graduate joins fellow St. Louisans Jenna Fischer and Phyllis Smith at Dunder Mifflin.. August 20, 2014. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 13, 2009. May 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170503124131/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/from-vp-queen-to-the-office-john-burroughs-graduate-joins/article_978bc3fd-852f-5d9e-b114-489bb627d8b2.html. live.
  20. Web site: 2007-07-16. John Burroughs School Alumni Awards. 2020-11-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20070716221721/http://www.jburroughs.org/alum/alumniawards.html. 2007-07-16.
  21. News: Rosenbaum . Jason . On the trail: 'House of Cards' creator talks St. Louis life -- and power in politics . August 20, 2014 . . March 11, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130720014459/http://stlbeacon.org/ . July 20, 2013 .
  22. News: Toler. Lindsay. Paul Rudd Once Tried to Steal Jon Hamm's Prom Date, So They Faced Off in Trivial Pursuit. August 20, 2014. Riverfront Times. May 8, 2014. August 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140829022854/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/05/paul_rudd_once_tried_to_steal.php. live.
  23. News: Actor Jon Hamm honored to get Cardinals bobblehead. August 20, 2014. Associated Press. ESPN.com. August 18, 2014. January 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160108064723/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11372749. live.
  24. News: Pennington. Gail. Burroughs grad Erinn Westbrook lives a dream on 'Glee'. August 20, 2014. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 3, 2013. August 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826134408/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/television/gail-pennington/burroughs-grad-erinn-westbrook-lives-a-dream-on-glee/article_59a19776-fdaf-58de-b3fa-693152b5a0d6.html. live.
  25. News: Peterson. Deb. Oscar nominee Beau Willimon grew up in St. Louis. August 20, 2014. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 24, 2012. February 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160208181706/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/deb-peterson/oscar-nominee-beau-willimon-grew-up-in-st-louis/article_1623e64c-46ec-11e1-80e8-001a4bcf6878.html. live.
  26. News: Friend . Tad . 2016-10-03 . Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny . en-US . . live . 2023-07-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727020256/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny . 2023-07-27 . 0028-792X.
  27. News: Joe Edwards . January 30, 2000 . October 11, 2006 . September 18, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918083252/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2000/01/31/focus26.html . live .
  28. News: Finn. Robin. 2008-02-29. Letting His Racing Colors Show. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-04-28. 0362-4331. 2021-04-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210428025004/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/nyregion/29lives.html. live.
  29. Web site: June 2019 Reporter. 2021-04-28. Issuu. en. 2023-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230228103448/https://issuu.com/jburroughs/docs/june2019reporter-final. live.
  30. Web site: John Burroughs . Jbnet.groupfusion.net . 2012-11-23 . 2013-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130702022453/http://jbnet.groupfusion.net/modules/news/group_pages.phtml?category_id=443&nid=1253 . live .
  31. News: A Politician Whose Faith Is Central to His Persistence. John. Eligon. August 21, 2012. The New York Times. September 8, 2019. September 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190908023552/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/us/politics/todd-akins-faith-is-central-to-his-politics.html. live.
  32. Web site: Brittany Packnett '02 . John Burroughs School . NEWS ARCHIVES . January 26, 2015 . April 28, 2016 . April 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160426231132/http://jburroughs.org/news-and-events/brittany-packnett-02-3 . live .
  33. Web site: 2006-09-30. Judge Laura Denvir Stith. 2020-11-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20060930132946/http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.asp?id=183. 2006-09-30.
  34. Web site: January 22, 2010 . ODNI POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDS 1ST LT. ROSLYN L. SCHULTE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE MEDAL FOR VALOR . dni.gov . March 13, 2022 . March 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313032156/https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/Newsroom/Press%20Releases/2010%20Press%20Releases/20100122_release.pdf . live .
  35. Web site: 2005-03-02. The Ninth Annual Slate 60 - America's most generous philanthropists, and where they gave. By Jodie T. Allen. 2020-11-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20050302044616/http://slate.msn.com/id/2112694/fr/rss/. 2005-03-02.
  36. Web site: 2021-10-12 . Leo Drey dies; Missouri's largest private landowner until he gave it all away Obituaries stltoday.com . 2023-11-07 . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 2021-10-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211012201130/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/leo-drey-dies-missouris-largest-private-landowner-until-he-gave-it-all-away/article_736f1bd8-6103-5202-aad0-7f74cb8f9234.html . bot: unknown .
  37. Web site: November 29, 2017 . David Lee retires from NBA to become startup investor . 2023-11-11 . St. Louis Business Journal . 2023-11-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111040642/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/11/29/st-louis-native-david-lee-retires-from-nba-to.html . live .
  38. Web site: Falcons 2018 roster: Position-by-position breakdown for current 52 players. 2018-09-04. www.atlantafalcons.com. en-US. 2018-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20180904153737/https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-2018-roster-position-by-position-breakdown-for-current-52-players. live.
  39. News: Johnston. Roger. Associated Press Newsfeature. August 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. Associated Press. Newspapers.com. June 18, 1949. January 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160108064723/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/785837/. live.
  40. News: Huhn. Rick. Dave Sisler. August 20, 2014. Society for American Baseball Research. July 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140705085605/http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/805731ed. live.
  41. News: Cool. Everett. For Dodgers' Scott Van Slyke, a case of butterflies is a good thing. August 20, 2014. Los Angeles Times. June 21, 2014. August 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140814043756/http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-van-slyke-20140622-story.html#page=1. live.
  42. News: Gurnick. Ken. Van Slyke getting with the program. August 20, 2014. MLB.com. January 31, 2012. June 18, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130618090744/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120130&content_id=26513908&vkey=news_la&c_id=la&partnerId=rss_la. live.
  43. News: Baer. Jim. Jay Williamson: Professional golfer. August 20, 2014. St. Louis Magazine. July 10, 2007. January 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160108064723/http://www.stlmag.com/Jay-Williamson/. live.
  44. News: Johnson . Julia M. . Homegrown: Ron Charles . 1 February 2022 . Town&Style . 7 October 2019 . 1 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220201221712/https://townandstyle.com/homegrown-ron-charles/ . live .
  45. Web site: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Jon Hamm. 22 March 2012. 20 April 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110728/http://www.stlmag.com/news/10-Things-You-Might-Not-Know-About-Jon-Hamm/. live.
  46. Web site: St. Louis Hometown Stories: Jon Hamm, Actor. 24 February 2012. 20 April 2015. 27 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111349/http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Hometown-Stories-Jon-Hamm-Actor/. live.
  47. Web site: John L. Loos. Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, October 1, 2011. October 1, 2011.

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