Winchester Thurston School Explained

Winchester Thurston School
Motto Translation:Gentle in manner, strong in deed
Address:555 Morewood Avenue
State:Pennsylvania
Zipcode:15213
Country:U.S.
Religious Affiliation:Nonsectarian
Founder:Alice M. Thurston
Ceeb:393970
Head Of School:Scott D. Fech
Faculty:73
Grades:PK - 12
Enrollment:656
Enrollment As Of:2021-2022
Ratio:8.6:1
Hours In Day:6.8
Campus Size:7acres
Campus Type:Large suburb
Colors:Purple, Black, and Yellow
Nickname:Bears
Accreditation:NAIS, PAIS
Newspaper:Voices
Yearbook:Thistledown
Endowment:$18.83 million[1]
Annual Tuition:$34,250 11-12
$33,250 9-10
$29,750 6-8
$25,500 2-5
$24,250 1
$20,500 K
$18,000 PK[2]
Revenue:$21.92 million

Winchester Thurston School is an independent, coeducational preparatory school located in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in 1887, Winchester Thurston offers PK–12 education in Lower, Middle, and Upper School. The school is a member of the Pittsburgh Consortium of Independent Schools.[3]

History

Winchester Thurston has its origins in the founding of the all-girls Thurston Preparatory School by Alice M. Thurston in Shadyside in 1887.[4] The Winchester School was founded separately, also in Shadyside, as a coeducational school 1902. The two schools merged to produce the all-girls Winchester Thurston School in 1935. The school moved to its current Shadyside campus, formerly the site of Shady Side Academy, in the fall of 1967.[5] The school added its second Lower School campus in Allison Park in 1988;[6] this campus permanently closed in June 2020.[7] Winchester Thurston became co-educational in 1991.[8]

The school has constructed several facilities, including the Main Building in 1963, a science wing in 1987, and a new turf field called Garland Field. The school has three libraries, an art gallery, Mellon Gymnasium, an athletics hall of fame, a solarium, a learning garden, a dance studio, the Hillman Dining Hall, Lower, Middle, and Upper school science labs, and three computer labs.[9]

Curriculum

Arts

Winchester Thurston has received Gene Kelly Awards and nominations for their theater performances.[10]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The interscholastic sports program allows Middle and Upper School students to represent WT on the Pittsburgh area's courts, tracks, and fields. WT fields athletes in crew, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, tennis, basketball, fencing, squash, lacrosse, and track. In 2021, the Boys' Soccer team won the WPIAL and PIAA State Championships and recorded a 24–0 undefeated season.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Form 990 . Tax Exempt Organization Search . Internal Revenue Service . 2019.
  2. Web site: Tuition . Admission . Winchester Thurston School . 2022–2023.
  3. Web site: Pittsburgh: Center of Education. 2009 . www.pittsburghmetroguide.com . 2009-05-03.
  4. Book: The Story of Pittsburgh, Vol. 1 . Pittsburgh First National Bank . Pittsburgh First National Bank . 1919.
  5. Book: Doherty, Donald . Pittsburgh's Shadyside . Arcadia Publishing . 2008 . 75.
  6. News: School's construction outpacing enrollment . The Pittsburgh Press . August 24, 1988 . May 9, 2012.
  7. News: Panizzi. Tawnya. April 2, 2020. Winchester Thurston closing North Campus, merging to Shadyside. TribLive. July 8, 2020.
  8. Book: Jenn . Phillips . Loriann H. . Oberlin . Evan M. . Pattak . Insiders' Guide to Pittsburgh, 2nd Ed. . Insiders' Guide . 2004 . 390.
  9. Web site: Independent Day School in Pittsburgh | Winchester Thurston.
  10. News: Gene Kelly Awards: Pine-Richland, North Allegheny and Winchester Thurston receive top honors . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Philip A. . Stephenson . 2006-06-04.