Woodside Priory School Explained

Woodside Priory School
Address:302 Portola Road
Zipcode:94028-7897
Country:United States
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Affiliation:Saint Anselm Abbey
Patron:Saint Benedict
Founder:Father Egon Javor, OSB
Head Of School:Patrick Ruff
Faculty:57.8
Ratio:6.7
Tuition:2020-21 school year
$51,250 (day)
$76,450 (boarding)
Campus Type:Rural/suburban
Campus Size:51acres
Athletics Conference:CCS - Central California Section
Motto:Ora Et Labora
Motto Translation:Prayer and Work
Accreditation:Western Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
Mascot:Panthers
Team Name:Panthers
Colors:Black and blue
Yearbook:Omnibus
Enrollment:375[2]
Enrollment As Of:2020-21

Woodside Priory School (commonly known as The Priory) is an independent, co-educational, Benedictine Catholic, college-preparatory, day and boarding school in Portola Valley, California, United States. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco and is thirty minutes from San Francisco to the north and San Jose to the south.

History

The Priory was founded in 1957 by a group of seven Hungarian Benedictine Monks from Saint Martin's Archabbey in Pannonhalma, Hungary. In 1974, the monks affiliated with Saint Anselm Abbey in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

The school began on an 18acres ranch and over the years has expanded significantly to the point that the campus now encompasses some 50acres. Originally the school was made up entirely of all-male boarders, but over the years the ratio of boarders to day students changed, and today the boarding school accounts for a smaller percentage of the upper school student body. In the early 1990s, the school began admitting females to the day program, with the first coed senior class graduating in 1995. The Priory's boarding program was expanded to include girls in 2004.

The Priory was granted a seven-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Catholic Education Association in June, 2019.

They currently have three active Monks as of November, 2023.

Athletics

The Priory offers football, cross country, volleyball, tennis, water polo, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, swimming, track and field, and baseball. In 2000, the girls' volleyball team won the state championship for Division V.

The school competes in Central Coast Section (CCS) post-season competition.

The Priory basketball gym was prominently featured in a documentary about Stephen Curry.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools. 2009-06-05. WASC-ACS.
  2. Web site: WOODSIDE PRIORY SCHOOL . Private School Universe Survey . National Center for Education Statistics . 26 April 2019.