Roland Park Country School Profile

Jean Waller Brune, Head of School
Joan F. Smith, Upper School Head
Leigh Martin Lowe, Director of College Counseling

CEEB Number: 210-180

PHILOSOPHY

Roland Park Country School, a college preparatory school for girls, is dedicated to the intellectual, aesthetic, physical and moral development of its students. While maintaining high academic standards, the school upholds tradition and promotes innovation. The school encourages self-discipline, independence of thought, tenacity of purpose, creativity, and spiritual well-being. It fosters personal integrity, respect for others, an appreciation of diversity, and a cooperative, resilient spirit.

Roland Park Country School values the friendly atmosphere of mutual trust inherent in an inclusive community. The school strives to instill in its students a lifelong love of learning as well as the motivation to look within and beyond themselves in order to become responsible, contributing members and leaders of their communities.

THE SCHOOL 

Founded in 1901, RPCS is an independent day school for girls in kindergarten through grade twelve. The school is located in Roland Park, a residential neighborhood in northern Baltimore City, on a 21 acre campus. The college preparatory curriculum emphasizes the intellectual, aesthetic, physical, and moral development of the students. RPCS welcomes applicants of all races, religions and ethnic origins and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic origins in the administration of its policies and programs. RPCS is accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.  The School is the first girls’ school in Maryland to be awarded a chapter in the Cum Laude Society.

FACULTY and ENROLLMENT

696 students grades K-12. There are 286 girls in the Upper School, 58 of whom are seniors. Of the 49 Upper School faculty members at RPCS, 80% hold degrees beyond the bachelor’s.  The average number of years teaching experience is 15. The student/faculty ratio in the Upper School is 6:1.

CURRICULUM

RPCS offers a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum. Year-long Advanced Placement courses are offered in Biology, AB and BC Calculus, Chemistry, Chinese, Computer Science, Economics , English,  Environmental Science, Government, European History, French Language, French Literature, History of Art, Latin, Music Theory, Physics, Psychology, Russian, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Studio Art, and US History (some of which are available through coordinate schools).  In 2007, 108 students sat for 209 AP examinations for which 80% earned scores of 3 or above.

In addition to AP’s, the School offers coordinate courses with Gilman and Bryn Mawr Schools for foreign languages, 11th grade English and US History, and senior electives.  Honor Roll gives recognition to those students who have attained an average of 87 or higher.  We have some courses, primarily in the performing arts, which are offered on a pass/fail basis. RPCS uses no form of class rank.

Grade equivalents are as follows:  A = 100 - 90, B = 89 - 80, C = 79 - 70, D = 69 - 65, F = below 65.

TECHNOLOGY

The use of technology is an integral part of the School's commitment to providing a superior education for girls. To that extent, Roland Park Country School is a laptop school. All students in grades 7 - 12 purchase their own laptops through the School, which they use in all classrooms, in science labs, in the library, and for homework. Graduates are highly skilled in using the internet appropriately as a research tool, designing spreadsheets, power point presentations, virtual labs, graphing, note taking, and communicating with faculty through their web pages and email. The use of laptops gives all students the flexible resources they need, when they need them, empowering them to become active participants in their learning.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

The standard and expected academic load of every student is five ‘major’ courses each year. To satisfy graduation requirements, a student must complete  four years of English, three years of Mathematics (at least through Pre-Calculus), three years of laboratory science (to include Physics, Chemistry and Biology), three years of History (to include Non-Western World, European, and United States), and three years of one foreign language.  Additional courses in art, music, theater, public speaking, and physical education are also required.                         

COMMUNITY SERVICE

RPCS places emphasis on the developmental ideals associated with volunteerism and helping others.  Every student is required to devote a minimum of 60 hours to community service, with 40 hours at one location during her four years of upper school.  Many of our students far surpass this minimum.