The 2021 school year is in full swing and Noozhawk’s Private & Independent School Guide is sure to make things easy when planning for your child’s education! Our school guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information about private schools in Santa Barbara County.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about which school is the best fit for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local private & independent schools for this year’s school guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Tawny Klipper, Director of Admission K-12 at Providence School to learn more about what their school offers.
Providence School
Question: What is the name of your school and what grade levels do you offer?
Answer: Providence School, Preschool through Grade 12.
Q: How is your school operated or governed?
A: Providence School is an independent school operating as a 501(c)3 religious non-profit, governed by a board of directors.
Q: Are you offering in-person or online instruction this academic year?
A: We offer in-person learning full-time, five days a week.
Q: What curriculum is available and taught at your school?
A: Providence offers students an extraordinary academic experience from Room 1 through Grade 12. We prepare students to attend the finest colleges and universities and equip them to lead their communities and families with wisdom, confidence, and conviction. We engage minds and shape hearts through well-planned and carefully delivered academic and character education programs, helping students make connections and find their place in God’s world.
The Preschool curriculum varies from class to class according to developmental needs, balancing both indoor and outdoor time with structured and unstructured play. Each classroom incorporates gross- and fine-motor development, creative art, music, stories, dramatic play, concept games, and other pre-academic activities while building communication skills, learning routines, autonomy, self-confidence, and self-control.
Lower School students learn the basics—reading and math—but also are introduced to literature, history, science, art, music, and the Bible in an academic and social environment that prepares them to become lifelong learners. The core academic program focuses on phonics-based reading, composition, grammar, spelling, language-based mathematics, science, Bible, and history. In addition, students are challenged with differentiated instruction, active collaboration with classmates, and experiential learning.
In Middle School, students continue to advance in the core liberal arts curriculum. Learning activities are designed especially for their attention and energy levels and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder for the created world. We encourage students to explore different interests and take risks to lead to a greater understanding of who God created them to be. Close personal mentorship, a rich academic curriculum, and meaningful extracurricular programs give students maximal opportunities to grow in character and wisdom as they prepare for Upper School (high school).
The Upper School curriculum incorporates the liberal arts, focusing on traditions, great books, and aesthetics that have stood the test of time. Providence students encounter relevant, truthful, and beautiful ideas in a humanities model, including history, literature, philosophy, political science, economics, and the development of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Coursework in rhetoric provides students with the communication and critical thinking skills essential to college and vocational success. In addition, Providence offers a full range of mathematical studies, the natural sciences, foreign language, visual art, and performing arts. Lively classroom discussions, led by the teacher, develop rhetorical skills while students grapple with new ideas.
Competitive academies within the school allow in-depth learning and skill development in engineering and visual arts. In addition, an honors program, Libertas Scholars, provides enrichment opportunities for students interested in diving deeper into the humanities, particularly around the ideas of human freedom.
The school’s mission and excellence result from each aspect of Providence—the classroom instruction, the athletic program, the arts, and extracurriculars—and work together to form the student’s character, intellect, and a sense of purpose and responsibility. You can tell a Providence student by their confidence, kindness, and determination to lead a life of significance and strategic influence.
Q: Can you describe your student-to-teacher ratio?
A: Our student-to-teacher ratio is very small, averaging 6:1 (includes lead, assistant, and specialist teachers). Classes are 10-16 students.
Q: How does your school select/hire teachers, and how does it invest in their continuing education?
A: Providence selects teachers who have a passion for Christ, for students, and for education. Our distinguished faculty exhibit excellence in their discipline, inspire a joy for learning, model a mature Christian faith, and nurture meaningful relationships with students.
Investing in professional experience is investing in students. Our teachers continually renew their passion for teaching by participating in professional development seminars and training through in-service days and school-sponsored sessions locally and across the country. In addition, each year, members of our faculty and staff attend Acton University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Acton University draws more than 1,200 participants from 95 countries worldwide for an intense four-day dive into the foundations of a free society.
Q: What sports or extracurricular activities does your school offer?
A: “Small is a big experience” at Providence. Every student has the opportunity to grow in athletic skills, experience high-level competition, and benefit from the camaraderie that comes with school sports. Our coaches challenge athletes at the top of their game and engage athletes who are new to the sport.
Lower School school sports typically include volleyball, basketball, and flag football for boys and girls. In Middle-School, students enjoy cross country running, volleyball, basketball, and flag football. Upper School sports include cross country, track and field, volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, and tennis.
A competitive CIF high school athletic program encourages excellence on the court or field and in life. In addition, student-athletes strive to represent their school with honor and integrity. Providence is a Tri-County Athletic Association (TCAA) member, playing independent schools of similar size.
Providence athletes sign with college programs every year, including men’s soccer at the University of Chicago, women’s basketball at Whitworth College and Westmont, women’s tennis at Westmont, track and field at Cal Lutheran and Westmont, and more.
We offer numerous co- and extracurricular activities, including leadership and service opportunities, performing arts and music, student broadcast news, outdoor pursuits, student yearbook, and clubs. We also provide Beyond the Classroom opportunities to connect learning with the world through field trips, educational travel, service, and retreats.
Q: Describe how your school measures student progress.
A: We give letter/numerical grades. Our students consistently meet and exceed the academic goals and standards we set as a metric for success. We issue progress reports, offer a robust fluency program (K-6), promote student-initiated goals, and evaluate our program’s success with standardized testing (ERB, PSAT, SAT).
Q: How does your school address special education needs?
A: Classes are small, and every student receives individual attention and direction. Academic support and counseling are available for those who need a little extra help to succeed. In the Lower School, our small class size allows teachers to understand each student’s unique learning styles, provide differentiated instruction when required, and offer accommodations for students with difficulties. Teachers hold regular office hours and schedule check-ins to provide support. Learning specialists meet one-on-one with students who have academic needs, either for support or for increased challenge.
In the Middle and Upper Schools, we have Academic Accountability Coaches—teachers meet regularly (once or twice a week) with referred students to keep them on track and organized with their schoolwork. Additionally, our administrative team swiftly connects with families when a perceived difficulty emerges. We work directly with families who are experiencing sickness, grief, technical problems, or other challenges.
Q: What opportunities do you provide for parent involvement?
A: Providence enjoys a history of strong parental involvement and a vibrant community. We have a very active Parent Association for each campus with distinct areas to get involved: hospitality, fellowship, staff appreciation, class parents, media content, community relations, and prayer. In addition, parents offer classroom support, coordinate student social events, create opportunities for families to support and get to know one another, and encourage the faculty and staff.
Q: What is the cost of tuition to attend your school?
A: Tuition ranges from $4,320 for Preschool up to $21,865 for Upper School.
Q: Do you offer scholarships, and if so, what are the criteria to apply?
A: Providence is committed to enrolling students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, maximizing the strength of the student body. Therefore, the Board of Directors has established a needs-based tuition assistance policy that approves a specific portion of the budget to assist families with the cost of tuition. Need is defined as the difference between what it costs to attend Providence and a family’s ability to pay, as determined by the third-party FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment program.
Many factors determine whether or not a family will qualify for need-based tuition assistance. Household income and expenses, assets and debt, the number of children enrolled in a school that requires tuition, and commitment to and fit with the schools’ mission and vision are examples of factors used by the Tuition Assistance Committee to determine eligibility and awards.
Over 60% of Providence students receive tuition assistance. The school generously grants $1.4 million in aid each year.
Click here for more information about Providence School.