The Summit Preparatory School - Bringing World-Class Education to Southwest Missouri

The Summit Preparatory School

Address:
2155 W. Chesterfield Blvd
Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: (417) 869-8077

Fax: (417) 869-8087

www.thesummitprep.org

Top Executives:
Rob Gronniger, Head of School
Kristin Walker, Head of Operations and Finance
Anne Mason, Chair of The Summit Board of Trustees

Year Founded: 2005

Number of Employees: 28

Product or Service: Private, independent school education for three year olds through twelfth grade.

This fall in the U.S., nearly 55 million students headed back to the classroom, and approximately five million of them returned to private schools. The U.S. Department of Education reports that private school students generally perform higher on standardized achievement tests and typically have more demanding graduation requirements. Many parents choose private schools because they feel the atmosphere best fosters academic excellence and high achievement, while other parents make the choice because of smaller class sizes or educational approach.


In Springfield, The Summit Preparatory School of Southwest Missouri has become the private school of choice for many, and has built quite a reputation for academic excellence. Operating with the mission to provide students with an empowering education in a supportive, stimulating environment, The Summit offers small class sizes, a strong foreign language program, progressive education principles and a challenging differentiated curriculum. The Summit was awarded full membership in the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) in 2012, is accredited through AdvancED, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

“Throughout our development, we have worked to inspire the joy of learning and uphold key beliefs grounded in the best practices of progressive education,” Amy Maas, Director of Admissions and Communications said. “By welcoming Robert E. Gronniger as our Head of School, we are poised to become a leader in the field of education.”

The Summit curriculum focuses on educating the whole child by developing a strong sense of community and promoting leadership, ethics, arts, and sound body and mind. That approach is the perfect fit for Gronniger, who brings an impressive background and global perspective to The Summit. A Missouri native, Gronniger was recruited to teach in the Australian public school system, and then served in cutting edge, independent, American overseas and international schools for thirty-plus years, enjoying successful tenures in Europe, South and Central America, Southwest Asia and the Middle East.  


“Never in education has there been a more exciting and challenging time,” Gronniger said. “I am eager to share my experience and knowledge with The Summit Prep community, and work together to provide a truly world-class education for our children.”

With a full slate of academic opportunities, as well as a vibrant athletic program, and numerous extra curricular activities, The Summit’s students are more than just smart kids. They are athletes, artists, computer techs, writers, composers, musicians, and scientists; they are multi-culturally diverse scholars who are engaged in all aspects of life around them. And they are prepared to succeed at life. 

“This year marks The Summit Prep’s tenth school year,” Maas concluded. “We know that by school standards we are still young, but we are all very excited to see where the next ten years will take us.”