John Cooper opens new school year with record enrollment for 15th straight year

THE WOODLANDS – The John Cooper School, a college preparatory, independent school for students in Prekindergarten through Grade 12, began the school year with record enrollment for the 15th consecutive year.

Established in 1988, the school opened the 2014-15 school year on August 21 with a total enrollment of 1,136 students that includes 184 new students to the school, and a re-enrollment rate of 95 percent. For the first time, two of the four Upper School grades included over 100 students in each class.

“We are beginning this school year with tremendous energy and enthusiasm,” said Michael F. Maher, who is beginning his fifteenth year as Cooper’s Head of School. “In addition to opening with record enrollment, the school is already actively exploring possibilities for additional capital expenditures to facilitate continued enrollment growth.”

Enhancements to Cooper’s athletic facilities continue, most notably to the baseball and softball fields. The baseball field is in the process of having synthetic turf, fencing, scoreboard and spectator seating installed to complement new dugouts and an indoor, air conditioned batting facility that were completed in the spring. When finished, the baseball facility will include the Field Family Diamond at Finnie Park.

The softball field is also being upgraded with new dugouts and a practice area. Cooper’s football program, now in its fourth year, continues to grow, with 52 players on the Upper School team and 58 on the Middle School (grades 6-8) team. The varsity squad will play a full varsity schedule for the first time this season. The number of faculty and staff on campus continues to expand in accordance with enrollment growth. Gillian Crane has joined the administrative staff as the Upper School Dean of Students. Crane has a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree from Mercy College. Francisco Merentez is the Athletic Department’s new Strength and Conditioning Coach. He holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from The University of Houston.

The Food Services Department has a new Director, Roman Davis, who has a degree from the highly respected LeCordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Davis places an emphasis on healthy food choices and fresh, locally grown produce in the school’s menu offerings. Joining the Advancement Office is Special Events Coordinator Megan Zimont, who holds a bachelor of science degree from Sam Houston State University and Bethany Longoria, who is the new Alumni Relations Coordinator and has a bachelor of science degree from The University of Texas.