Harker School

The Harker School
File:The Harker School Logo.jpg Aim High, Have Fun
Location
Upper School: 500 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, California Middle School: 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose, California Lower School: 4300 Bucknall Rd., San Jose, California Preschool: 4525 Union Ave. San Jose, California United States
Information
Type	Independent
Established	1893
Head of school	Christopher Nikoloff
Faculty	450
Grades	PreK-12
Enrollment	Upper School – 720
Color(s)	Green      and White
Mascot	Eagle
Tuition	Gr. 9–12: $41,432 Gr. 6–8: $38,728 Gr. K-5: $30,843
Website	www.harker.org

The Harker School is a private, co-educational, non-profit school in San Jose, California. Founded in 1893 as Manzanita Hall by Frank Cramer in Palo Alto, Harker now has four campuses: Bucknall, Blackford, Union and Saratoga, named after the streets on which they lie. Bucknall is the Lower School campus, educating kindergarten through grade 5 students. The Middle School, grades 6 through 8, is on the Blackford campus, the Upper School, grades 9 through 12, is on the Saratoga campus and the Preschool, Ages 3 through 5 is on the Union campus.

The current Harker administration is led by Christopher Nikoloff. Mr. Nikoloff succeeded Howard and Diana Nichols following their retirement after the 2004–2005 academic year. Howard Nichols was the son of Major Donald L. Nichols, who created the present day Harker School by merging the Palo Alto Military Academy in Palo Alto (as Manzanita Hall was then called) with Harker Day School in 1972 and moving to the Saratoga campus. The Upper Division is led by Mr. Butch Keller, the Middle Division by Ms. Cindy Kerr Ellis, the Elementary Division by Ms. Kristin Giammona, the Primary Division by Mr. Sarah Leonard and the Preschool Division by Mr. Kelly Espinosa.

Components

Upper School

The upper school, offering grades 9 through 12, is located on the Saratoga Avenue campus. The upper school was added to the K-8 program in 1998, with the first class of graduates in 2002. Currently, there are about 800 students in the upper school. Harker completed the largest capital expansion project in its history with the completion of a new athletic field in September 2007, a new aquatic center in April 2008, and a Gold LEED-certified Science and Technology center, called Nichols Hall, in time for the start of the 2008–09 academic year. Harker School is the first school in Santa Clara County to own a Gold LEED-certified building. [1] The building cost approximately $25 million.

Academics

A significant number of Harker School students are accepted at leading US universities. Harker School students are selected largely based on their academic aptitude.

Harker School has the highest ranking by The College Board for Advanced Placement test scores for AP Computer Science, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP Microeconomics, and AP Calculus. In May 2014, 1,536 examinations were written by 513 students in grades 9–12. Scores of 4 and 5: 88 percent; scores of 3, 4 or 5: 97 percent. Two Harker students were named to the 2014 U.S. Physics Olympiad Training Team and one made the final competition team. Harker School students won gold medals in 2009 in Mexico and 2014 in Kazakhstan.

In 2013, Harker School opened its Business and Entrepreneur program and each year holds a TEDx conference at the school.

Many Harker School students are involved in research, which they share annually at science competitions and the Harker Research Symposium. Coined "The 'It' School For the Next Einsteins" in the San Jose Mercury News, the Harker School fosters a culture of student-generated, original research. In the Siemens Competition, Harker School had four national semifinalists in both 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 and six in 2008–2009. In the 2012 competition, Harker School had six regional semifinalists and four regional finalists in the Siemens Competition. In the 2013–2014 Siemens Competition Harker School had 10 state finalists, and two regional finalists, Andrew Jin and Steven Wang, (who were later both Intel finalists in 2014–2015) who earned the team scholarship and split a $40,000 prize. In 2014–15 Harker School had 13 state finalists and four regional finalists. In 2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 Intel Science Talent Search, 3–6 Harker School seniors were named national semifinalists, the largest number of any school west of the Mississippi in those years. Harker School student Yi Sun (class of 2006) and Intel finalist won a $75,000 second place award in the Intel Science Talent Search in 2006. In 2009–2010, Harker School had another Intel finalist, Namrata Anand, noted by New York Times columnist, Thomas Freedman, in his column "America's Real Dream Team." In 2010–2011, Harker School had seven semifinalists and was the only school with two Intel Finalists. In 2011–2012, Harker School had 11 Intel Semifinalists, the highest in California, just behind Stuyvesant High School in New York. In 2012–2013, Harker School again had six Intel STS semifinalist, the most in California for the second year in a row, and one finalist. In 2013–2014, Harker School had ten Intel semifinalists (second highest number in the nation) and one finalist, Sreyas Misra '14. In 2014–2015, Harker School students garnered 15 semifinalist slots, the most of any school in the country. Three of those were named finalists — again, the most in the country — and one, Andrew Jin '15, was named first place winner in the Global Good category, winning $150,000. In 2012, Harker had four regional finalists and six semifinalists in the Siemens Competition: one-fourth of the regional finalists in California were from Harker School .

Harker School offers a comprehensic athletics program, consisting of football, volleyball, soccer, track and field, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, softball, lacrosse, cross country running, swimming and diving, water polo, wrestling, cheerleading, yoga, fitness, physical education, and dance. Advanced sports facilities, such as the new Davis Field and the Singh Aquatic Center (which features a state-of-the-art racing pool), are quickly developing because of significant monetary contributions. Students are encouraged to participate in sports from 4th grade onwards. Some sports, such as lacrosse, diving, track and field, and tennis, are only offered in middle school and high school. Most sports are separated by girls and boys, but others remain co-ed. Harker School is in the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation and is classified as Division III in some sports and Division IV in others. The 2014 Girls' Varsity Volleyball team reached the D IV state semifinals after a historic season, finishing as League Champions, 2nd place in the CCS finals, and top 8 in the entire state of California.

Athletes are consistently named to the San Jose Mercury’s Highlight Reel and named to All-Mercury teams.

Performing arts

Harker School also offers a diverse K-12 performing arts program. The upper school program offers courses in vocal and instrumental ensembles, acting, dance, and technical theater, as well as an intense focus program named the Certificate Program.

This Certificate Program allows upper school students to "major" in a specific discipline within the performing arts, requiring students to take specialized classes and participate in performances in order to graduate. Sudents are guided by an advisor. All of the upper school performing arts teachers remain active professionals in their respective disciplines. At the end of their senior years, candidates perform a piece from their portfolios at a formal senior showcase and receive their certificate designating completion of the program. Harker School’s musical theater department has been invited twice to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in 2007 (“Urinetown: The Musical”) and 2011 (“Pippin”). Harker School’s orchestra played by invitation at the 2012 London New Year’s Parade and Alice Tully Hall in 2009. Cantilena, a classical women’s vocal ensemble, toured Italy in 2012.

Vocal groups include the show choir Downbeat!, the classical and all-female Cantilena, the classical chamber choir Camerata, and the beginning choir Bel Canto, as well as a student-run a cappella boys group called Guys’ Gig. In addition, Harker School organizes a play each fall, a musical each spring, and a student-directed showcase each winter. Harker School's instrumental music program includes an orchestra and a jazz band, and as of the 2012–2013 school year, also a second, freshman jazz band. The dance program at Harker School focuses on many different styles of dance and also encourages Upper School Dance Conservatory students to choreograph many of the numbers in the annual Upper School Dance Production at the end of January. Two audition-only groups, Varsity Dance Troupe and Junior Varsity Dance Troupe, perform at various events and venues throughout the school year.

Choral performers from the school are consistently named to the All-State Choir. In 2014, eight singers from Harker School were so honored.

Journalism

Harker School offes a substantial journalism program with an award winning newspaper (The Winged Post), yearbook (TALON) and website (HarkerAquila). The newspaper was named 2007 Silver Medalist by Columbia Scholastic Press Association. In 2010 The Winged Post won a Silver Crown and TalonWP.com won a Gold Crown from the CSPA for excellence in writing, coverage and content. The Gold Crown is the highest possible recognition given annually by the CSPA, which recognizes student print or online media for overall excellence. In 2011, TalonWP.com took home the Silver Crown. The website was awarded a Gold Crown in 2012 and nominated for a Pacemaker. In 2014, The Winged Post placed second at the NSPA convention in San Diego's Best of the West competition!

The Harker School yearbook was named 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 Gold Medalist; 2003, 2006 Silver Medalist; and 2000 Bronze Medalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The yearbook also earned a 1st Place Award from the American Scholastic Press Association.

Speech and Debate

Harker School prides itself with an accomplished speech and debate program that offers the primary events officially sanctioned by the National Forensics League. In 2012, two students from Harker School won the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Public Forum Debate. Harker School has produced national finalists in Dramatic Interpretation (2011 and 2013) and Congressional Debate (2008). In addition, competitors from Harker School have won the Tournament of Champions in Public Forum Debate in 2009 and 2011 and in Lincoln Douglas Debate in 2015. In 2012, rising seniors Anuj Sharma and Aneesh Chona won 1st place at the National Championship in Public Forum. At the end of the 2012–2013 academic year Harker School was ranked the 8th best school in the nation by the National Forensics League.

Middle School

The middle school is located on the Blackford campus, the former site of Blackford High School. The site is rented since the 2005–06 school year. Before 1998, grade 8 was the final year at Harker and middle school graduates matriculated to private and public high schools in the Bay Area. Since the opening of Harker Harker School's upper school in 1998, most students choose to remain loyal to Harker School. Ninety percent of the 2012 grade 8 class continued on to Harker Harker School's upper school. Navy blue or khaki uniforms are required at the middle school. There is a school meeting every Monday morning where announcements are made and the student council addresses any school issues with students and teachers. Free dress days are every other Friday with a few exceptions for special events. Eighth graders are allowed one extra free dress day every month. Many components ease the shift from the lower school to the middle school, including various athletic and artistic programs. There is also a fine arts requirement: students in grades 7 and 8 must take at least one arts class or participate in one art event in order to graduate (sixth graders are encouraged to do so, as well).

Lower School

The elementary school is located on the Bucknall campus, the former site of Bucknall Elementary School. The campus was sold to Harker School by the Moreland School District, and classes started there in the 1998–99 school year. The lower school also has an after-school orchestra, as well as sports and other activities. Uniform is required at the lower school, with free dress days for fun holidays and school events.

Conservation

In December 2014, Harker School received a commendation from the City of San Jose for more than quadrupling recycling on campus, from 15 percent to almost 70 percent of materials, since 2012.

Tuition

Harker School's tuition is significantly higher than most comparable private schools in the Bay Area. Pre-School tuition is $25,095 for full day, $17,745 for half day; kindergarten and elementary tuition is $30,843; middle school tuition is $38,728; upper school tuition is $41,432. Textbooks, uniforms (K-8), and laptop fees are additional. Lunch is included in the tuition for grades 6 though 12, offering regular, vegan and vegetarian options on each campus. Extended care (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and some after-school activities are also included in the tuition for all grade levels.

As an independent school, operations at Harker School are funded by tuition, fees, interest from endowment, and annual charitable giving. Special capital giving campaigns provide for facilities, such as the Gold LEED-certified Nichols Hall, housing the school’s science and technology facilities, the Singh Aquatics Center, Davis Field, etc. Capital fundraising is currently taking place to pay for a new performing arts center and gymnasium. Harker School tuition increases by about 5–7% each year.

Annual giving

Harker School has an annual giving fundraising session pays for 40% of the school's expenses not covered by tuition. Expenses include the performing arts, clubs, and athletic programs. Currently a $25 million annual campaign is under way, supported by parents, alumni and corporate contributions, which will result in the construction of a new performing arts and gym complex on the upper school campus. Harker School seniors can purchase a walkway brick with a cost corresponding to the graduation year (e.g., Class of 2008 = $2008). Harker School recently completed a $25 million fund raising effort to build a state-of-the-art performing arts and athletics facility on the upper school campus.

Notable alumni and faculty

• Robert Rothbart (born Boris Kajmaković in 1986), Bosnian-Israeli-Serbian professional basketball player playing center for Ironi Nahariya in Israel.
• Alexander Wang (designer) (born December 26, 1983), American fashion designer and creative director of Balenciaga. In 2015, he was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the Artists Category.
• Ilya Sukhar Co-Founder and CEO of Parse.
• Tara Priya R&B/Soul singer.
• Andy Fang Co-founder of the on-demand food delivery startup Doordash.
• John B. Owens Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
• Andrea Nott Represented the U.S. in the synchronized swimming event in the summer Olympics in Beijing and placed fifth.
• Matt Wolf Documentary Filmmaker and director and producer of "Teenage."
• Sean Doherty Co-Founder of Wurl.
• Arjun Mehta Co-founder of PlaySpan, a virtual goods marketplace for online gamers sold for $200 million (prior to Harker), and founder of Stoodle, a not-for-profit education technology company merged with the Khosla-backed CK-12 Foundation.

External links

• Harker's homepage
• The History of Harker