Canterbury School is an independent coeducational private day school in Fort Myers, Florida that claims the distinction of sending 100 percent of its graduates to college or university. With such lofty academic statistics, it’s no surprise that Canterbury students are regularly admitted to select universities across the country, including Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Harvard, New York, Princeton, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and Yale, among others.

The school covers 32 acres and comprises four divisions: Lower (grades K-3), Intermediate (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-8), and Upper (grades 9-12). The elementary and middle schools have dedicated art and music classrooms, science labs and computer labs, and classrooms with a shared library. The middle and high schools share a library, music and art rooms, but have separate science labs, computer labs, classrooms and common areas. The entire school shares the dining hall, a gym and sports center, an outdoor marine biology tank and classroom, and a Performing Arts Center.

Canterbury’s strong academic performance is due in part to a low student-teacher ratio of 10:1 and an average class size of 17. Another of Canterbury’s secrets is one shared by many preparatory schools. Guidance counselors in Canterbury have developed strong relationships with various colleges and universities. Over time, Canterbury has earned a reputation for graduates who excel in both academics and leadership. In fact, every year Canterbury students take top honors in local, regional, state and national academic, athletic and artistic competitions. These traditions, along with the strong ties between guidance counselors and college admissions officers, pave the way for exceptionally high admissions rates.

Canterbury begins the college selection process early as students enter their “senior years,” or the equivalent of grade 9. Students work with counselors to select appropriate target schools based on academic strengths and majors, as well as size. from school. According to Principal Tony Paulus, students continue to receive personalized attention throughout their senior years so they can be admitted to the college or university that is the best fit for that child.

Canterbury students, however, do not focus solely on academics. The school believes that athletic competition and serving on a team are an integral part of the educational experience in building character and leadership. According to a recent press release, 85% of all middle and high school students participate in athletics and can choose from soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, golf, cross country, cheerleading, track, softball and lacrosse. . The 2008 fall season included victories in boys’ district soccer and girls’ volleyball. Canterbury’s top golfer, Michelle Shin, placed second in the state championships.

While an education at Canterbury doesn’t come cheap, the school actively seeks out a diverse student body and offers a variety of financial aid options. As an example, in the 2008-2009 school year, Canterbury provided over $1,100,000 in financial assistance to 18% of the student body, with awards ranging from 20% to 95% of tuition.

As graduates, many Canterbury alumni continue to exceed expectations, pursuing prestigious careers in government, science, law and the medical front. Students comment online that, “As an alumni, this school has infinitely prepared me for future success. Small class sizes and great teachers make this a great choice for all kids.”