Business Details
21 Years
experience
Progressive Education for Future Leaders
The Summit Preparatory School has been dedicated to progressive education since its founding in 2005. Our mission is to prepare learners for success through a challenging curriculum delivered in a supportive environment that emphasizes academic excellence and student-led learning. With intentionally small class sizes capped at 18 students, our educators develop personalized approaches that nurture individual strengths while fostering accountability and collaboration. Our independent curriculum integrates state, national, and global educational models to create grade-level offerings that challenge students through thematic learning and hands-on projects. We prioritize holistic development by combining academic rigor with social-emotional growth, ensuring students cultivate critical thinking skills and ethical responsibility.Our progressive approach emphasizes learning by doing, with teachers focusing on deep understanding rather than rote knowledge. The school serves Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Rogersville, and the greater Southwest Missouri area as the region's only fully accredited independent school offering full-time seated instruction. Our graduates consistently achieve a 100% graduation rate with an average ACT score of 25, demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence. We maintain a diverse student body representing multiple racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring a rich educational experience for all learners.
Services
Early Learners Program
Lower School Education
Middle School Curriculum
High School Preparation
College Counseling
STEM Education
Spanish Instruction
Art Programs
Music Education
Outdoor Learning
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer intentionally small classes capped at 18 students for personalized attention
- Our independent curriculum integrates global educational models for comprehensive learning
- We implement a student-as-partner learning philosophy fostering accountability and collaboration
- Our faculty includes certified experts with extensive experience in progressive education
- We maintain a 100% graduation rate with above-average college readiness metrics
What people say
Personalized education
Supportive environment
Experienced teachers
College preparation
Student-led learning
Services
Early Learners Program
Our Early Learners Program serves children aged 3-5 with developmentally appropriate curriculum focusing on foundational skills. Through play-based learning and structured activities, we cultivate curiosity, social skills, and early academic concepts. The program emphasizes emotional intelligence and independence while preparing students for future academic success.
Progressive Curriculum
Our progressive curriculum emphasizes learning by doing through hands-on projects and experiential learning. Teachers focus on deep understanding rather than rote knowledge, encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and apply information using modern technology. This approach develops critical thinking skills and prepares students for real-world challenges.
College Counseling
Our comprehensive college counseling program supports students through the transition to higher education. We provide personalized guidance on college selection, application processes, and academic planning. With a 100% graduation rate and average ACT score of 25, our students consistently gain admission to top universities.
STEM Education
Our STEM program integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through project-based learning. Students engage in hands-on experiments and collaborative problem-solving activities that develop analytical skills and technological proficiency. The curriculum prepares students for future careers in STEM fields with real-world applications.
Language Instruction
Daily Spanish instruction develops language proficiency and cultural awareness from an early age. Our program emphasizes practical communication skills while exploring global cultures and traditions. Students gain appreciation for linguistic diversity and develop cross-cultural competencies that prepare them for global citizenship.
People
Kathryn M. Heet
Head of School
Dr. Kathryn M. Heet leads The Summit Preparatory School with over 25 years of educational leadership experience. She holds a Doctorate in Education and specializes in progressive learning methodologies. Her vision drives the school's commitment to academic excellence and student-centered education.
Questions
What makes The Summit different from other schools?
We combine small class sizes with a progressive curriculum that emphasizes student-led learning and real-world applications.
What grade levels do you serve?
We offer programs from Early Learners (ages 3-5) through 12th grade in a continuous PreK-12 educational pathway.
Is The Summit accredited?
We are the only fully accredited independent school in Southwest Missouri offering full-time seated instruction.
What is your student-teacher ratio?
Our classes are capped at 18 students with an average of 15 students per grade level for personalized attention.
Do you offer college preparation?
Our college counseling program achieves a 100% graduation rate with average ACT scores above national averages.
What special programs do you offer?
We provide specialty classes in STEM, Spanish, music, art, and outdoor education alongside our core curriculum.
Reviews (2)
Abbey H.
Jun 08, 2017
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Can not rave enough about this school! If I were to close my eyes and envision the perfect environment for my daughters education, this would be it. We have both Springfield and Ozark public schools to compare The Summit to (as she went to public school k-5). We are beyond blessed to be apart of The Summit family. She is excited to go to school and learn, and be amongst other students who WANT to be there, engaged and ready to learn. LOVE LOVE LOVE this school.
Judy Burchfield
Jul 29, 2013
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My granddaughter is now in the 5th grade at the Summit. She has attended this school all of her life. I am constantly amazed at what she is learning. The small classrooms are wonderful. Each student receives so much one on one instruction that it truly adds to the overall educational experience. Wonderful school.