Commonwealth-Parkville School

Commonwealth–Parkville School (CPS), founded in 1952, and incorporated in Puerto Rico, is a private, college preparatory day school. It is a non-sectarian, non-profit, co-educational institution governed by a Board of Directors. CPS provides an integrated PPK–12 curriculum in English with a strong program in Spanish. It is located on two campuses: Parkville Campus in Guaynabo, PR (grades PPK-6), and Commonwealth Campus in Hato Rey, San Juan, PR (grades 7–12).[1]

Commonwealth High School
Commonwealth-Parkville School (CPS)
Address
Urb. Roosevelt 100 Cesar Castillo Belville 00918 California
Coordinates	18°25′03″N 66°03′51″W
Information
Established	1952
Status	Open
Director	Aidyn Fontánez
Head of school	Mr. Rick Weinland
Faculty	32
Grades	7–12
Age range	12–18
Hours in school day	7:45 a.m – 2:45 p.m.
Color(s)	Red, Grey, Black and White
Website	www.cpspr.org

Parkville Campus
Commonwealth-Parkville School (CPS)
Location
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
Coordinates	18°22′17″N 66°05′34″W
Information
Established	1964
Status	Open
Director	Aida Portela
Head of school	Rick Weinland
Faculty	100
Grades	PPK–6
Age range	3–11
Average class size	25 students
Hours in school day	7:45 a.m – 2:45 p.m. Afterschool Program: 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

History

Commonwealth-Parkville School (formerly known as Caribbean Preparatory School) is a private, college preparatory day school founded in 1952 and incorporated in Puerto Rico. It is a non-sectarian, non-profit, co-educational institution governed by a Board of Directors. CPS provides an integrated PPK-12 curriculum in English with a program in Spanish. CPS’ history dates back to 1951 when several families relocated to Puerto Rico to work with the Economic Development Administration (Fomento). The main obstacle these parents faced was the lack of English language schools for their children. They began looking for physical facilities and studying the requirements to create an English school that would fulfill their need for education.

They rented a community center located in the Roosevelt neighborhood in Hato Rey, where Commonwealth Middle and High School are located today. The school began with 92 students, eight teachers, and eight classrooms. Every year a new grade was added until 1961, when Commonwealth School graduated its first twelfth grade class of 10 students. Parallel to Commonwealth High School’s founding is the history of the San Juan School by the Sea. These two schools instituted a new educational system in the history of education in Puerto Rico. Seven parents started the San Juan by the Sea Elementary School. It consisted of a kindergarten through sixth grade and was located in a rented apartment in Condado. Later, the school moved to a property in Punta Las Marías.

In 1964, Commonwealth was empty and grades kindergarten through twelfth needed more classrooms to accommodate all students. Parkville School in Guaynabo was then built to serve as the elementary campus. The three schools: Commonwealth, San Juan by the Sea, and Parkville, constituted the Caribbean Consolidated Schools system, which was incorporated in 1964. In 1979, the Board of Directors voted to sell San Juan by the Sea and improve facilities at Parkville and Commonwealth Campuses.

In 2014, a teacher from Commonwealth-Parkville won "most influential teacher" and was honored by the US Department of Education.[2]

Academics

The mission of Commonwealth–Parkville School is "to provide students and engaging academic program with a caring, collaborative environment, that develops leadership skills, creativity and character."

Students take required academic courses, that includes, among others, art, dance, music, and computer. In addition, they prepare well for the Stanford Achievement Tests, the Scholastic Assessments Tests given in English, and the College Board exams given in Spanish. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are an important component of the educational offerings.

CPS is a member of the Network of Complementary Schools, which offers the students the opportunity of traveling as exchange students to one of twenty-eight stateside private and public schools. CPS also coordinates an annual internship program for seniors to spend several days with a professional within the occupational area of their choice.

In 2019, students from CPS were among others participating in a forum on whether there is participatory democracy in Puerto Rico.[3]

Horizons Program

CPS Horizons Program offers to students with mild learning differences special assistance to develop strategies to become successful with grade level material for each subject taken in the Horizons setting. To that end, CPS provides the special adaptations and accommodations for each student. Horizons teachers are the key to encourage students to make possible their independent work.

Athletics

As member of the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance (PRHSAA) and Liga Atlética Mini Escuelas Privadas, Inc. (LAMEPI), CPS has volleyball, soccer, swimming, basketball, indoor soccer, softball, bowling, cross country, table tennis, track and field, tennis, and golf varsity and junior varsity teams.

Notable alumni

• Mohammad Hasan, a winner of the U.S. presidential scholar award in May, 2020[4]

References

1. Rico, Metro Puerto. "Los 10 mejores colegios de Puerto Rico". Metro.
2. "141 Students from Across the Country Named 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars | U.S. Department of Education". www.ed.gov.
3. "¿Hay o no hay democracia participativa en Puerto Rico?". Primera Hora. April 4, 2019.
4. "U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Names 161 Students as 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars". U.S. Department of Education. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2020-07-08.

External links

• Official website