At a Glance
Principia is celebrating 125 years of progressive excellence and accomplishment. See how we continue to shape 21st-century changemakers, leaders, and lifelong learners.
Campus and Facilities
360
acres of woods, ponds, gardens, and trails used for outdoor learning
2
innovative, STEM-focused SMART® Labs supporting Preschool-twelfth grade
- 7,477 square feet of science-lab space in the Upper School
- 4 permaculture gardens and 1 greenhouse
- 12,000 square feet Performing Arts Center for band, choir, dance, and theater
- 2 IDEA Centers with more than 33,018 books
- 4 performing arts stages
- 2 art studios
- 3 dance studios
- 15 instrumental and vocal practice rooms
- 87,000 square foot high-performance athletic field house
Students and Faculty
23
U.S. states and 14 foreign countries represented in the student body
64%
of faculty hold advanced degrees
- 457 students
- 200 hours per teacher devoted to in-house professional development each year
- 23% of the student population are students of color
- 60% of Principia students receive financial aid
- 25% of students board at Principia
- 45% of boarding students are international
Academics
12
AP and/or college-credit courses offered in Upper School
7:1
student-teacher ratio
10+
STEM projects completed in a semester per student
- 95% of students attend college/university
- 3 Learning Engagement Centers
- Average number of trips Principia students participate in during their education
-
5 for all Upper School students with up to 6 additional trips
-
3 Middle School, additional local field trips
-
1 Lower School national trip, dozens of local field trips
-
Arts
20+
performing-arts opportunities for students each year
100%
of students receive instruments and supplies from Principia
- 7 days Middle School students take to pull together “Theater Week” performance each year
- 6 band ensembles
- 3 choruses
- 40th year participating in the ABC Music Festival
- 2 dance concerts a year with student-choreographed pieces
Athletics
100+
championships including dozens of state titles
3
gymnasiums
- 32 interscholastic sports teams (16 Upper School and 16 Middle School)
- 20+ sports offered
- 12 tennis courts
- 8 athletic fields (football, soccer, baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, softball, and cricket)
- The new 87,000 square foot Simon Field House opened this year!
Community and Student Leadership
School Houses
4 Upper School Houses
3 Middle School Houses
4 Lower School Houses
House Leadership Positions
32 Upper School leadership positions
6 Middle School leadership positions
14 Lower School leadership positions
Service Hours
100% of students participate in community service projects. Upper School students performed 4,475 hours of service from 2021-2022. More than $30,000 raised annually through donations for service/learning projects in South Africa and the Dominican Republic.
- 30 Upper School House-sponsored activities
- 1,130 of the 4,475 service hours during the 2021-2022 academic year were completed for senior projects
100% of Students
In Upper School, Middle School, and Lower School, all students receive a School-issued MacBook or iPad
Complete a senior capstone
In Upper School and Middle School, students travel domestically and/or internationally with Principia
Participate in community-service activities
100% of Students:
- Study the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through independent projects in our annual Impact Challenge
- Upper School seniors deliver a speech to the community
- Upper School students create multimedia presentations for classes
- Middle School students engage in cross-curricular projects
- Eighth graders give an end-of-year speech to the community
Alumni
6,671 Upper School alumni live in 41 countries around the world
National Rankings and Recognitions
#1
Best Christian High School
in Missouri
#1
Best High School for the Arts
in Missouri
#3
Best Private K–12 School
in St. Louis Area
#3
Best Boarding High School
in Missouri
Professional Accreditation, Affiliations, and Associations
Principia Upper School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).
Just a few of our Affiliations and Associations:
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National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
-
Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL)
-
Cum Laude Society
-
Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA)
-
National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and Missouri Association of College Admissions Counseling (MOACAC)
-
American School Counselor Associations (ASCA) and Missouri School Counselor Associations (MSCA)
-
NWEA, formerly known as the Northwest Evaluation Association