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
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3 Middle School, additional local field trips
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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
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)
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Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL)
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Cum Laude Society
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Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA)
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National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and Missouri Association of College Admissions Counseling (MOACAC)
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American School Counselor Associations (ASCA) and Missouri School Counselor Associations (MSCA)
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NWEA, formerly known as the Northwest Evaluation Association