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).
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 full to capacity 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.
Academics
The mission of the Commonwealth–Parkville School is "to provide for the changing educational needs of 21st Century students by promoting creativity, values, leadership, sportsmanship, and life skills, within an engaging and challenging academic, yet caring environment."
Students take required academic courses, that include 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.
Horizons Program
CPS Horizons Program offers to students with mild learning differences special assistance to develop compensating 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 Puerto Rico High School Football League (PRHSFL), CPS has varsity and junior varsity teams in:
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Indoor Soccer
- Softball
- Bowling
- Cross Country
- Track & Field
- Tennis
- Golf