Meridian’s education prepares students of all ages to develop a lifelong love for learning and to enter the best colleges and universities.  Our teachers base their curriculum on the Utah State Core and Core Knowledge and expand upon these foundations to create more in-depth and dynamic learning experiences.  While lower school students learn about the Renaissance period in Europe, they roll up their sleeves and paint their own Sistene Chapel on their classroom ceiling.  At a different level, middle and upper school students combine online lectures with individualized attention to best understand math concepts and science phenomena.  Learning at Meridian School, whatever the age level, is supported by educational foundation research that identifies the most effective learning methods for students in our world today.

An additional dimension, which makes Meridian School distinctive, is its international student body.  Meridian welcomes students from all over the world; students come from China, Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, Germany and Mexico, to name a few.  The national and international student body invites an exchange of cultures, languages and philosophies that creates a global perspective.

Perhaps you wonder, “Why is Meridian a private school?” and “Why attend a private school?”  Meridian is able to ensure such an academic and caring environment because of its qualified faculty, small classes and supportive administration.  Our teachers have professional degrees in what they are teaching, many years of classroom experience and teaching credentials.

In our small classroom settings, with student to teacher ratios of 1:15, faculty are able to share their classroom passion and to focus on the development and progress of each student.  Over the years studies have shown that individualized attention in environments with structure and expectation leads to better learning and goal setting by students.  The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the United States Department of Education, found that private school students scored higher on standardized tests, were more likely than others to take advanced-level high school courses, had more demanding graduation requirements, and sent more graduates to college than public schools.[1]

Students thrive when allowed to learn in a safe and supportive environment.  Joint reports by the NCES, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and a private study by the Horatio Alger Association have found that private school students are significantly more likely than others to feel safe and to be safe in their schools.[2]  It is of utmost importance to the administration that faculty and students thrive in a secure environment where learning, and a love for learning, flourish, while enabling students to develop their potential and a better global understanding of the world in which they live.

1.  U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Private Schools:  A Brief Portrait (NCES 2002-013) (Washington, D.C., 2002) tables 11 and 12, figures 9 and 10.

2.  U.S. Departments of Education of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2003 (NCES 2004-004) (Washington, D.C., 2003), tables 3.1, 6.1, 12.1, 13.1, 14.1, and 15.1.

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, The State of Our Nation’s Youth:  2000-2001 (Alexandria, VA, 2001), p. 8.

Please see the “Education and Innovation” and “University Success” links on our home page and the story below from a Meridian family:

Laura Tevaga “The Prime Meridian”

Meridian graduates over the last five years have been accepted to or enrolled in the following colleges and universities:

Albertson College of Idaho
American International University
Arizona State University
Assumption University (Thailand)
Berkley College (New York)
Boston College
Boston University
Brazil University
Brigham Young University
BYU-Hawaii
BYU-Idaho
Case Western Reserve University (Ohio)
Casper CC
Chapman City College of NY
Tech Colgate
Dixie College
Drexel Hollins
Grinnell College
Indiana University
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Jyochi (Sophia) University (Japan)
Lawrence University
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northface University
Northern Arizona University
Notre Dame University
Penn State
Providence University
Southern Utah University
Snow College
St. John’s University
SUNY (State University of New York)
Temple
Tokyo University
University of Illinois (Urbana – Champaign)
University of Michigan
University of Utah
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Utah State University
Utah Valley University
Washington State University
Weber State University
Wellesley University
Wesleyan University
Westminster College

Live entertainment featured the talents of past alumni McKinlee Covey (2006), Kelly Hennessey (2007), and Kelly Coombs, Katelyn Gallagher, and Becca Allen (2008). Meridian’s middle and upper school choirs performed as well, singing the well-loved school song “We Are One” with original accompaniments by sophomore Matthew Erickson.

Bombay House provided the delicious dinner and Class 3 student Katie Crowther was given the honor of cutting the 20th Anniversary cake.

Silent and live auctions featured hundreds of items donated by our community; thanks to the generosity of those in attendance and the talent of auctioneer Kevin Gallagher, close to $30,000 was raised for Meridian.

After serving in the military as the Senior Tri-Service Instructor for Chinese, Senior Army Instructor for Chinese and translator, why would a former Associate Research Consultant in the Humanities Research Center at BYU choose to teach Chinese to a classroom of grade-schoolers?

With years of experience as the Dean of Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, what could be the motivation to take a position as a teacher of history and mathematics at a small private school in Utah Valley?

Along with the rest of the faculty at Meridian School, the above mentioned Lynn England, Kim Smith and Philip Townsend realize that there is something special about this Orem based school. Ever since first opening its doors in 1989, a welcoming atmosphere along with a firm belief in striving for excellence have attracted well qualified individuals with a variety of experiences to teach at Meridian. “We don’t run into the same problems of public schools here (at Meridian),” England said. “The kids are less resistant and we don’t fight the same battles in our classrooms.”

Dr. England started teaching at Meridian in 2001. Recognizing that his grandson would have difficulties flourishing in a public school environment, Dr. England enrolled both himself and his grandson at Meridian: Dr. England as a teacher and his grandson as a student. Seven years later, Dr. England’s grandson is loving school, and Dr. England’s students are benefiting from their teacher’s many years of experience as a college professor. “When I first started here, I was impressed by the closeness the students develop,” Dr. England said. “It’s more of a family feeling and the students are very supportive of each other.”

While drawn to the school for many different reasons, the teachers at Meridian all have two things in common: a wealth of experience and love for their students.
One would be hard pressed to find a more qualified group of teachers than those at Meridian. During the 2007-2008 school year, the faculty boasted more than 60 college degrees, five of those being Ph.D.s. More importantly, the faculty also combined to bring hundreds of years of teaching experience to share with their students.
Why do so many qualified educators choose to teach at Meridian? For each teacher there is a different answer. One of the reasons mentioned over and over is the added benefits of teaching small classes. “It’s wonderful to have a small enough class to take regular field trips,” 6th grade teacher Eileen Nagle said. “There is so much learning to be done outside of the classroom that is impossible with larger classes.”

With a maximum class size of 18 students in the lower grades, and 24 in the middle and upper grades, Meridian allows for closer teacher-student relationships. “I’ve had 5-25 students in a class,” Dr. England said. “With the smaller classes the students tend to be closer to each other and you really learn to care about the students individually. It’s something that’s just not possible in public schools.”

Download a Financial Aid Application for 2010-2011:
PDF Document
Word Document

It is Meridian School’s goal to provide financial assistance to those students seeking to improve their educational experience, but cannot otherwise afford this opportunity. Although we are not a lending institution, we do remain committed to reviewing and considering all requests for tuition assistance and helping those with genuine needs. All financial aid is managed and appropriated within the following guidelines:

• Financial aid will be available only to current full-time students at, or new students registering for full-time status at, Meridian School.
• The Financial Aid Fund will be administered by the Meridian School Board or an appointed Student Financial Aid Committee under its oversight.
• Financial aid will appear as a credit on the student’s account and the enrollment contract, and therefore is not available to be refunded or used for any other purpose.
• The maximum financial aid award will be 50% of an individual students’ tuition. The remaining tuition amount must be paid by the family or outside scholarship funding source, or a combination of family resources and outside funding.
• Regardless of the amount of financial aid provided, failure to meet the remaining financial obligations at Meridian School may result in a revocation of the financial aid, as determined by the Meridian School Board, as well as the inability to register for the following year or graduate from Meridian School.
• Monies donated to Meridian School for financial aid cannot be directed to any one particular student, or classification of student (e.g., academic scholar, athlete, etc.).
• Monies donated to Meridian School for financial aid cannot be used for any other purpose unless permission is granted in writing to the Meridian School Board by the donor.
• Students receiving financial aid must follow all standard admissions processes, and enter Meridian School on the same basis and in the same manner as all other students, and must adhere to all Meridian School policies while enrolled.
• Failure on the part of the student (or family) to adhere to Meridian School policies, or failure on the part of the student to maintain an overall Grade Point Average of 2.50 at Meridian School, may result in a revocation of the financial aid, as determined by the Meridian School Board of Trustees. Students who end a school year on academic probation will not be eligible for financial aid for the upcoming year.
• Existing Meridian School families requesting financial aid or having been granted such aid must be or must remain current on their student tuition accounts (i.e., have no outstanding balance from previous years).
• Financial aid cannot be granted to families who have not fully met financial obligations at any other school.
• Financial aid is only available as funds are available—qualifying for financial aid does not guarantee receipt of financial aid.
• If in the process of enrollment, a family applies and does not qualify for financial aid, or does not qualify for enough financial aid (resulting in the student not being able to enroll), a full refund of tuition and fees already paid toward the upcoming year will be provided.
• If in the process of enrollment, a family applies and qualifies for financial aid at Meridian School and funds are not available (resulting in the student not being able to enroll at the school), a full refund of tuition and fees already paid toward the upcoming year will be provided.
• If in the process of enrollment, a family applies and qualifies for financial aid at Meridian School, and funds are available yet the family decides not to enroll their student(s), a full refund of only tuition already paid is available.

How to Apply for Financial Aid at Meridian School

Complete financial aid application, with letter of request and current tax returns

1. Deadline for fall enrollment is February 6th.
2. Awards will be announced February 20th.
   a. Applicants must accept or decline award by February 27th.
   b. Applicants that accept the award must complete the enrollment process by February 27th or awards will be redistributed.
   i. Sign student enrollment contract
   ii. Complete PlanPay forms
   iii. First payment on tuition begins in June 3. If monies are still available after the first round of financial aid, families will be notified of additional funds. Another round of applications will be accepted in March.