Energy Magnate Bill Koch to Open New Top-Tier College Preparatory School in South Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A new, independent high school founded by William "Bill" Koch, CEO of Oxbow Carbon, will open in the fall in West Palm Beach, FL.  Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches, the co-educational, non-sectarian school will welcome ninth-grade students – the founding class – on September 7, 2011. A tenth-grade class may also be added for the inaugural school year, depending on demand. Generous financial aid and merit scholarships are available for founding class members in order to create a rich diversity of high-achieving students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.  

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"As a parent of six children, I fully appreciate the value of quality education," said Koch. "There's no question that our children should be better prepared with a global view of the world and its opportunities. We need to find the very best ways to educate them and provide the tools they need to develop bold, imaginative solutions to the issues that challenge us, preparing them for preeminent college placement and a successful life. I am confident that this school, with its forward-thinking philosophies and outstanding leadership, will earn its place at the forefront of private high school education nationally."

Funded by the nonprofit Palm Beach High School Foundation formed by Koch in 2010, the school is designed to be a top-tier college preparatory school that features best educational practices and innovative instructional approaches to successfully prepare high school students for the finest colleges, global citizenship and the workforce in the 21st century.  President and CEO of Oxbridge Academy is Robert Parsons, a former United States Navy captain and the deputy superintendent for finance and CFO at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He earned his bachelor's of science degree in marine engineering from the United States Naval Academy and his master's of science degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

"To ensure an exceptional and diverse student body, Oxbridge Academy is offering the founding freshman class generous financial subsidies," said Parsons. "Qualified students selected from the pool of 2011 applicants who qualify for the 'Koch Scholars' program will receive full tuition scholarships for each of their four years, as long as they remain in good standing. We're also offering a 50 percent tuition reduction to students who qualify for 'Mastery Scholarships' based on financial need, as well as a high standard of achievement in an academic subject."

The Academic Head of School is Dr. Neen Hunt, who served for 12 years as the head of The Calhoun School, a progressive, independent preparatory school in New York City. Over the course of her career, she has held teaching, administrative, research and senior executive leadership positions at prestigious educational and nonprofit institutions, including The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, Inc. and Scripps Florida.  Hunt graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned her master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) and doctor of education (Ed.D) from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

"Some of the finest minds in education are working with us to develop the school's learning environment and instructional program. Students will be expected to reach deep understandings, to think anew and to be contributing members of the community," said Hunt.

A highly qualified team of educational consultants drawn from around the country have been at work developing all aspects of the new school for several months. The school planners are also in the process of hiring experienced administrators and first rate teachers to deliver a rigorous, interdisciplinary academic program, as well as create an environment that will nurture character development.

"The inaugural freshman class will find themselves in the remarkable situation of being the exclusive focus of a talented and dedicated community of teachers and administrators," said one of Oxbridge's advisors, Dr. James M. Byer, former headmaster of The Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey. "The approximately 75 ninth-grade students, representing the founding families, will enjoy this unusual and extraordinary advantage, essentially maximizing the individual student's chance for academic success and personal growth."

The ninth grade course of study will include the traditional subjects of a liberal arts curriculum and will prepare students for Advanced Placement examinations, but it also will include contemporary language instruction through immersion and virtual modules; an integrated program of art, history, science and math; a life skills program focusing on financial literacy and human development for healthy living; public speaking and debate training; writing and research in the digital age; world religions; robotics; and other electives. Honors classes will be available in all core subjects.

The campus is located on more than 40 acres of land centrally located on North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, FL. The main building will offer a state-of-the-art library and media center; classrooms equipped with advanced technologies, including web conferencing; science laboratories; university-modeled "learning commons" for collaborative projects; a 400-seat performance center and auditorium; dining room; visual arts and dance studios; a full-size gymnasium; indoor squash courts; boys' and girls' locker rooms; and a fully equipped fitness and workout center. The school grounds feature an expansive lake surrounded by a jogging track; lighted tennis courts; a swimming pool; several basketball courts; and beautifully landscaped common areas.

For enrollment information, please contact Director of Admission Fred McGaughan at 561.697.4300 x295, [email protected], or visit www.oxbridgeacademy.org.

SOURCE Palm Beach High School Foundation