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About US

For boys, Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12

University School teaches boys of all ages the important tenets of becoming young men: responsibility, loyalty, and consideration. At University School, our students are set up for success both in and beyond the classroom.

List of 14 items.

OUR MISSION

University School inspires boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Our dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum, and experiential programs foster intellectual, physical, creative, and moral excellence. University School is a diverse and inclusive community where each boy is known and loved.
OUR MOTTO
Responsibility, Loyalty, Consideration are more than words in a motto; the concepts are woven into the fabric of school life.
- US teachers and students model integrity and respect.
- US boys rise to the occasion to lead and to serve those in need.
- US boys develop empathy by consistently listening, sharing, and being there for others.
OUR COMMUNITY

University School believes that its students learn their most formative and enduring lessons through exposure to and experience with a broad range of perspectives. We recruit and support faculty whose backgrounds and training bring local, national, and international perspectives to our school. We admit and support students who represent economically, culturally, and racially diverse communities within Northeast Ohio. All students have many opportunities to explore their talents and develop their skills in new contexts. During his time at US, each student is encouraged to discover both his responsibility to others and his purpose in the world.
OUR CAMPUS

University School maintains two campuses. Our lower and middle school campus (grades Junior K–8) is located in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and our upper school campus (grades 9–12) can be found on a 220-acre campus in Hunting Valley, Ohio.
OUR STUDENTS & FACULTY

University School has a diverse population from Greater Cleveland; 867 male students are enrolled selectively. The lower and middle schools (grades Junior K-8) have 444 students, and the upper school (grades 9-12) has 423 students. This averages out to class sizes of 14 students and a 7:1 student to teacher ratio. We take pride in our accomplished teachers. University School faculty number 126, 83% of whom hold advanced degrees.
COLLEGE ATTENDANCE

One hundred percent of University School graduates go on to four-year colleges. Our approach to college counseling is individual. As each boy is his own person, colleges have their own unique "character," and we foster a good student-college match.
AFFORDABILITY

University School awards $8+ million in financial assistance annually. 49% of our families participate in our affordability program. Merit aid awards are also available to incoming ninth graders.
NATIONAL MERIT® SCHOLARS

The National Merit® Scholarship Program recognized 24 University School seniors, including 12 students as Semifinalists, in the 2022 competition. Read more.
ACT/SAT SCORES, AP CLASSES

56% of University School's Class of 2021 took the ACT:
ACT Score: University School's mean composite score is 29.
77% of University School's Class of 2021 took the SAT:
SAT Math Score: University School's mean is 690.
SAT EBRW Score: University School's mean is 680.
In 2021, students took a total of 445 AP exams; 84% earned a score of three or higher. Many AP courses are offered exclusively to seniors.
ATHLETIC TRADITION

University School's athletic programs have a long and successful history and are important components of the overall school curriculum. These programs support the school's philosophy of participation, growth, and achievement and encourage the values of self-discipline, respect for others, integrity, responsibility, and sportsmanship. At the high school, the 13-sport interscholastic program includes varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen teams to encourage broad participation in sports. In the past four years, 10% to 34.5% of senior athletes in each class committed to play college sports.
INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION

Ranked the #1 Private K-12 School in Ohio by Niche; selected by The Ohio Academy of Science to receive The Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research; received a LEEDS Silver certification for the upper school academic wing; and, for the eleventh time, named one of the Top Workplaces in Northeast Ohio!
HISTORY

Since its establishment in 1890, University School has served as a model for the American independent day school. Founding headmaster Newton Anderson envisioned a school that would train boys in mental, manual, and physical education. His vision endures, as more than 131 years later we continue to educate the whole boy.
ACCREDITATION

US is accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) and by the Ohio State Department of Education.
MEMBERSHIP

US is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS), the Cleveland Council of Independent Schools (CCIS), and the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC).

School Leadership

List of 12 members.

Mr. Patrick Gallagher

Head of School

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Bio
Patrick Gallagher was named Head of School in September, 2018. For the nine months prior, he served as the school's interim headmaster. Prior to that, Mr. Gallagher was the co-director of the Upper School and Hunting Valley campus for five years. He came to US in 2005 from The Culver Academies, where he taught English and humanities.

At US, Mr. Gallagher began as an Upper School English teacher and later worked with boys and families as part of the college counseling team. Since 2009, he has been the Upper School Dean of Faculty, responsible for the recruitment and development of all part- and full-time faculty. During this time, he also chaired the Upper School Curriculum Committee, comprised of grades 9-12 department chairs and K-12 administrators. He designed, implemented, and oversaw the Faculty Development Program, and served as a liaison with the University School Parents Association leadership for grades 9-12. His tenure has seen curricular expansions such as new AP and post-AP courses, the growth of the computer science program, and the inception of robotics.

Mr. Gallagher received his master of arts degree from Columbia University, where he was a Klingenstein Scholar in Educational Leadership; and his bachelor of arts degree in English language and literature from Princeton University. He grew up in Cleveland and was valedictorian at St. Edward High School.
Mrs. Lindsay Arnoult

Director of the Middle School; Middle School French Teacher

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Bio

As Middle School Director, Lindsay Arnoult oversees the division's day-to-day operations, faculty members, and curricular and co-curricular programs. Prior to joining US in 2003, Mrs. Arnoult taught French at the Landon School in Bethesda, MD, and completed her student teaching at the University School of Nashville. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and fully fluent in French, she has served in a variety of positions at US, including Coordinator of International Programs. An avid traveler, she has visited 34 countries worldwide. Mrs. Arnoult grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended the Sidwell Friends School.
Mrs. Jen Beros

Associate Head of School

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Bio
Jen Beros, who joined the faculty of University School in 2011, is the Associate Head of School, Lower School Director, and college counselor. Her career in education spans 25 years and has included college counseling, teaching high school history and life skills, teaching middle school social studies and language arts, graduate research, and instruction at the collegiate level. At University School, she has also served as Director of College Counseling and Head of McKinley House.

Mrs. Beros is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, The Ohio Association of College Admissions Counselors, The College Board, and the Association of College Counselors for Independent Schools. She has presented at the national conference of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, helped to initiate and coordinate many college programs for Cleveland Independent School students and parents, and attended multiple national and regional conferences.

Mrs. Beros received her B.S. in Education, Cum Laude, from Miami University, her M.A. in Comparative Politics from American University, and her M.A. in Education from Ursuline College.
Mr. Jon Bridge

Assistant Head of School for Advancement

216-292-2152

Bio
Jonathan Bridge is the Assistant Head of School for Advancement where he heads the School's fundraising, alumni relations and marketing teams. Mr. Bridge came to US in 2007 from Denison University where he served as Senior Development Officer in the Office of Major and Planned Giving. He was also Director of the Annual Fund at Denison. Mr. Bridge received his bachelor of arts degree from Denison University where he majored in fine arts. He has studied financial planning and economics at the University of Tulsa, and spent a year at The Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City.
Mrs. Lisa Cummings

Director of the Lower School

216-321-8260

Bio
Lisa Cummings currently serves as the Director of the Lower School. Mrs. Cummings was formerly the Assistant Principal at Arbor Elementary School in Euclid, Ohio. Prior to her tenure there, for more than 20 years Mrs. Cummings served in a variety of teaching and leadership positions at Bryden Elementary and Hilltop Elementary Schools in Beachwood, Ohio, including as Subject Coordinator, Grade Level Team Leader, and on the district's Equity and Engagement Team. Mrs. Cummings earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Akron, Master of Education degree from John Carroll University, and Master of Arts in Educational Administration degree from Ursuline College. Mrs. Cummings is also the proud parent of US boys Blake '29 and Chandler '25.
Mr. Mike DeGrandis

Chief Financial Officer
Mrs. Sandie Fantozzi-Welker

Director of Human Resources & Payroll

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Mr. Sean McDonnell

Director of Athletics K-12, Basketball Coach

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Bio
Sean McDonnell was appointed Director of Athletics, Jr. K-12 in 2016 and is also the Varsity Basketball Coach at US. He was formerly the Men’s Basketball Coach and an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, where he served for 13 years. In addition to his basketball duties, Mr. McDonnell served on the Faculty Senate Compensation Committee, the Faculty Personnel Committee, the Undergraduate Admission Committee, and as the Coordinator of NCAA Eligibility and Compliance at CWRU. Mr. McDonnell earned his BA in English from Boston College in 1996 and his MA in education from Le Moyne College in 2000.
Mr. Rob Pesicka

Director of Marketing & Communications

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Mr. Krystopher Perry

Director of Upper School and Hunting Valley Campus

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Ms. Christina Townsend Hartz

Director of Admission & Financial Aid

216-292-2149

Bio
Christina Townsend Hartz is the Director Admission and Financial Aid, Grades Jr. K-12. She joined University School in 2013. Previously she has worked in admissions, financial aid, and residential life. Ms. Townsend Hartz received her bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University and has worked in independent schools for the past 20 years.
Mrs. Lisa Ulery

Director of Technology & Libraries, Sophomore Class Dean, School Archivist

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Bio
Lisa Ulery joined the faculty in 2004, and was appointed Director of Technology and Libraries in 2016. She is responsible to the school’s academic program in technology as well as maintaining an IT infrastructure to support that work. In her time at US, Mrs. Ulery has served as Director of the Wean Research Library, Spanish teacher, Archivist, and Mabian advisor. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Spanish and Social Studies Education and a master’s degree from Kent State University in Instructional Technology.