The Roanoker May/June 2017 - 15

Independent and Agile:

H O W N O R T H C R O S S L E A D S E D U C AT I O N - AT H O M E A N D A B R O A D

NORTH CROSS SCHOOL IS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT PREP SCHOOL IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY, and as
such, it occupies a central role in the region's educational community. Entering its 74th year of operation, North Cross
educates 500 Pre-K through grade 12 students on its Roanoke campus and an additional 200 high-school students on its
second campus in Shanghai, China (North Cross School-Xinhe).
When asked about the advantages of being an independent school, Head of School Dr. Christain J. Proctor
asserts, "We are distinct in our ability to react nimbly to the educational needs of our community, whether this is through
the implementation of a Pre-K-12 foreign language program, early adoption of iPad technology, creation of an OrtonGillingham program for students with learning differences, or through the establishment of our first international campus."

Proctor continues, "These choices for our
students are working; they are consistently
admitted to selective colleges and universities
in the U.S.-last year alone, we sent 50% of
our graduates to colleges ranked among the
top 35 in the nation."
Traditionally, college prep schools are measured by where their graduates go to college.
Dr. Proctor is quick to point out North Cross'
advantage: "The key is an unwavering obligation to academics, while never forgetting that
the hallmark of an independent school is to
produce a graduate who is well-balanced, and
who moves beyond the traditional classroom,
willing to explore differing perspectives." To
this end, along with daily foreign language instruction (from Spanish in the Lower School to
Mandarin as students progress), North Cross
instituted the Horace G. Fralin Program for
Global Studies in its Upper School. The program produces students who are aware of world
issues, well-traveled, and, who are, as Proctor
puts it, "comfortable with discussions about
diverse cultures and interests." He continues,
"Our approach to academics is always based on
our belief that our graduates must be able to
thrive in an ever-evolving global economy."
North Cross integrates the "extracurricular" into its curriculum, allowing students to

discover and express "Our approach to academics is always based
their interests, whether
through the arts, ath- on our belief that our students must thrive
letics-or both. Music in an ever-evolving global economy."
and visual art instruc-DR. CHRISTIAN J. PROC TOR, HEAD OF SCHOOL
tion is a mainstay of
the classroom, and physical education sessions
well, he adds, "Our Shanghai campus provides
meet daily. Along with robust arts offerings,
a base to our American students to visit China,"
students have regular performance opportunias several students did this past spring break.
ties, required public speaking exercises, and its
As noted often in these pages and in the
teams compete in 13 different sports. "All stunational media, the Valley is in the midst of an
dents take part in athletics and we take pride in
incredible transformation. The same work ethcalling all of our graduates 'student-athletes,'"
ic that made Roanoke a booming 'train town'
Proctor notes. "Our students put as much onto
will help create its future economy-only now,
the field as they do into their classwork. Just
it will be based in health care, neurosciences, IT,
look at the number of state and conference
and outdoor tourism. Dr. Proctor sees North
championships our teams have won each year-
Cross as an integral partner in this evolution:
even when pitted against schools twice our size." "With the agility only found in independent
This formula for a comprehensive curschools, North Cross has, and will continue
riculum works. "Our success in producing
to position itself as the educational leader in
well-rounded, academically agile students has
the Valley-and across the globe. We continue
made our brand desirable around the world."
to believe that an education founded in strong
Two years ago, North Cross opened its first
communication skills, creative thinking, and
international campus in Shanghai. Now, 200
problem solving will remain the right educaChinese students participate in an English
tion for the remainder of the 21st century." ✩
language, AP-based curriculum. Its first gradFor more information on North Cross School, both in
uates have been accepted to some of the best
the U.S. and in China, visit NORTHCROSS.ORG.
research universities across the U.S. This satellite campus benefits its Roanoke students as
Sponsored Content

http://www.NORTHCROSS.ORG

The Roanoker May/June 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker May/June 2017