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Each year, thousands of high school students across the U.S. and around the world sit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams—rigorous college-level assessments designed to challenge learners and prepare them for higher education. While AP scores are often celebrated as a measure of academic success, they also offer a deeper lens into how schools cultivate learning environments that support high achievement.

The transition from summer break to the school year can be a challenging time for children and families. While some students eagerly anticipate returning to the classroom, others may feel anxious, uncertain, or overwhelmed. Understanding and supporting the emotional side of this transition is key to helping children start the year with confidence.

Sport isn’t just a break from the “real” work of school; it’s real work where essential life skills are built. It helps to develop confidence, resilience, focus, collaboration, emotional agility, stress management, and strength. In a world that’s changing fast—where face-to-face connection is often replaced by more fragmented interactions—sport and extracurriculars aren’t just “nice-to-haves,” but vital foundations for a healthy, connected childhood.

What started as a school project for Titan Yasir has now turned into a mission—one that’s building community, inspiring future engineers and helping Titan grow as a leader and educator.

Business, Economics & Entrepreneurship students at The Village School had the unique opportunity to hear from a distinguished alumnus who has taken the tech world by storm. A ‘lifer’ at Village, Divyesh Khatri went on to Stanford University before co-founding a successful AI startup, Twine. Instead of taking a traditional internship in his final summer, he and his business partner took a leap of faith—launching a company that would eventually earn funding from Y Combinator, the famed startup accelerator behind Airbnb and Instacart. During his talk, Divyesh shared how The Village School prepared him for the challenges of  launching a company, the importance of resilience in the startup world, and why learning to sell—yourself, your ideas and your product—is the most valuable skill of all.

Choosing the right educational path for your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. While public school remains the default option for many families across the country, growing interest in private education has led more parents to explore alternatives.

Strong educational outcomes are built on more than just curriculum and test scores—they rely on the consistency, passion and growth of educators in the classroom. Yet across the United States, teacher turnover remains a pressing issue. Nationally, the average annual turnover rate for teachers is 16%, with urban districts like Houston often experiencing even higher attrition. The average tenure of a U.S. teacher is just 5 years, and satisfaction levels have dropped as workloads rise and support systems lag behind.

Preparing for college is a critical part of a student’s academic journey. A strong college preparatory program should be structured, comprehensive and designed to support students academically, emotionally and strategically. The most effective private schools ensure students are well-prepared to achieve their goals by providing individualized guidance, emotional support and ethical practices in college counseling.

To truly prepare students for the future, educators must also equip them with the practical skills necessary for independent living. Financial literacy, self-care, home maintenance, and responsible decision-making are just as critical as core academic subjects. A well-rounded education should seamlessly integrate both academic excellence and real-world preparedness, ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed in all aspects of life.

The Village School is proud to announce that its student-led social impact project, Step-In, has received an $8,000 grant from Nord Anglia Education’s Social Impact Grants. Created by students in the Entrepreneurship Diploma program, Step-In is transforming the educational experience for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students in Houston through peer mentorship and innovative tools.

Students at The Village School recently took part in a unique and impactful event to raise awareness about youth homelessness. Organized by senior Alessio Berard, the sleepout event brought 26 students together for a night spent sleeping outdoors, simulating the experience of homelessness.

Selecting the right private school can be a daunting process. Asking the right questions should help you determine which school fits your child's needs. CityCast Houston recently interviewed two members of The Village School's admissions team about what the key points to consider are when doing your research. 

Choosing the best school is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. A range of factors must be considered, from academic programs and extracurricular activities to school culture and community values. Many parents use a variety of tools in their search, including recommendations from friends or family, attending open houses, and increasingly, online comparison platforms like Niche.com.

Every school is home to exceptional individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on their community. Whether it's through class initiatives, service projects, or independent efforts, students are constantly striving to improve the world around them.  At The Village School, these initiatives shine brightly as students embrace opportunities to lead with empathy and purpose. One such example is a project started by Milan Drummond, a 12th grader with a passion for justice and community well-being. Through her initiative, Harmony Highways, Milan is working to improve relations between the public and law enforcement, reflecting both her desire to make a difference and her career aspirations.

In today's educational landscape, ensuring the safety and well-being of students should be a top priority for every school. A secure learning environment is not only essential for academic success but also for the peace of mind of parents and staff. To achieve this, schools must implement and maintain effective safety protocols, as well as ensure that critical infrastructure systems are functioning optimally.

Many of us live, work, and are educated in a culture of busyness. “It's really unhealthy,” says Dr Katie Hurley, a child and adolescent psychotherapist in the U.S. “We feel that any time that's available needs to be spent doing something ‘productive.’ And that's a dangerous concept in a way because we need to be able to recognize that reading a book is productive, and resting is productive, and playing with LEGOs by myself is productive. So, we have to be able to see the value in all kinds of downtime activities and resetting activities.”

Body shaming is a harmful form of bullying that targets individuals based on their physical appearance, causing significant psychological and emotional distress. Alarmingly, children as young as nine years old experience body shaming and may struggle with its effects throughout adolescence. Dana Sheridan, LPC, a school counselor at The Village School, shares her insights on this critical issue and offers strategies for effectively combating it, particularly among children.

During the summer time, vacations, pools, and fun are certainly on children’s minds. However, it’s also important to incorporate learning into their day. Summer learning loss, also known as the "summer slide," refers to the decline in academic and social skills that can occur when children are not engaged in educational activities during the summer months. Dana Sheridan, LPC, Lower School Counselor at The Village School, sheds light on this issue and offers practical solutions for parents to keep their children's minds active during the long summer break.

A robust approach to school counseling is essential for fostering a supportive and enriching educational environment. A comprehensive support system that prioritizes mental health and well-being alongside academic achievement sets a high standard for educational institutions aiming to provide a holistic educational experience.

There’s a saying in education circles: ‘we treasure what we measure’. A new partnership in the US is testing the inverse: if we change what we measure can we change what we treasure?