Chinquapin Preparatory School
Chinquapin Prep Logo
Location
2615 E Wallisville Rd Highlands, Texas, 77562 United States
Coordinates	29°49′15″N 95°01′18″W / 29.8207°N 95.0217°W / 29.8207; -95.0217
Information
Type	Nonprofit private college-preparatory school
Motto	Latin: Quid pro Quo (Something for Something)
Established	1969
Founder	Robert and Maxine Moore
Director	Mily S. Pérez, M.Ed.
Faculty	21
Key people	Bill & Kathy Heinzerling, Bob & Maxine Moore
Grades	6-12
Enrollment	156[1]
Campus type	Rural
Color(s)	Black, white, and red
Athletics	basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball
Athletics conference	Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
Mascot	Burr
Accreditation	Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools
Newspaper	The Burr
Website	www.chinquapin.org

Chinquapin Preparatory School is a nonprofit private college-preparatory school, grades six through twelve, which serves low-income youth, particularly minorities from the Greater Houston area. The school, accredited by the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools, is located in Highlands in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, USA, near Baytown.^[2]

Chinquapin Prep, along with Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston and Yellowstone Schools (Yellowstone Academy), is one of the few Greater Houston private schools that caters to low income students.^[3]

History

The Chinquapin School was founded by Robert P. Moore — formerly head of the English Department at St. John's School in Houston and his wife Maxine. Incorporated in March 1969 as a school for boys, it was funded with a grant from The Brown Foundation of Houston. The Chinquapin School changed its name to Chinquapin Preparatory School in 2010. The school's motto is Quid pro Quo (Latin: Something for Something).^[4]

Admissions

In 2006 the school used a "summer tryout week" to judge prospective students, as there were more applicants than spaces.^[5]

Operations

As of 2023^[update] the school has boarding facilities which can take students in grades 6-12 of all genders; the school permits students in middle school to board if the school grants approval, and the boarding facility requires proof of a "demonstrated need" for girls in grades 6-7 and boys in grade 6.^[6] In 2006 the boarding facility was only for boys in the 7th and 8th grades, while girls of all grades and 6th grade boys were not permitted to use the boarding facility.^[5]

The school provides teacher residences on its property.^[5]

Funds given by private entities make up, as of 2006, the majority of the funds used by the school to operate.^[5]

Academics

In 2010, Chinquapin added the Urban Teaching Fellows Program, an initiative that allows recent college graduates to gain exposure to all aspects of life at a boarding school including teaching, coaching and residential life. All students who do not participate in team sports also take Physical Education. Piano, Guitar Ensemble, Studio Art, Journalism, and Drama are available as one-half credit electives for 9th-12th grade students. All students must take two half-credit courses in a Fine Art: Piano or Guitar (or other music options), Studio Art, Drama, and/or a Fine Arts elective.

Athletics

Chinquapin is grouped in TAPPS Division 2A and competes in basketball, bowling, cross country, soccer, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Notable alumni

• Jarvis Johnson, member of the Texas House of Representatives^[7]
• Nhial "Simon" Malia, a Lost Boy of Sudan^[8]