Founded by Mrs. Helen Towles Rohan and Mrs. Mary Woods in 1937.
In 1937; The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was published, the cost of gas was 10 cents a gallon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves made its debut, and Mrs. Rohan opened Rohan Woods School in her University City home with 12 students. By 1957, gas had more than doubled in price to 24 cents, and the school had outgrown its founding home. A new location was secured, a farm in Creve Coeur, that had outbuildings for teaching and land to grow. For the next 30 years, this location housed the proprietary school. Then, in 1984, when Mrs. Rohan retired as Head of School, the decision was made to take the school from a sole proprietorship to a 501(c)3 with a Board of Trustees and full accreditation.
This new nonprofit purchased the Warson Woods School from the Webster Groves School District, and this building on Bennett Avenue in Warson Woods is still home to the school. To accommodate a growing fully accredited, independent, elementary school, a specialty wing was added; and by 1998, a new full-size gymnasium, science lab, art room and music room enriched the school. A Head of School was recruited to lead the independent, elementary school, and since 1984, only three heads of school have held this title — the school is proud of the retention and longevity of its faculty and staff.
In 2014, the leadership of Rohan Woods School worked hand in hand with the Regional Commerce and Growth Association to identify future skills required of the workforce. This process highlighted the need for students to learn how to cooperate, collaborate and communicate –and the Project Approach was launched in St. Louis by Rohan Woods School. This learning approach, originating at Duke University, provides a platform for engaging students with challenging academics while incorporating an emphasis on student involvement. Investigations in the core classroom challenge students to apply academic skills; as well as, the missing, important soft skills: communication, collaboration and cooperation. This approach also encourages leadership development through teamwork, planning and project presentation.
First Location 1937 8001 Delmar University City, MO
Second Location 1957 11735 Olive Creve Coeur, MO
(near the intersection of 270 and Olive)
Third Location 1984 1515 Bennett Ave. Warson Woods, MO
In 2019, the school launched the Re-FRESH project to modernize classrooms and specialty rooms. Starting with Third grade and, most recently, completing the Science Lab, Rohan Woods continues to upgrade the school for our current and future students and families.
Head of School: Sam Templin-Page
Grades: Early Childhood Program (Age 2) – Middle School (Grades 5 & 6)
Accreditation: Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
Memberships:
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL)
Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
Educational Records Bureau (ERB)
Maximum Class Size: 16
Faculty: 17 – Student/teacher ratio approximately 8:1
Specialty Classes (included in Tuition): Spanish, PE, Art, Music, PROJECT and Science Lab
Tuition: Early Childhood (Age 2) (2021-2022school year)
Ranges from $7,425 for three half days per week for the year to $21,900 for 5 full days/week for the school year.
Call for fee schedule (full and part-time)
Pre-Kindergarten (Age 3)/Junior Kindergarten (Age 4)
Full-time enrollment $21,950
Part-time enrollment available; Call for fee schedule
Senior Kindergarten – Middle School $21,950
Tuition includes books, supplies, lunch, before care starting at 7:15am, and local field trips
School Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm with staggered starts and dismissals due to COVID-19 compliance.
Lunch and Snacks are included in your tuition. A hot lunch is prepared and served on site each day.
All school supplies and books are included in the cost of tuition. Parents only need to provide a backpack for their child.
Extended Day
- Beforecare: 7:15 – 7:45 am (included in tuition)
- Aftercare: 3:15 – 5:25 pm (billed monthly at $6.50/hr)
- Homework Club: 3:15 – 4:00 pm ($6.50/hr) Homework Club includes a faculty member to answer questions
Achievement Scores: Students of Rohan Woods traditionally perform well on the Educational Records Bureau’s Comprehensive Testing Program IV. In a national comparison in 2017, 90% of our Sixth Graders scored in the 90th percentile or above on vocabulary and quantitative reasoning.
Secondary School Placement: For the past four years, of graduates who chose to apply to independent secondary schools, 100% were accepted into their first choice schools.
Secondary School Choice: John Burroughs School, Chaminade College Preparatory, Crossroads College Preparatory, Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, Priory, Thomas Jefferson, Villa Duchesne, Visitation Academy, Westminster Christian Academy, Whitfield School
Summer Preschool Program https://rohanwoods.org/curriculum/summer-preschool-program/
Rohan Woods is proud to offer a quality Summer Preschool Program with small class sizes and age-appropriate academics and activities. Engagement in the program will inspire your child to grow and enjoy new discoveries through music, adventures in art, science exploration, gross and fine motor activities.
- Two, 2-week Sessions in each month: June and July
- Ages 2 – 5
- Staffed by Rohan Woods’ faculty
Rohan Woods School admits students of any sex, race, color, religion and national ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally made available to students of the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies or programs, admissions policies or financial aid programs.