The Seed of an Idea
Just as The Woodlands was meticulously planned and developed to embrace its natural surroundings, showcasing the landscape from which it sprang, so The John Cooper School was created to reflect and perpetuate the long-term vision for the community.
In the early years, when prospective residents visited The Woodlands Information Center in Grogan’s Mill, there was a small, lit-up bulb on the community map indicating where the school would be, says Dr. Marina Ballantyne Walne, John Cooper’s first head of school. A beautifully wooded, 43-acre parcel had been reserved in the original master plan for the community by the founder of The Woodlands, entrepreneur and philanthropist George P. Mitchell, who knew that a top tier college preparatory school would be an important factor in successfully recruiting companies and attracting families to move to The Woodlands.
From the very beginning, the school was conceived as a place for the young community to focus its commitment to excellence. Named in honor of the long-tenured head of The Kinkaid School in Houston, Dr. John H. Cooper came out of retirement to offer his knowledge and guidance throughout the formation and early years of the school’s existence.
With the help of Dr. Cooper, along with early board members, area parents, community leaders, and other supporters, the school was founded on the idea of educating the whole student by providing a challenging curriculum in a caring environment that is deeply connected to the community. “If we could create a school where a student’s natural curiosity could stay intact, where knowledge and skills were developed wisely from pre-K through 12, we knew that would be important to The Woodlands,” says Ballantyne Walne, who created the school’s motto, From Curiosity to Wisdom. Each year graduates walk over the school’s Ballantyne Bridge in a ceremony that symbolizes their continuation of a lifelong journey seeking wisdom.
The John Cooper School opened the classroom doors for its first school year in the fall of 1988 with an enrollment of 175 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 7. One additional grade level was added each successive year. The first senior class graduated in 1994, and former President George H.W. Bush delivered the baccalaureate address. Today, the school has burgeoned to over 1,300 students representing over 40 countries, a diversity of families and experiences that stimulates the intellectual and creative environment at the school, says Dr. Stephen Popp, who serves as the current head of school.
Deep Roots, Strong Branches
Just as The Woodlands has flourished and received national recognition, The John Cooper School has taken its place not only as a top school in Houston, but as a premier school in Texas and the nation. “We do not moor our identity to an external ranking. At the same time, we’re grateful for the acclaim we’ve received,” says Dr. Stephen Popp, current head of school at John Cooper. This year the school was named the top private K-12 school in Montgomery County, as well as #2 in the entire Houston area, #3 in Texas, and #27 in the nation, by Niche.com in its annual school rankings. “It’s a true testament to our faculty, to our students, our alumni, our whole Cooper community. It reflects what Cooper families and teachers have known for years. We are constantly innovating and growing with purpose,” says Popp.
He says the school values the deep roots of tradition while at the same time maintaining an ability to incorporate change. This philosophy is reflected in its commitment to providing resources and facilities that support the quest for knowledge and prepare students for the future: The Rock Math + Science Center includes a 125-seat lecture hall, a rooftop garden, and computer and robotics labs. The Glenn Performing Arts Center houses a 500-seat main stage and a 125-seat “black box” theater, and the school has a visual arts building. The technology department includes a digital design program and an online media program with a professional-level podcast studio.
John Cooper’s “whole child” philosophy equips students with the gravitas to thrive in the world, says Popp, “an intellectual agility imbued with a sense of care.” It is one of six mentor schools in the country chosen by Yale University to implement a science-based program to enhance social and emotional intelligence, teaching relational skills that are valuable at school, at home, and in their future workplace. The Independent Study Program gives upper school students the freedom to design their own course with the help of a faculty advisor. This self-directed learning program provides a customized opportunity to take a deep dive into an area of personal interest. This past school year, 13 students were recognized as commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Popp says John Cooper athletics had a banner year last year: Individual and team performances resulted in championships at both the middle and upper school levels, and 11 senior athletes went on to play at the college level. Students this coming school year will be the first to use a newly constructed 25,000 square-foot state-of-the-art athletic facility, he says, and lacrosse is being added to the school's sports lineup, with the rollout starting at the fifth grade level.
The successful result of the intertwining visions of community and school was recently affirmed when John Cooper was named a 2024 “Hometown Hero” by Interfaith of The Woodlands, the non-profit social service agency which, along with The Woodlands, is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, says Jessica Holloway, the school’s director of marketing and communications. John Cooper joins a long and distinguished list of community heroes who’ve demonstrated their long-term commitment to making a positive impact on the community.
Standing Tall and Growing Skyward
Holloway says that in recent years, a growing number of alumni have returned to raise their families in The Woodlands and enroll their children at their alma mater. It’s a compelling affirmation—and an assurance that seeds are continuing to be planted, growing the school’s commitment to knowledge and community well into the future.
From the very beginning, the school was conceived of as a place for the young community to focus its commitment to excellence.