# Canterbury School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Canterbury School is an independent, college preparatory day school for students aged 2 through Grade 12. The school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana (U.S.). As of 2024, Canterbury School is ranked as the second-best private school in Indiana, and the best in the Fort Wayne area.

## History

Canterbury School was established in 1977 by several families and others. Initially located at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Wayne, it started as a nondenominational, self-supported school with 89 students in kindergarten through grade 6. The school aimed to inspire and motivate students while instilling Christian values and morals, fostering an appreciation for the fine arts, developing foreign language skills, and maintaining high standards for teaching and learning. As Canterbury continued to grow, it quickly outgrew its church setting. In 1980, the school relocated to the vacant Fort Wayne Community Schools building on Covington Road.
When Jonathan Hancock became the fourth headmaster in 1983, he oversaw Canterbury's expansion to include grade 12. In 1987, the year Canterbury graduated its first seniors, the school expanded once again, opening a campus for grades 9 to 12 on Smith Road. Additionally, programs for students as young as 2 were added that year, providing educational opportunities for children of all ages.
In the 2007-2008 academic year, Canterbury School further expanded both campuses to accommodate its growing student body.

## Academics

Canterbury's "goal is to inspire each student to discover and develop his or her unique strengths and talents, and support his or her growth and development tirelessly". Classes throughout all grades, including high school, are intentionally small, providing more individualized assistance and fostering one-on-one relationships with teachers. Classes are conducted in a 1-to-1 technology environment. The school aims to teach students not only the subjects they study but also how to become lifelong learners and develop their character. One hundred percent of outgoing Canterbury students are admitted to college.

## Arts

As opposed to the national trend of steering away from the arts, Canterbury's programs have held fast. Art classes include "drama, choir, photography, computer art, music technology, and composition, orchestra, band, dance, theatre history, and more". Recently, Canterbury has established an Academy of the Arts program where students meet weekly in school to showcase individually prepared works in their respective pursuits. This initiative is overseen by assigned teacher mentors who are trained in those specific art forms. Additionally, other extracurricular art activities are highly popular among students. As of 2024, Canterbury has fully constructed and opened a new fine arts center that is 18,000 square feet and hosts many creative resources, including seven studios, a podcast center and recording studio, a digital photography lab as well as classroom space.

## Athletics

Sports are encouraged among students. All teams have no-cut policies, so everyone who tries out will make the team. The school is part of the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Canterbury's athletic programs have been highly successful over the years. The boys' soccer team holds the record for IHSAA state championships at 7 championship teams, winning the state championship in 1997-98, 1998–99, and 2001–02 school years and winning Class A state championships in the 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, and 2018-19 school years, while coming state runner-ups in 1996-97, 2002–03, and 2020–21 school years.
The boys' basketball team won the Indiana IHSAA 1A state title in 2023-24.
The girls' basketball team has also had its fair share of success, winning Class A state championships in the 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, and 2012-13 school years and coming state runner-ups after being moved up to Class 2A in the 2013–14 and 2014-15 school years.
The girls' soccer team won Class A state championships in the 2014–15 and 2015-16 school years.
The girls' track team has won two individual 1600m state titles.
The tennis team had a boys' state runner-up doubles team in the 2005-06 school year and a girls' singles runner-up in the 2011-12 school year.