The Emery / Weiner School

The Emery/Weiner School is a private, college-preparatory middle and high school located in Houston, TX. We provide the finest academics, educate the whole child, and inculcate a unique student culture. We do this in an environment which is framed by and infused with progressive and pluralistic Judaism.

Our academic program encompasses traditional and progressive methods. While we stress the development of traditional academic skills, we also engage in experiential learning and regular field trips. Our approach to Judaic Studies is a modern one which seeks to make faith and traditions relevant for each student. Our culture is one that empowers students, instilling in them a sense of responsibility not only for their school community, but for the community at-large. The result is a learning partnership in which students feel a sense of ownership in the institution and — more importantly — graduate with profound sense of self and moral self-reliance.

And notwithstanding our seriousness of purpose, there is an energy and joy at Emery/Weiner that makes us different. In addition to co-curricular traditional offerings, such as dynamic arts and athletic programs, Emery/Weiner offers more. For example, in addition to an unusually robust experiential learning program, we have elements that simply don’t exist at other schools – such as our unique opening day ceremonies. One year, we began with a gospel singer performing Hebrew songs, and another year we distributed Buddhist meditation bells in order to help enhance mindfulness. Our reasoning is simple: If the educational environment is engaging, then kids will learn more.

Due to the hard work of many people – local lay leaders and educators from around the country who have joined us – Emery/Weiner has earned a place among the very best academic institutions in Houston – an observation corroborated by our colleagues from our peer schools and evidenced by an incredibly impressive record of college admissions. But what I’m most proud of is the impact we have on our students. Beyond helping develop their minds, we are helping instill a profound sense of self in our kids – a “self” that’s been pushed, pulled, nurtured, and challenged so that our graduates leave Stella Link with a confidence they’ll carry for a lifetime.

Our mission is “To educate and develop students whose intellect, moral character and Jewish identity provide a lifelong foundation for personal growth, commitment to the Jewish people and Tikkun Olam—improving the world in which we live.”

Emery/Weiner’s first priority is to prepare students academically and push them intellectually. While our school culture may be progressive in many ways, in this way of educating, we are unabashedly traditional. That isn’t to say that our choice of texts is limited to the age-old canon, but it is to say that reading, writing, critical thinking, and computation matter tremendously. Because we admit a broad range of students, from the 40th to the 99th percentiles, we offer both on-level and advanced courses and differentiate instruction in order to accommodate this diversity of learning styles. And though memorization of facts certainly has its place, we emphasize learning concepts and mastering skills. Our goal is not only to prepare students for college, but also to create life-long learners.

As a college preparatory school, Emery/Weiner expects that all of our graduates will matriculate to four-year undergraduate programs – though we recognize that for some students a PG, or post-graduate, year may be advisable. Unfortunately, the college application process can be fraught with tension; but at Emery/Weiner, we work closely with students and their families in order to make the process a positive and self-affirming one. Because of our size, we truly know our students, and thus are not only able to provide meaningful counsel regarding the sorts of schools that may be most appropriate, but we are also able to provide unusually effective advocacy. In fact, our letters of recommendation have been praised by colleges, and our high school profile (which accompanies each of our students’ applications) has been singled out for its quality by a panel of admission officers.

At Emery/Weiner, we are committed to providing support for students with learning differences and for those who may be eligible for additional classroom support. If a student’s performance indicates a need for educational accommodations, Emery/Weiner may be able to offer a variety of accommodationss to assist with that student’s educational need.