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Merryhill School

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Merryhill School
Information
TypePrivate school
Established1949
GradesPreschool–8th grade
AccreditationNAEYC, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and Cognia (education)
LocationsMultiple (CA, CO, NV, TX)
ParentSpring Education Group
Websitemerryhillschool.com

Merryhill School is a network of private schools offering preschool, elementary, and middle school education in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas.[1][2] Select locations also have before and after care and summer camp.[3]

History

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Merryhill School was founded in 1949 by Dorothy and Howard Tompkins in a church annex in Sacramento, California. Their vision was to create not just a school, but a caring and nurturing place where parents could feel at ease leaving their young children. They understood how hard it is to trust someone else with your child, so they made sure that each child felt safe, loved, and encouraged to grow. The school initially served five preschool-aged children. The Tompkins family later opened two additional locations offering preschool through elementary programs.[4]

In the late 1970s, Dr. Donald Leisey, former superintendent of the San Rafael city schools, acquired Merryhill Schools and introduced a number of changes to strengthen its competitive position. He updated the school’s branding, adding the word “Country” to the name to compete with Sacramento Country Day School. Dr. Leisey’s vision was to provide an academic curriculum alongside before- and after-school programs designed to support working parents. These programs, which were innovative at the time, included study halls, ballet, tap dancing, music and piano lessons, theater, and athletics.[4]

Under Dr. Leisey’s leadership, the school expanded to over 20 locations across California. In 1980, Merryhill Country School opened its first middle school, adding 7th and 8th grades to the flagship campus.[4][5]

In 1989, Merryhill was acquired by Rocking Horse Child Care Center, Inc. In 1993, under the leadership of Jack and Scott Clegg, Rocking Horse Child Care Center was renamed to Nobel Education Dynamics and in 1998 renamed to Nobel Learning Communities.[6] During this period, the word “Country” was removed, restoring the original Merryhill School name, along with a new logo and crest that continues to be used today.[4]

In 2018, Nobel Learning Communities, including Merryhill School, was acquired by Spring Education Group, a network of private schools operating in the United States.[7]

Educational mission

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Merryhill School offers preschool through middle school education with a mission of cultivating academic excellence, character development, and lifelong learning. The curriculum emphasizes advanced academics and personal growth. Students develop skills in communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Merryhill offers clubs and after-school programs tailored to local interests and needs. School leaders and teachers promote a nurturing environment aimed at preparing students for the future and civic responsibility.[4]

Curriculum

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Preschool

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Merryhill Preschool provides a learning environment that values exploration and curiosity. Teachers and staff understand that young children often learn at their own pace, in line with their developmental stage. Merryhill introduces foundational content in reading, number sense, art, music, and Spanish. These topics when combined with social-emotional skills sets the path for students’ future learning in elementary school.[8] Families at Merryhill School receive updates through monthly folders, progress reports, and a mobile application.[9][10][11]

Elementary School

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Merryhill Elementary School focuses on the academic progress of their students. Beginning in Kindergarten, students learn to write, read, and understand math concepts. In later grades, students acquire skills in math, reading, social studies, and science essential for developing critical thinking. By the end of elementary school, students are well-prepared for middle school where they will be encouraged to think deeply.[12]

Middle School

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Merryhill Middle School focuses on preparing students to thrive in high school. Lessons build upon the skills learned in the elementary years. Teachers introduce additional material, enabling students to connect prior knowledge with new concepts and to know deeply to think deeply. Students learn executive functioning skills needed for academic success, including notetaking, organization, and time management.[12]

Accreditation

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Many Merryhill preschools are accredited by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).[13] Merryhill elementary and middle schools hold accreditations from Western Accrediting Commission for Schools (WASC)[14][15] and Cognia.[16][17]

Summer camp

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Merryhill School offers summer camp for school-age children at many locations.[3][18] Activities at the camp may include sports, science, games, and arts and crafts.[19] Merryhill School also works with external organizations to offer academic enrichment camps.[20]

Campus openings and relocations

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Merryhill School has expanded its presence in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas.[1] Campus openings and relocations include:

  • 2007: Merryhill preschool opened in the Natomas community of Sacramento, California. The 10,780-square-foot facility has capacity for 190 students and includes office space, eight classrooms, a reception area, and kitchen.[21]
  • 2013: Merryhill School, which served the Roseville, California community for 30 years at its old address, relocated to a new campus to accommodate middle school grades.[22]
  • 2017: Merryhill preschool opened in Aurora, Colorado.[23]
  • 2025: Merryhill preschool opened in Midtown Sacramento, California.[24]

Charitable giving

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Charitable events at Merryhill School include:

  • Monetary drives for Faces of Tomorrow.[25]
  • Toy and gift drives for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas,[26] La Familia,[27] Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ Angel Tree program,[28] and Operation Christmas Child.[29]
  • Clothing and essential items drives for The San Jose Family Shelter,[30] Acres of Hope,[31] and Mustard Seed School.[32]
  • Food, paper goods, and toiletries donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Las Vegas.[33]

Awards and recognition

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According to Niche, a school ranking and review platform, four Merryhill Schools received an A+ overall grade in 2025:[34]

Four Merryhill Schools received an A overall grade from Niche in 2025:

The grade reflects performance across categories including academics, teachers, diversity, and parent/student satisfaction.[43]

Other awards include:

  • Merryhill Elementary and Middle School in Midtown Sacramento received a Student Educational Video Award (SEVA) in the Creative Expression Grades K-3 category for their student stop motion film "Mystery."[44]
  • Merryhill Elementary & Middle School in Milpitas received the Best Middle School 2019 award at the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship.[45]
  • In 2018, Merryhill Elementary School on Durango Drive in Las Vegas was recognized as a “Top Ten First in Math School” for its students’ high participation and engagement in the nationwide online math program.[46]

Apple distinguished school

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Merryhill Elementary and Middle School in Midtown Sacramento and Merryhill Elementary School in Roseville are Apple Distinguished Schools.[47] Apple Distinguished Schools use Apple technology to create, collaborate, and think critically.[48] As of 2025, this distinction has been given to 1,000+ schools in 40 countries.[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Merryhill School". MerryhillSchool.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  2. ^ "Merryhill School Company Overview, Contact Details & Competitors | LeadIQ". leadiq.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  3. ^ a b "Find a Merryhill Preschool or Private School Near You". Merryhill School. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Our History". Merryhill School. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  5. ^ Reed, Sally (1985-04-14). "THE LEARNINFG SOCIETY; SCHOOLS THAT TURN A PROFIT". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  6. ^ "Nobel Learning Communities Inc | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  7. ^ "Investcorp Announces Sale of Nobel Learning Communities". InvestCorp.com. August 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Preschool & Daycare Curriculum". Merryhill School. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  9. ^ "Ready for School". citylifestyle.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  10. ^ "Outstanding Parent Communication". Merryhill School. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  11. ^ "‎Links 2 Home". App Store. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  12. ^ a b "Private Elementary & Middle School Curriculum". Merryhill School. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  13. ^ "NAEYC Member Portal". my.naeyc.org. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  14. ^ "ACS WASC Directory of Schools" (PDF). July 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "ACS WASC Commission – Accrediting Commission for Schools". directory.acswasc.org. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  16. ^ Pages, Texas School. "Best Middle COGNIA Schools in Arlington". Texas School Pages. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  17. ^ "Cognia". home.cognia.org. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  18. ^ "List: Summer camps offered in the Las Vegas valley". KLAS. 2024-04-09. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  19. ^ "Merryhill Preschool, Elementary & Middle School Camps". DFWChild. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  20. ^ "Summer Skill Accelerators at Merryhill School". Swoon Learning - Online Tutoring, Activities, and Life Skills for Students and Student-Athletes, and Neurodivergent Learners with ADHD. 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  21. ^ "Merryhill School II". Alston Construction Company. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  22. ^ "Merryhill School Set for New Campus, Expansion to Add Middle School". Roseville, CA Patch. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  23. ^ SENTINEL, THE (2017-02-02). "YOUR NEWS: New Merryhill Preschool opens in Aurora". Sentinel Colorado. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  24. ^ "Merryhill Preschool in Midtown to host grand opening ribbon-cutting". FOX40 News. 2025-05-05. Archived from the original on 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  25. ^ Faces (2019-05-09). "Merryhill Elementary School Fundraiser". Faces of Tomorrow. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  26. ^ "Merryhill Preschool Students Donate 250 Toys to Hospitalized Children". Las Vegas, NV Patch. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  27. ^ "Merryhill Preschool Students Donate 150 Toys to Local Nonprofit". Sacramento, CA Patch. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  28. ^ "Merryhill School Students Deliver Gifts to Local Children in Need". Arlington, TX Patch. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  29. ^ "Students at Merryhill Preschool in Milpitas pack 100 gift boxes for children in need around the world". The Milpitas Beat. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  30. ^ "Milpitas students collect socks for San Jose shelter". MercuryNews.com. December 23, 2023.
  31. ^ "Merryhill Elementary donates over 200 items to Acres of Hope". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  32. ^ "Merryhill Schools Donate 600 Items for Local Children in Need". Elk Grove, CA Patch. 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  33. ^ "Donations in the Las Vegas community | 2018". Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  34. ^ "K-12 School & District Rankings". niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  35. ^ "Merryhill Preschool, Elementary School & Middle School - Milpitas in Milpitas, CA". Niche. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  36. ^ "Merryhill Preschool, Elementary School and Middle School - Elk Grove". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  37. ^ "Merryhill Preschool & Elementary School". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  38. ^ "Merryhill Elementary & Middle School". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  39. ^ "Merryhill Elementary School". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  40. ^ "Merryhill Preschool and Elementary School - San Jose". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  41. ^ "Merryhill Preschool and Elementary School - Summerlin". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  42. ^ "Merryhill Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School - Durango Drive". Niche.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  43. ^ "Methodology for Niche K-12 Rankings". Niche. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  44. ^ "SEVA 2025 Awards Celebration". www.secctv.org. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  45. ^ "Local School in Milpitas Receives Awards at Science Competition". Milpitas, CA Patch. 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  46. ^ "Merryhill Elementary School Named Top Ten First in Math School". Las Vegas, NV Patch. 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  47. ^ a b "Apple Distinguished Schools Worldwide Directory" (PDF). Apple.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  48. ^ "K–12 Education - Apple Distinguished Schools". Apple. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
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