The Archer School for Girls

History

Archer was founded in 1995 by Megan Callaway, Victoria Shorr, and Diana Meehan, all graduates of girls' schools and parents of daughters about to enter middle school. According to Diana Meehan, the name “Archer” was chosen to signify a place where girls would be taught to be self-sufficient based on research specific to female learners. The school began in a converted Pacific Palisades dance studio with just over 30 sixth and seventh grade students.

In 1999, the school purchased the Eastern Star Home for Women in Brentwood Village, a building designed by California architect William Mooser. The building has been designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed in the California and National Register of Historic Places.

One of Archer's numerous traditions is the raising of a maypole each year in spring. The tradition began in 1981 when an anonymous donor arranged to have the maypole constructed for the residents of the Eastern Star Home for Women then located at the site. Archer has since continued the custom, with 6th grade students performing a maypole dance on the last day of school.

In 2003, Archer received the LA Conservancy Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse.

Elizabeth English was named Head of School in 2008.

The Archer School for Girls led a panel at the 2022 Teen Vogue Summit in Los Angeles, featuring Head of School Elizabeth English and the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, Jody Gerson.

Academics

In addition to the traditional middle and high school subjects taught, Archer partners with the Online School for Girls to offer additional STEM and language courses to students. In the 2018-2019 year, the school offered 149 courses.

Notable figures who have spoken at Archer include producer and author Oprah Winfrey, actress Kerry Washington, actress and comedian Sarah Silverman, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Julie Foudy, and journalist Lisa Ling.

In recognition of its support for a free and responsible student press, the school's student publication The Oracle has won the First Amendment Press Freedom Award for the past eight years.

The school's InvenTeam has twice won a grant from Lemelson-MIT, a national leader in efforts to prepare the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.

Notable alumnae

• Gracie Abrams, singer-songwriter of That's So True and I Love You, I'm Sorry
• Kate Berlant, American comedian from Sorry to Bother You and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
• Molly Burch, American singer-songwriter
• Samy Burch, American screenwriter of May December
• Carly Chaikin, American actress from Suburgatory and Mr. Robot
• Gia Coppola, American director of Palo Alto and Mainstream
• Emma Roberts, American actress from American Horror Story and Scream Queens
• Halston Sage, American actress from Paper Towns and the Orville
• Harley Quinn Smith, American actress from Yoga Hosers and Tusk
• Amelia Gray Hamlin, American model and television personality from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

References

References

1. (19 February 2015). "Review: Archer School for Girls". Digital Journal.
2. "Eastern Star Home, 11725 Sunset, Brentwood, Los Angeles. March 30, 1932.". Huntington Digital Library.
3. (2007). "Learning like a girl: educating our daughters in schools of their own". PublicAffairs.
4. "(#440)".
5. (2004-05-02). "A magical mystery maypole rises in Brentwood - latimes". Articles.latimes.com.
6. (March 30, 2003). "Preservation projects praised - latimes". Articles.latimes.com.
7. (2022-11-13). "Sabrina Carpenter and Keke Palmer Brought Style and Smiles to Teen Vogue Summit".
8. (2014-07-19). "Online School for Girls puts focus on connection, collaboration". LA Times.
9. (2015-10-21). "Archer Course Catalog". The Archer School for Girls.
10. Gardner, Chris. (2021-04-30). "Oprah Winfrey to Deliver Commencement Address for L.A. All-Girls Private School".
11. Gardner, Chris. (2021-06-09). "How a Brentwood School Landed Oprah Winfrey for Commencement".