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 Though it's a simple question, my answer might surprise you. As the headmaster, you might expect me to provide examples of the ways in which our young men are challenged by our liberal arts curriculum. You might expect a list of the prestigious universities to which our students have been accepted. You might expect a summary of the athletic accomplishments of our teams or an enumeration of the clubs and activities available to our boys. You might even expect me to quantify the return on investment that a Northridge education offers in the form of college scholarships and grants for our graduates.
If you take the time to browse the pages of our web-site, you will undoubtedly find much of the aforementioned information. However, these statistics offer an answer to the questions of What does Northridge do? or How does Northridge work? They do not really address the initial question of Why Northridge?
As parents we only have one chance to raise our sons right. Unlike a game of golf with friends on a Sunday afternoon where mulligans abound, there are no do-overs when it comes to the upbringing of our children. This is why a fundamental tenet of our approach to education is the cultivation of a strong working relationship with parents. We recognize the role of our fathers and mothers as the primary educators of their sons and strive to create an environment that echoes their values, principles, and perspective on life. The example of professionalism of our all-male faculty and their sincere interest in working with young men and their parents serves as a vehicle to inspire our students with a vision of authentic manliness in which they are encouraged to tackle the challenges of life with optimism and a sporting spirit. In fact, there is not a teacher at Northridge to whom I would not entrust the education and formation of my own sons. That's “Why Northridge?”
Some time ago I had the pleasure of having dinner with the founding headmaster of the school. He shared with me a story from the school's first commencement ceremony in the early 1980s. Many parents came forward to congratulate him on the success of the school. His response to these families was full of wisdom and insight. "It's too early to tell if we've been successful or not. It won't be until ten years from now, when these young men are in their late 20s that we will know if our formula has worked." And he's right. The success of our graduates isn't measured by their ACT scores or college acceptances (though our track record is impressive.) It is measured by the strength of their marriages. It is measured by their devotion to their family, to their children, and to their profession. It is measured by the depth of their faith. It is measured by the integrity of their character and their work ethic. That's "Why Northridge?"
If this vision of an education for young men piques your interest, then I encourage you to call the school and arrange a visit. We would love to have you spend some time on our campus and see in action a school built upon a tradition of academic excellence, character formation, and individual attention. And while you are here, consider stopping by my office. I would welcome an opportunity to meet you and your son.
Warmest regards,
Richard T. Meyer
Headmaster
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