About Holy Spirit Episcopal School · Houston
Holy Spirit Episcopal School (HSES) is a private, faith-based PreK-8 day school located at 12535 Perthshire Road in the Memorial area of West Houston, Texas. Founded in 1962 by The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, HSES serves approximately 448 students from infants through eighth grade across four divisions: Early Childhood, Primary School, Lower School, and Middle School. The school is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Its mission is to develop the whole child through academic rigor, Episcopal traditions, character education, outdoor learning, and a culturally diverse community.
Holy Spirit Episcopal School (HSES) traces its roots to 1958, when the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit began meeting as a mission church in a west Houston elementary school before moving to its present Perthshire Road campus. The school itself opened in September 1962 with eighty-nine students under founding directors Mrs. Jan Leach and Mrs. Maurine Alfrey, originally serving children ages 3-5. Over the decades, HSES expanded to accommodate infants through eighth grade, adding a Middle School wing, a gymnasium, and a remodeled parish hall. Today HSES is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES). The school is divided into four programs: Early Childhood (3 to 36 months), Primary School (ages 3-4 and a Bridge year), Lower School (Kindergarten through 4th grade), and Middle School (5th through 8th grade). Students participate in chapel twice weekly, attend Christian education classes, and receive year-round character training woven through an experiential curriculum that includes a Costa Rican exchange program for middle schoolers, Ecolink outdoor-education excursions for 4th through 7th graders, and an 8th-grade trip to Washington, D.C. Athletics (volleyball, soccer, basketball, track), fine arts, wellness and mindfulness, and a low 8:1 student-teacher ratio round out the program. HSES draws families from the Spring Branch, Memorial, West Oaks, and Eldridge neighborhoods of West Houston.
- In business
- Founded in 1962 (over 60 years)
- Owner
- Founded in 1962 by The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, with founding directors Mrs. Jan Leach and Mrs. Maurine Alfrey. Founding rector of the parish: The Rev'd Hubert C. Palmer. Current Head of School: Kelly Broaddus. Current Rector of the church: Mitch Tollet.
- Serves
- Spring Branch, Memorial, West Oaks, and Eldridge sections of West Houston, Texas
- Rating
- 5.0 out of 5 on Niche (20 reviews); 5.00 out of 5 on PrivateSchoolReview.com (5 reviews)
About Holy Spirit Episcopal School
Holy Spirit Episcopal School (HSES) is a private, co-educational parish day school in the Memorial area of West Houston. Founded in 1962 by The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, the school serves infants through eighth grade on a tree-lined eleven-acre campus shared with the parish church. HSES describes itself as 'a best in class, private elementary and middle school' that develops the whole child through academic excellence, Episcopal traditions, and a nurturing Christian environment. The mission is to 'transform hearts and minds to lead and serve in the modern world.'
- Founded 1962 by The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit
- Located on 11 tree-lined acres in the Memorial area
- Approximately 448 students (Nursery/Preschool through 8th grade)
- Student-teacher ratio of about 8:1
- Average class size of 16 students
History & Founding
The parish church that founded HSES began meeting in 1958 as a mission church in a west Houston elementary school, eventually moving to the current Perthshire Road site owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The school opened in September 1962 with eighty-nine students under founding directors Mrs. Jan Leach and Mrs. Maurine Alfrey (who both retired in 1985). The first Principal was Mrs. Jeanne Tiemann Stillwell, a long-time HSES teacher who served from 1985 to 1990. Over time the school added elementary grades (1975), a gymnasium with attached kitchen, a Middle School wing, and a remodeled parish hall, and in 2017 a capital campaign funded major renovations without adding debt.
- 1958 – Parish founded as a mission church in west Houston
- 1962 – School opens with 89 students
- 1969 – Nave, church offices, and school completed
- 1975 – School expands to serve elementary-aged children
- 1985 – Jeanne Tiemann Stillwell becomes first Principal
- 2017 – Capital campaign funds campus renovations
School Divisions & Programs
HSES organizes its academic program into four divisions that follow the developmental stages of each child. From the youngest infants in the Early Childhood Center to eighth graders on the cusp of graduation, the program emphasizes experiential, research-based learning with small class sizes and individual attention.
- Early Childhood – ages 3 to 36 months (Child Enrichment Center)
- Primary School – ages 3 & 4 and Bridge year
- Lower School – Kindergarten through 4th grade
- Middle School – 5th through 8th grade
Faith, Chapel & Character Education
Spiritual and character education are described by HSES as 'integral to the Holy Spirit curriculum.' Students attend chapel twice weekly, take Christian education classes, and participate in year-round character training grounded in Christian theology and social thought. A School Chaplain, Suzy Spencer, coordinates chapel and related trips. Episcopal traditions and a faith-based foundation are intended to nurture compassion, integrity, and unity of Spirit.
- Chapel twice weekly for students
- Christian education classes
- Year-round character training
- School Chaplain: Suzy Spencer
Experiential & Outdoor Learning (Ecolink)
HSES places strong emphasis on learning by doing. The school's signature outdoor-education program, Ecolink, takes students off campus for hands-on environmental and leadership experiences. Fourth through seventh graders participate in Ecolink excursions, eighth graders travel to Washington, D.C., and middle school students may take part in a Costa Rican exchange program.
- Ecolink outdoor education for 4th–7th graders
- Costa Rican exchange program for middle school students
- Eighth-grade Washington, D.C. trip
Athletics, Arts & Enrichment
Beyond the core curriculum, HSES offers athletics, fine arts, STEAM, wellness, and mindfulness programming. Athletics include volleyball, soccer, basketball, and track; arts include music, choir, and performance; and enrichment covers yoga, outdoor learning, and global-awareness activities. Tuition at HSES includes supplies, field trips, technology fees, building fees, fine arts performance fees, and athletics fees.
- Athletics: volleyball, soccer, basketball, track
- Music and choir
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)
- Yoga, wellness, and mindfulness
Leadership & Staff
The school is led by Head of School Kelly Broaddus, who welcomes families in a letter describing HSES as a place that 'builds beautiful lives and a better world.' Each division has its own head, and the wider administrative team includes a Director of Admissions, Director of Development, Director of Communications, Director of Human Resources, Head of Finance & Business Operations, Director of School Technology & Facilities, School Counselor, school nurses, librarian, and a School Chaplain.
- Kelly Broaddus – Head of School
- Toni Bejko – Head of Early Childhood
- Shannon Lewis – Head of Primary School
- Valerie Johnson – Head of Lower & Middle School
- Jenna Gaudard – Director of Admissions
- Suzy Spencer – School Chaplain
- Mitch Tollet – Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit
Accreditation & Recognition
HSES is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) and is affiliated with The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. It has been honored as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence — described by the school as 'the most prestigious educational award in the country' — recognizing excellence in leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, parental involvement, and community support.
- Accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES)
- National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
- Affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
Admissions, Tuition & Financial Aid
HSES uses rolling admissions. Prospective families are encouraged to visit the campus and contact the Admissions Office, currently led by Jenna Gaudard (Admissions Director per Houston School Survey). For 2026-27, published tuition is $18,100 for Primary School, $21,690 for Lower School, and $25,390 for Middle School, with a $200 non-refundable application fee and a $750 enrollment deposit. Tuition is payable annually, by semester, or monthly through the FACTS Tuition Management Plan. HSES will defer participation in the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program for 2026-27, but offers financial assistance and scholarships across multiple grade levels.
- Rolling admissions
- Application fee: $200
- Enrollment deposit: $750
- FACTS Tuition Management Plan available
- Financial assistance and scholarships offered
Visit & Contact
Families interested in HSES are invited to tour the campus on Perthshire Road in the Memorial area. The school's front-desk email is [email protected], and the main phone line is 713.468.5138. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Address: 12535 Perthshire Road, Houston, TX 77024-4186
- Phone: 713.468.5138
- Fax: 713.465.6972
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]