City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Education

Telephone: (816) 936-1200

Address: 5121 State Line

Description: Alumni still call their alma mater Pem-Day from when this private school was known as Pembroke–Country Day, an all-boy school founded in 1910. Some of Kansas City’s most prominent families sent their sons to Pem-Day and their daughters to Sunset Hill, which opened in 1913. The two schools had many similarities: Both were highly regarded and independent; teachers often taught at both institutions; and several activities, especially theatrical programs, involved students from both campuses. When the two schools merged in July 1984, the newly named Pembroke Hill School adopted traditions from both facilities. For example, students voted to keep Pem-Day’s colors of red and blue on the school’s banner; the motto “Freedom with Responsibility” came from Sunset Hill. Another beloved tradition remains from the girls’ school days: May Day, complete with music, poetry, and dancing around the Maypole, is observed each spring. PHS is located on two campuses less than a mile apart near the Country Club Plaza; it’s quite a stirring sight to see a football game in play while driving past the field on your way to dinner on fall evenings. Make sure to lower your car window to get the full effect. The school offers an extended day program until 6 p.m. for children through fifth grade, a service that continues during winter and spring breaks. And its students learn the importance of giving back to the town that has provided so much: All upper school students must complete 60 hours of community service before graduation; many easily surpass this requirement. Currently 1,200 students are enrolled from age two through 12th grade. Of these, nearly 240 are receiving more than $2 million in financial assistance.