The Village School, founded in 1966, serves children in preschool through high school. The high school division opened in August 2008 and is presently accepting applications for grades 9-11 for the 2010/2011 school year. Located in West Houston, The Village School's reputation is well earned as a rigorous yet age-appropriate academic environment. Village students consistently earn top honors in regional and state competitions in mathematics, science, and the language arts. Teachers focus on building students' character and integrity as well as strengthening the varied intellectual talents of the outstanding and culturally diverse student body.  Village High School and official IB World School and offers high school students the Internatioanl Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.  Along with its strong academic curriculum and reputation, The Village School offers an array of co-curricular and enrichment activities, including violin classes (beginning in the first grade), band, choir, orchestra, speech and drama, chess, and Model UN, as well as a variety of competitive sports teams. One of the most striking assets of The Village School is the sense of community and caring that the highly-qualified administrators and teachers create, forming a bond that brings together parents, students, and teachers.   The school maintains the highest standards of international scholarship, making it easy for parents working in Houston's Energy Corridor to place students in the most competitive schools if they are transferred to another country. As a member of The Meritas Family of Schools, The Village School also provides for its students opportunities for international travel and study. Village School graduates have gone on to the most prestigious colleges and universities. Over the past 40 years, The Village School has been built on a strong foundation of academic excellence, social responsibility, mutual respect, and individual achievement.