# Rivermont Collegiate > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rivermont_Collegiate > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rivermont_Collegiate.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivermont_Collegiate > Source revision: 1342430169 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Private school in Bettendorf, Iowa, United States This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. See our advice if the article is about you and read our scam warning in case someone asks for money to edit this article. 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Find sources: "Rivermont Collegiate" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Rivermont Collegiate Location 1821 Sunset Drive Bettendorf , Iowa 52722 United States 41°31′45″N 90°30′29″W / 41.529294°N 90.508066°W / 41.529294; -90.508066 Information Former name St. Katherine's/St. Mark's Type Private College Preparatory Religious affiliation Nonsectarian Established September 24, 1884 (1884-09-24) Founder Bishop William Stevens Perry Headmaster Collin Lawrence (interim) Faculty 30 Grades PreK - 12th Gender Coed Age range 2-18 Enrollment 170[1] (2023-24) Student to teacher ratio 6.1 Colors Red, black, and white Accreditation National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Yearbook The Wheel Website rivermontcollegiate.org **Rivermont Collegiate**, formerly St. Katharine's/St. Mark's School, is a [nonsectarian](/source/Nonsectarian), [independent](/source/Independent_school), [multicultural](/source/Multicultural), [college preparatory school](/source/College_preparatory_school) for students two years old through [twelfth grade](/source/Twelfth_grade), located in the [Quad Cities](/source/Quad_Cities) in [Bettendorf](/source/Bettendorf%2C_IA), Iowa, in the United States. Rivermont Collegiate is a member of the [National Association of Independent Schools](/source/National_Association_of_Independent_Schools) (NAIS),[2] specifically the [Independent Schools Association of the Central States](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independent_Schools_Association_of_the_Central_States&action=edit&redlink=1) (ISACS),[3] the [College Entrance Examination Board](/source/College_Entrance_Examination_Board) (CEEB),[4] [Council for Advance and Support of Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Council_for_Advance_and_Support_of_Education&action=edit&redlink=1) (CASE),[5] and the [National Honor Society](/source/National_Honor_Society) (NHS).[6] The school currently resides on the former property of Joseph Bettendorf, namesake of the city. ## History The Joseph Bettendorf Mansion which now houses the [upper school](/source/Upper_school). Under the mansion is a tunnel which serves as a [tornado](/source/Tornado) and [fallout shelter](/source/Fallout_shelter). In 1846, a group of transplanted New England [Congregationalists](/source/Congregationalists) with a strong social-reformer orientation formed the Trustees of [Iowa College](/source/Iowa_College). Although founded in [Davenport](/source/Davenport%2C_IA), [Iowa](/source/Iowa), [Iowa College](/source/Iowa_College) moved from its [Davenport](/source/Davenport%2C_IA) location to the town of [Grinnell](/source/Grinnell%2C_IA) after being invited by [Josiah Bushnell Grinnell](/source/Josiah_Bushnell_Grinnell) to move to his newly founded town, located at the intersection of two major railroads. The [Davenport](/source/Davenport%2C_IA) location was later renamed to Griswold College, after Bishop [Alexander Viets Griswold](/source/Alexander_Viets_Griswold) of the Eastern [Diocese](/source/Diocese) of the [Episcopal Church](/source/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)). Griswold College began growing slowly, adding a theological department, and Kemper Hall (which served as a boys' school). In 1883, the trustees of Griswold College received a legacy from the estate of Miss Sarah Burr (an eastern churchwoman), for the establishment of a Church School for [Christian](/source/Christians) girls in the [Episcopal](/source/Episcopal_Church_in_the_United_States_of_America) [Diocese](/source/Diocese) of [Iowa](/source/Iowa). These funds were invested in Cambria Place, a magnificent residence designed by a famous architect (who designed the [Illinois State Capitol](/source/Illinois_State_Capitol) and the [Chicago Board of Trade Building](/source/Chicago_Board_of_Trade_Building)), with five acres of land, high on a [bluff](/source/Hill) overlooking the Mississippi River in [Davenport](/source/Davenport%2C_IA), [Iowa](/source/Iowa). On September 24, 1884, Bishop William Stevens Perry founded St. Katharine's School, which was placed high among [college preparatory schools](/source/College_preparatory_school) in the country.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Meanwhile, Griswold college, theological department and boys' school were forced to close in the 1890s. The school was originally organized as [St. Katharine's School](/source/St._Katherine's_Historic_District), an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls. Located at 10th and Tremont Streets in [Davenport](/source/Davenport%2C_IA), for over eighty years the school educated local girls as well as those from afar. However, St. Katharine's later dropped its boarding program, became [co-educational](/source/Co-educational), in 1968 adding St. Mark's to its name to reflect the change. In 1973, St. Katharine's St. Mark's moved to its current location, the [former home](/source/Joseph_F._Bettendorf_House) of Joseph Bettendorf, and by 1980, the school amicably broke ties with the Episcopal Church. In 2001, the board of trustees voted to change the name of the school to Rivermont Collegiate, in order to reduce confusion about its [religious affiliation](/source/Religious_affiliation). ### The early days St. Katharine's in the very beginning The girls who attended St. Katharine's were subject to strict rules. Students were not allowed to have books, magazines, or newspapers delivered without the principal's permission. Students could not keep any food except for fruit.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Students couldn't go to town without a parent or teacher, and no student could spend the night out of the building. The only time students could go home was on Thursdays, but only until 8:00 p.m. The girls were not allowed to wear jewelry, big dresses, or silk dresses. One hour of exercise was required every day. In 1910, the taxpayers of Davenport gave an observatory and telescope to the school but it burned to the ground in a fire.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Meanwhile, local industrialist Joseph Bettendorf was building his dream house, which later became the signature building of Rivermont Collegiate. Mr. Bettendorf, whose Bettendorf Company manufactured truck frames for railroad cars, helped draw the plans for an English [Manor](/source/Manor_house) style mansion on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. In 1915, he supervised construction of the mansion, complete with a sweeping terraced lawn overlooking the Mississippi. Designed for entertaining railroad executives and community members, the house included a stained glass domed conservatory, formal dining room, parlor, music room, and billiard room. The second floor contained several bedrooms, a large sitting room, and servant quarters. A ballroom was located on the third floor, and at one time two bowling alleys were located in the basement. Craftsmen added Italian marble, carved stone, molded plaster and hand-carved woodwork, doors, paneling and staircases throughout the home. ## The campus Rivermont Collegiate campus consists of five buildings on the former Joseph Bettendorf property: **The Mansion**, which is the former home of Joseph Bettendorf, now houses [upper school](/source/Upper_school) and [middle school](/source/Middle_school) classes, as well as administrative offices. **The Carriage House**, formerly Joseph Bettendorf's garage, is now rebuilt as a boarding house for boarding students. The ribbon cutting for the opening of the rebuilt Carriage House was on July 31, 2017. **Becherer Hall** was completed in 1999 and houses the [lower school](/source/Lower_school) and early childhood program, as well as the auditorium and cafeteria. **The Gym** serves as a basketball and volleyball court. It was added to the mansion in 1974. **The STEAM Center** was completed in 2019 on the old site of the Wallace House, which was demolished on December 19, 2017. This building includes science, technology, engineering, art, and math classrooms on the first 2 levels, as well as 2 floors capable of holding 32 dorm students, in a 22,000 square foot space. It was estimated to cost $6 million. ## Notable people - [Alejandra Lillo](/source/Alejandra_Lillo), designer - [Louise Meiszner](/source/Louise_Meiszner), pianist ## See also - [List of high schools in Iowa](/source/List_of_high_schools_in_Iowa) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-NCES_1-0)** ["Rivermont Collegiate"](https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Zip=52722&Miles=20&ID=00459391). [National Center for Education Statistics](/source/National_Center_for_Education_Statistics). Retrieved August 28, 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["NAIS Bookstore"](https://my.nais.org/s/searchdirectory?id=a2C3m00000EQaO4). *NAIS Directories*. Retrieved December 10, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["ISACS::Search for a school"](http://isacs2.isacs.org/page/472118_Search_for_a_School.asp?school=15). Retrieved December 10, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["College Board Membership Directory"](https://forms.collegeboard.org/membershipdirectory/s/). Retrieved December 10, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Homepage | CASE"](https://www.case.org/). *www.case.org*. Retrieved November 3, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Chapter finder"](https://www.nhs.us/chapter-finder/). *National Honor Society*. January 17, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2019. ## External links - [Official Site](http://www.rivermontcollegiate.com/) - [Group for SK/SM alumni](https://archive.today/20130210001022/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/imptigernetwork/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rivermont Collegiate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivermont_Collegiate) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivermont_Collegiate?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.