On March 15, 1999, The Island School welcomed our first group of Semester students to our campus on Cape Eleuthera, marking the official start of our organization.

The tradition of educating young people in South Eleuthera began long before the Semester program officially launched. Our founder, Chris Maxey, grew up visiting Eleuthera and developed a deep fondness for the ocean and an appreciation for Bahamian culture. While pursuing his master’s degree in marine resource management at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, Chris was inspired to start a research project in South Eleuthera exploring sustainable aquaculture.

Introducing Students to Experiential Learning on Eleuthera

Beginning in 1996, Chris hosted small groups on Eleuthera for experiential courses in environmental science and sustainability. Some students were middle schoolers from New York, while others were young people from Eleuthera. These groups spent time exploring the natural world, developing leadership skills, and creating solutions to real-world problems.

After witnessing students’ immense growth in these short programs, Chris had a thought: What would happen if students came to Eleuthera for an entire semester of immersive learning? And the rest is history.

In 1998, a group of educators from The Lawrenceville School joined Chris on Cape Eleuthera to design The Island School’s curriculum at what became our first “teacher conference.” This annual gathering, now called the Educators Conference, is still held each summer. Then, in the spring of 1999, Chris and Pam Maxey, along with six other faculty members, welcomed 22 students from The Lawrenceville School to launch the first Island School Semester.

The Evolution of The Island School

The organization grew quickly to include a local middle school, Deep Creek Middle School; a marine conservation research center, the Cape Eleuthera Institute; and an elementary education program, the Elementary Learning Center. Over time, we expanded to offer a Summer Term, expanded outreach programs in the local community, and launched short courses for groups of visiting students.

Today, as we reflect on 25 years of programming, we are not just celebrating our growth—we are celebrating the spirit of leadership and vision that founded The Island School. We are excited to commemorate March 15 as Founders Day alongside over 3,000 alumni, families, friends, and supporters around the world. Thank you for being part of our journey!