| Review by proud parent on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 7:02:38 PM | | Rating: 5 | | Review: | | I have 2 children at Carolina Prep-one in the primary school and one in the preschool. We had been at Palmetto Prep since 2006 and were heartbroken when it abruptly closed. I can tell you, after looking at all of the private schools in the area, there is nothing like it. I looked objectively at other schools for my oldest before keeping her at Palmetto Prep for kindergarten, and we were actually enrolled at another school last summer before we decided to follow the school to the new location. Yes, it was formed for the families, but not to accomodate us, but to offer an incredible option for the children of the upstate. It is only one of 2 non-religious affiliated private schools in the upstate. We have kids from all religions/cultures. There are combined classes currently due to smaller numbers (as you can expect, we lost several kids in the upper grades), but there is going to be free standing K-3 grades. I cannot speak enough about the Core Knowledge curriculum-the foundation is laid and then it continues to build as each year comes (ie. George Washington in Kindergarten, American Revolution in 1st, War of 1812 in second). My child knows all of the 13 original colonies!! Also, as for the preschool, there is nothing like it. It is not a daycare at all-my child is truly learning and getting ready for kindergarten with letters, sight words, numbers, money, etc.
One last thing, if you are a dual working family-THERE IS NOTHING AS CONVENIENT AS CAROLINA PREP!! If there is a school holiday, more often than not there is holiday camp available. None of these half days, waste days, resulting in out of work days.
Come check us out! |
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| Review by Anne on Friday, May 06, 2011 at 3:20:10 PM | | Rating: 5 | | Review: | | Carolina Prep was started by a group of famliies whose children were displaced when the school they were attending closed due to the recession. The families banded together, found a new location, and hired back most of the staff. This was all because the previous school had offered the Core Knowledge curriculum, and was the only school in the Upstate to do so. These families believed so strongly in the curriculum and in the previous faculty/staff that they felt compelled to try to save it. Carolina Prep has now tripled in enrollment since it opened in August 2010, and will add 5th grade for the 2011-2012 school year.
The school itself exceeds state minimums regarding teacher : student ratios, and has enrichment classes taught by actual art, music, and Spanish teachers (as opposed to having those classes taught by a teacher who may have only had one class in that subject himself/herself). There's also a focus on community and character development.
My daughter goes to school at Carolina Prep, and I'm so glad that she does. She's only 5, but is reading on a 3rd grade level, can add/subtract, and is learning multiplication -- in Kindergarten. |
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