About American Preparatory Academy
Our Mission
To provide an orderly, safe and nurturing learning environment wherein content-rich, efficient curriculum and research-based instructional methodologies are utilized to ensure that every student achieves academic success and develops good character based on concrete measurements.
Our Philosophy
Student academic achievement is the primary goal of American Prep. We believe that only when students master fundamentals, and are fluent in the basic foundational knowledge of the major disciplines can they move on to effectively express their knowledge and master higher-level skills. Therefore, the foundation of our instruction will focus on mastery of fundamentals. We define mastery as the ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills repeatedly and accurately. This requires repeated instruction in the subject matter, increasing degree of challenge and considerable practice. As our students master the fundamentals, our instruction will focus on sequential building of conceptual knowledge and promoting independent expression of knowledge. Finally, our instruction will focus on individual internalization of conceptual knowledge, expressed in extensive written work and verbal presentation, preparing our students for advanced study at the high school level. These levels of instruction and knowledge attainment follow the classical education model of the Trivium—grammar, logic and rhetoric. American Preparatory Academy respects this well-founded, proven educational model and uses it in selecting and implementing the school's curriculum.
School Vision
To provide a safe, engaging, nurturing learning environment that utilizes research-based, efficient curriculum and proven instructional methodologies to ensure that EVERY CHILD achieves academic success and develops good character based on concrete measurements.
I. Safe: (for students and families)
- Physically - American Prep provides a safe physical environment, following applicable federal, state and local health and safety regulations.
- Emotionally -
- Positive communication is used by all staff, at all times
- Positive communication is taught in a concrete manner to students
- Positive communication is modeled for families and taught through regular written communication and frequent informal gatherings and parent's meetings
II. Engaging:
- Culture of inclusiveness, kindness, teamwork, and identity
- Frequent assemblies to regularly allow students opportunities to "show what they know!" and recognize outstanding efforts and behavior
- Extra-curricular activities are an extension of our programs
- music programs and talent showcases
- plays
- recitations
- chess club (upper grades)
- service club
- American Prep Ambassadors
III. Nurturing:
- Staff members are hired only after answering a battery of questions that demonstrates his/her fundamental philosophy of "the worth of a child" as outlined by personnel policy
- Staff in-service on "the worth of each child" and positive discipline techniques are held regularly both on a group basis and as individual needs dictate
- CHAMPS classroom management
IV. Learning:
- Every aspect of a student's experience from the moment they enter the school door will confirm to them that "this is a learning place!" This includes what they see on the walls and the actions and words they hear from staff and other students
- Asking of thoughtful questions is encouraged and rewarded
- Each child will internalize the concept "I am a great learner" as they become part of the school culture
- Staff demonstrates to all students that we are ALL learners, even the adults! Staff models the learning process, confirming to students that learning never ends.
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