Our world revolves around their world. Imagine a school that encourages students to reach their full potential, and does so with creativity, educational innovation, and a child-centered focus. That is Charlotte Prep. Pre-Kindergarten – 8th Grade are crucially formative years. With the right guidance, young students establish scholarly habits, develop leadership skills, and mature emotionally and socially. Our program is thoughtfully crafted to help each student reach his or her fullest potential. No matter when your child arrives at Prep, he or she will leave our care prepared for high school and beyond. We would be delighted to get to know you and begin this journey with you. In partnership, Eddie Mensah Head of School Listen to Eddie Mensah share the benefits of a Prep Pre-Kindergarten–8th Grade education.
M I S S ION
Charlotte Preparatory School fosters lifelong learning and provides an exemplary educational experience founded on academic excellence, positive character, and leadership development in a diverse, inclusive community.
possibility THE FIRST STEPS
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We don't teach differently just to be different. We do it because it works. Every day at Charlotte Prep is another day to discover, learn, and grow. CHILD - CE NTE R E D
PR E - K TO 8TH G R ADE
We foster an environment that celebrates each student’s unique place in, and contribution to, the world. Knowing our students and embracing their individual skill sets enables us to provide an exceptional, holistic education. In this climate of mutual respect, our students feel understood and supported to enter the ‘risk zone’ where authentic learning takes place.
Our educational model reflects leading research: students perform best in a unified school environment with only one school transition during their formative years.* At Prep, there is no rush to grow up.
TH E RIG HT SIZE
We choose our size—the size of our student body and the size of our campus—because we believe that in a “small” school, big things can happen. In our intentionally closeknit learning environment, we focus on a child-centered approach where every student is known and loved for their distinctive skills and strengths.
*RAND Corporation, Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School E XE M PL ARY E DUCATION
Our teachers are flexible because learning isn't rigid. Teachers meet students at their developmental level, so they are neither under-challenged nor conceptually overwhelmed. This type of educational method requires teachers to know each student and the best teaching practices to nuance their curriculum.
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our purpose, and our calling.
CREATING LIFELONG LEARNERS IS OUR
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PASSION,
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inspiration THE FIRST STEPS TO
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To learn is an opportunity. To teach is a gift. Spend five minutes in one of our classrooms, and you will notice something wonderful: Charlotte Prep teachers have an exceptional talent for inspiring children to become eager, flexible, and resilient learners. MONTE SSORI E AR LY SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Our Montessori teachers lay the foundation for future learning precisely when children have the greatest appetite for knowledge. With caring guidance, children develop their sense of self, their confidence, and their interest in the people and world around them. We truly educate them for life.
Teachers guide growing learners toward the culmination of the Prep experience: preparation for high school. Each grade builds upon previous learning and leadership opportunities to bring students to a high level of achievement and readiness. CHAR AC TE R E DUCATION
LOWE R SCHOOL
In our small classes, teachers have the flexibility to meet students at their developmental level and guide them with expertise and finesse to more complex and sophisticated learning. Teachers help young learners confidently transition to Middle School equipped with a strong academic foundation.
Our passion for creating exemplary citizens is ingrained in everything we do. The Four Pillars of Leadership— Respect, Integrity, Perseverance, and Courage—inspire our students and the adults who care for them to be their best selves.
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HONOR CODE
As a Charlotte Prep student, I promise to respect my school community by being fair, responsible, and honest in everything I do. My work will be my own. 10
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leadership THE FIRST
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Our commitment to character education is more than a mission statement. It is who we are. At Prep, respect and integrity are fundamental. Students—older and younger —experience leadership in action as they meet for community service, character education, and teamwork exercises. LE ADE RS HIP
M E NTORS HIP
Our commitment to growing tomorrow’s leaders begins in the Early School and continues in a planned and purposeful path into the Lower School. Unlike in a high school setting, our students in grades 5-8 aren’t stuck in the middle—they are our leaders.
The BUDEE (Be Understanding, Dedicated, Empathic, and Engaged) mentorship program, which matches Middle School students with buddies in Lower School, emphasizes the importance of leadership for older students and inspires thoughtful conversations for students across grade levels.
COM M U NIT Y S E RVICE
Students of every age benefit from varied opportunities to serve others and our intentional approach to community service encourages leadership and personal growth.
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originality THE FIRST STEPS TO
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A typical Prep student? There’s no such thing. Our student body includes technology wizards, artists, storytellers, and curious learners, more than 40 percent of whom hail from geographically and ethnically diverse backgrounds, making Prep one of Charlotte’s most diverse schools. U NIQ U E
VE RSATILE
Whether through classroom learning, athletics, technology, fine arts, or service, our students grow in their positive self-concept, which is crucial to success in life.
Our students are nimble and agile learners, able to compete and succeed in our technologydriven, ever-changing world.
PR E PAR E D
We graduate leaders who are highly sought after by prestigious high schools and boarding schools.
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excellence THE FIRST
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OU R PH I LOSOPHY
We value character and integrity as the essential building blocks of a truly meaningful life. We recognize the richness of a diverse student body. We work to prepare each student to confidently and successfully face life's challenges. 17
the world THE FIRST STEPS TO
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Our outlook is global because opportunity knows no boundaries. Prep students of all ages relate naturally to a multicultural and global prespective because they live it every day on our campus. We are building an inclusive and culturally aware generation of leaders. IN DIVIDUAL
G LOBAL
Our welcoming community celebrates each child as an individual, and every child has the freedom to explore their interests as they grow into self-assured, successful individuals.
We are motivated by the belief that in a global society, diverse classrooms are critical to a wellrounded education. More than 40 percent of our student body is made up of children from gegraphically and culturally diverse backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of greater Charlotte.
INCLUSIVE
We purposefully integrate the values of openness and acceptance into our educational program. Our students don’t just learn these values, they embody them.
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the future THE FIRST
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Perseverance leads to success. Our students leave our care extremely well prepared to succeed in high school and beyond. Each fall representatives from prestigious local and regional day and boarding schools come to our campus to recruit our students, knowing that our graduates will enrich their student bodies. In the past decade, more than 98 percent of our graduates were invited to attend one or more of their top high school choices.
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See the list.
PRIVATE HIG H SCHOOL S AT TE N DE D BY ALU M NI
ALU M NI & COU NTING!
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11 HIG H SCHOOL S AT TE N DE D BY ALU M NI
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BOAR DING SCHOOL S AT TE N DE D BY ALU M NI
G R ADUATE S ACCE P TE D BY TOP 2 CHOICE HIG H SCHOOL
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they do the rest. WE INSTILL THE COURAGE TO TRY.
Find out where the Class of 2018 attends high school.
“My advice to you all as you move forward is to be confident. I promise Prep has given you all the knowledge and skills to be successful in high school and beyond. What you have learned will stay with you. The friends you have made will stay with you. You are ready for the next step—all you need to do is remember that! Prep gives you everything you need to go on to be amazing people.” —Katie Cunnane, Class of 2012 Speaker at the Class of 2018 Graduation June 6, 2018 Read the speech.
212 Boyce Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 704-366-5994 704-366-0221 charlotteprep.org CharlottePrep CharlottePrep Charlotte.Prep