SPIRE Academics

WE’RE CREATIVE AND CURIOUS, AND NEVER STOP LEARNING, IMPROVING AND HAVING FUN WHILE DOING IT.

Academics

ACADEMICS

As a SPIRE student athlete, your experience is based on four integrated priorities: college preparatory academics, specialization within a sport or a specialized passion, personal skills development and career path exploration. The “SPIRE Way” is a balance of all of these priorities, each of which is critical to the development of well-educated, self-disciplined individuals who are not only college ready, but well on their way to achieving peak potential in life.

Academics

COLLEGE

& CAREER COUNSELING

THERE’S A PATH FOR EVERYONE

SPIRE has a four-year comprehensive college and career planning curriculum. We believe that having students think about college (and life after college) early will prepare them to begin the formal college application process during the second semester of their junior year.

Our Director of College Placement and Planning works with students to identify their talents, interests and goals before, during and after college. With this in mind, counselors work with students to pinpoint schools that would be a good match academically, athletically, socially and financially.

Again, we believe that you can’t start the college planning and placement process too early. The NCAA has stringent requirements and strict rules, which makes the college placement process difficult to navigate for those who don’t have a solid plan based on clear direction. SPIRE’S experienced college planning and placement staff and its coaching team have a strong network of college coach relationships. This can both eliminate many unknowns and help you identify the right program.

Our coaches and college planning and placement services staff work hard to ensure that you are adequately prepared/equipped to be eligible for, and accepted into, the best college program for you. And because independence and personal responsibility play a key roles in your success, we encourage you to address each item in the following college checklist to the best of your ability:

>Keep your grades up all four years of high school.

They count! > Take the PSAT in your sophomore year, and the SAT and ACT in your junior year. > If you are an international student with English as a second language, take the TOEFL in your junior year. > Prioritize your college choices based on its academics, sports program, size, location, team, competitive schedule and other factors you consider important. > Make as many unofficial college visits as possible to get a feel for the type of school you’d like to attend. > Register for the NCAA clearinghouse. > Make official visits after you start your senior year. > Commit during the signing period!

Whether you aspire to an NCAA Division I, II or III school, an NAIA school, or any other college or university, we believe there’s a path for everyone to attain their goals. At SPIRE, we are committed to helping you find your best possible college fit based on your personal goals, your prowess in your specialty passion and your academic proficiency.

Visit the SPIRE College Resource Center at Spireinstitute.org/academy/academy-college-resource-center

Academics

POST GRADUATE PROGRAM

THERE IS A GROWING DEMAND FOR POST GRAD (OR GAP YEAR) PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY’S CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT.

> Graduating seniors may not be ready to compete at their desired level in college sport. > They may need time to improve technically or mature athletically to get the right offer. > Some are searching for a year to live independently to better prepare for college life. > There may be academic reasons to take a year between high school and college.

Welcome to SPIRE’s Post Grad Program, the world’s premier destination for high school graduates seeking to optimize their athletic, academic and life skills abilities on their path to the best-suited college/ university. SPIRE PG program delivers customized basketball, track & field, swimming and esports training/ competition directed by top coaches and industry experts.

In terms of athletics - SPIRE provides a customized, sport specific, skills training and competitive development program for each PG athlete. And this is combined with individually designed athletic performance training programs, which include physical and mental conditioning and nutrition and hydration guidance.

Character building, leadership and communication skills training are all key parts of the overall curriculum as well. From an academic perspective - SPIRE counselors assist PG student-athletes who have completed high school to:

>Earn college credit via Kent State – Ashtabula (2 courses per semester) > Repair/enhance high school GPA > Take SAT/ACT Test Prep Courses > Take ESL programs and TOEFL prep courses (as appropriate) > Receive college placement, planning and NCAA compliance assistance > And grow in terms of focus, confidence, concentration and self-discipline

Housing is provided, and three nutritious meals a day are served at SPIRE Fuel.

HERE ARE 4 MORE REASONS TO CONSIDER A SPIRE POST GRAD PROGRAM:

>Colleges fully recognize the value of students enrolling after a PG experience. > Coaches appreciate that PG athletes enroll with four full years of eligibility remaining. > Parents can rest assured knowing that the PG experience will help their sons and daughters acclimate to college seamlessly. > SPIRE PG participants grow and develop as players, athletes, teammates, students and individuals ideally prepared for their next steps in sport, school, work and life.