Academic Philosophy
Cornerstone Prep provides a quality, private Christian education to low-income families in the city. Tuition is on a sliding scale. Scholarships allow all families access to a Cornerstone Prep education.
Cornerstone Prep’s approach to education is based on successful urban schools around the country and includes:
o Intense focus on the core subjects: math and reading
Math and reading proficiency are absolutely required building blocks for success in elementary and high school. For
students’ skills to reach appropriate grade levels and to incorporate
the
language and math skills needed to learn, it is imperative for students to have
sustained blocks of instruction for both.
o More time learning, created by an extended academic day and year
Cornerstone Prep recognizes the
need for students to receive extended practice on skills taught in the
classroom setting. Therefore, Cornerstone Prep will have both an extended
day and extended year. Additionally, students receive nightly homework, including Friday
nights.
o Standards-based lesson plans, curriculum, and assessments
Cornerstone Prep uses the K-5 educational standards, as
mandated by the Tennessee Department of Education, and also uses the
K-5
educational standards for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Cornerstone Prep students are learning at a pace that
parallels
the best students across the nation. Further, Cornerstone Prep
synthesizes standards from the Terra Nova national
achievement test to prepare Cornerstone Prep students to compete on the
national level.
o Intentional Christian character and leadership development
The
school
intentionally promotes two concepts: the the development of Christian character and community leaders. We prepare students not only to be leaders in
their
school but to become life-changing leaders in their community after
leaving
school.
o Fast-paced, challenging learning environment
The road to college success for
children in Memphis consists primarily of 2 facets: expectation and
preparation.
Every Cornerstone Prep student is expected to go to college. This
expectation is communicated to students from the very first day they
enter the
school. For that reason, the learning environment is fast-paced and challenging.
o High standards for students and teachers
Not only are our standards high for our college-bound students, but also for our teachers. Cornerstone Prep engages in extensive searches to find exemplary
teachers. Teachers hold at least a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree in
Elementary Education or a related field.