Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Cornerstone Prep
Do You Have a Question?
We hope we have an answer! Click on the question you are interested in and see if we can answer it right now. If you still have questions, contact Drew Sippel via e-mail.
What is the vision of
Cornerstone Prep?
What type of school is
Cornerstone Prep?
What does the
admissions process include?
How much is tuition?
What is the
educational philosophy of Cornerstone Prep?
How will success be
measured?
Where will students go after they graduate from this elementary
school?
What type of Partnerships does Cornerstone Prep need?
How will we create future leaders?
What is the vision of Cornerstone Prep?
Cornerstone Preparatory School utilizes academic rigor and a Biblical worldview to equip all students with the skills and character
necessary to succeed in college and to become life-changing leaders in their
community.
What type of school is Cornerstone Prep?
The school is primarily for low-income families and located near the Binghampton community. The inaugural class will be one class
of 30 kindergarten students, who will begin in the fall of 2010. Each
subsequent year 1 grade will be added until the school has a 5th
grade, forming an elementary school. This will equate to a total school size of
180 students.
What does the admissions process include?
There will be testing required in order to enter Cornerstone
Prep. In addition, because of the academic rigor and highly structured learning
environment of the school, students may only enter the school at the kindergarten
or first grade level. Finally, no less than 70% of the students must be
eligible for free or reduced lunch as defined by the U.S. government.
How much is tuition?
Tuition is based on a sliding scale. Because almost all of
the students will be coming from under resourced families, the financial
commitment from the parents will probably be less than $300 per year. The rest
of the cost of the education would be provided to the family as a scholarship.
As part of their commitment to the education of the student, parents or
guardians will be required to provide transportation to and from the school,
review and sign homework every night, and come to all parent conferences at the
school.
What is the educational philosophy of Cornerstone Prep?
There are four key components to the educational philosophy
of Cornerstone Prep: academic rigor, Biblical principles, college preparation
and leadership development. A brief word about each component is below (an
extended explanation of the educational philosophy is available upon request).
- Academic rigor includes an extended school day and school year, heavy focus on reading, writing and language arts resulting in 500 hours more per year than MCS students, math problem solving, highly structured and disciplined class rooms and a fast-paced learning environment
- Primary Christian principles that will be emphasized as critical to academic success and life are integrity, respect, courage, self-control, humility, personal responsibility and excellence.
- 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. In addition, all curriculum and assessment decisions are based on preparing students for college.
- Cornerstone Prep students are equipped and challenged to provide leadership in multiple facets of life after graduating from college. These facets of life include the student’s family, career, community, church and world. There are common characteristics necessary to provide leadership in these five areas that are emphasized at Cornerstone Prep. Those characteristics are built into the planning and programming of the school.
How will success be measured?
Cornerstone Prep will synthesize
standards from the TerraNova national aptitude test to ensure that students are
competitive on the national level. Students will be expected to demonstrate
mastery or competency in subjects (defined by a grade of 85% or higher) on
Criterion Referenced Tests (teacher-made and/or pre-packaged assessments, as
appropriate) in one-week and nine-week assessments. After 3 years with the
school, Cornerstone Prep expects students to perform well ahead of grade level
in all subjects. By fifth grade, students will have all the academic skills necessary
to succeed at demanding middle and high schools. Similar measurements for
Christian character and leadership development are available upon request.
Where will students go after they graduate from this elementary
school?
Students who graduate from the 5th grade at
Cornerstone Prep will be equipped to enter any middle school in the city. Many
alternatives will be available to students. One possible choice would be to
continue to be educated in an urban Christian school known as The Collegiate
School of Memphis. This school was launched in the fall of 2008 and will
eventually include grades 6 through 12.
What type of Partnerships does Cornerstone Prep need?
Cornerstone Prep needs supporters in each of the three
following areas:
1. Financial support. Because
most students will come from low-income families, the school needs to
raise a minimum of $8,000 per student per year in order to provide such a
high level education. Cornerstone Prep is a separate 501c3 organization
and therefore donations are tax-deductible. Drew Sippel, the Executive
Director of Cornerstone Prep, can be reached at 901.591.8254 for more
information on how to support the school.
2. Recruiting families.
All interested families should contact Lisa Settle, Principal of
Cornerstone Prep, at 901.591.8253 for an application.
3. Prayer support.
Cornerstone Prep wants every student to have people who diligently pray for
them as they begin this long road to academic achievement and a life of
leadership. If you would like to pray for the school, teachers or
students, please contact Drew Sippel, the Executive Director of
Cornerstone Prep, at 901.591.8254 or drews@cornerstoneprepmemphis.org.
How will we create future leaders?
The future of the Binghampton community, Memphis, and cities
around the country depend of schools that create educated leaders with strong character
and high moral values. Cornerstone Prep will create those kinds of future
leaders.
Cornerstone
Prep students are equipped and challenged each day to grow in their ability to
lead. This leadership focus prepares students not only to be leaders in their
school but to become life-changing leaders in their community after leaving
school. There are 5 core areas for which students receive leadership principles
and practice: family, career, community, church and the world.