We are a community of those that find learning fun and challenging.

Together we bring alive our commitment to develop each child’s potential in all domains through a long-established philosophy built on chivalry, continuous learning and opportunity for leadership within a child-centered, multi-aged framework.

1. We choose to become a community committed to the goals of this school.
   1. We will use the best processes available to support teaching and learning, to enable and enrich the children in our care.
      
   2. We will welcome all stakeholders to our sites and communicate in an open and transparent fashion.
2. We develop children and adolescents in ways that support their reaching their highest potential.
   1. We focus on the learner and then the curriculum.
   2. We do not believe that one size fits all since we all learn differently and at different rates; however, all learn from language that supports them and their developmental learning. We focus on what children do well and what their needs and next steps are to enable them to do well in all domains.
   3. Learning is built on individual and social processes.
   4. Learning requires the active participation of the learner.
      
   5. If our context is not right, we will counsel the child to move to a school more aligned with their needs and values.
3. We support the social growth of a child into an adolescent and ultimately a productive citizen of our community.
   1. Curiosity, creativity, and cooperation is nurtured.
   2. A sense of responsibility in decision-making is fostered.
      
   3. A sense of self as an individual and as part of a group is important.
4. We enable the child to learn academic skills for now and the future.
   1. Creative and critical problem–solving skills are modeled, taught, and applied to new areas.
   2. The integration of subjects is necessary.
   3. Discerning the right question and asking it is valued.
   4. In addition to the foundation topics of Reading, Writing, Math, and Penmanship/Calligraphy/Technology Use; we cover an updated classical set of subjects: Science, Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Foreign Language.
5. We support the physical and motor skill development of each child.
   1. Play is a condition of learning.
   2. Staying physically fit supports both emotional and academic growth.
   3. Competition, learning to win, to fail, and to continue to try despite the history of effort is key for a successful life.

This results in a school with an orientation toward advancement based on competence (continuous progress allowing for grade level advancement at the start of any term). We have the following distinctive characteristics: 1) appropriate evaluation of progress; 2) utilizing school-wide team-teaching; 3) a collegial and collaborative working relationship between teachers and administrators with consensus decision making in staff meetings; 4) mentoring for student teachers who come in; 5) advocacy teams (who also act as representatives to the board of advisors) to recommend school policy directions and school improvement plans; 6) teachers typically remain with students 3 years; 7) an active student council in our upper schools; and 8) a parent involved advocacy team and parent advisory council.

Appropriate evaluation of progress means going beyond a single standardized grade to using a portfolio of student work.  Students and parents examine the portfolio with the student’s teacher while the determination of the student’s progress is presented. Faculty will let the students and parents know whether the student has attained the necessary pattern of competence to advance to next grade or if the student is still developing that competence and needs to continue in current areas. This framework is used instead of standard letter grades or GPAs (unless requested by parents] until Renaissance Prep's Grammar Class  and above; at which time, letter grades  and grade points will be awarded as a product of completeness and quality of work. The elementary class is a transition class where grades and the portfolio both are used in with the emphasis moving from portfolio only in early 4th grade to grades only by the end of 6th grade.

The Renaissance Preparatory Academy uses a strengths-based model by taking a positive orientation that emphasizes efficacy, success, learning from failure, and an acceptance of consequences for one’s actions. The educational model is called a an advancement by competency (ABC) school design.  Teachers actively support and model our culture.

The Renaissance Preparatory Academy Colors: Gray, Yellow, Royal Blue, White, Black and a school plaid incorporating those colors. Individual schools have their own complementary colors reflecting our beach location and the school plaid.