The Renaissance Preparatory Academy (Renaissance Prep) and the Seaside Academy have the same  philosophy. It is based on the belief that the best education is individualized and that happy kids learn better. We define happiness as the difference between expectations and experiences (experiences are even better than we expect = being happy!). Thus, we strive to be clear and transparent in our expectations and in communicating them to all. We expect all to contribute to the great experiences and enabling happiness to be shared.

We are a community of those that find learning fun and challenging. We are passionate about education and learning from kindergarten experiences up through higher education. We believe that building from basic skills sets a firm learning foundation for future success. We tell students, "It is ok to be at your current in learning; it is not ok to stay there."  We all start at different places in different subjects and contexts, so with faculty's help students determine where they are, where they want to be, plan how to reach it, and, then, take action!

Our goal is to help each child discover and achieve personal wonder and success in learning to do challenging things well!  Our Renaissance Scholar approach addresses the whole child using developmentally appropriate means with high expectations thus encouraging the student to go beyond complacency by setting and striving for goals that stretch them beyond their initial comfort zone. Complacency, rigid stances, laziness, and poor attitudes are not encouraged at Renaissance Prep or the Seaside Academy. Trying and learning, or trying, failing, and then learning ( in other words: persisting, learning and growing/changing) are emphasized with a positive strengths-based language approach and modeling of desired behavior by faculty.

Following the philosophy of the Renaissance, our enriched and challenging program includes academic foundations, developmental and excellence-oriented athletics, organization skills, courtesy and character training, and the engagement with our neoclassical subjects.  Our foundation subjects are arithmetic, reading, handwriting/technology, grammar, times of active and quiet reflections, and recess (unstructured social skill lab times). Our neoclassical approach includes subjects such as: fine arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, physical education, & foreign language in our theme units and intertwined in our foundation topics. Theme units allow for immediate application of the concepts learned. We strive to create the Renaissance Scholar, who ideally, is good in all aspects.

In summary, we believe in fostering academic excellence while respecting the pace of a child's development*  and the social-emotional growth of each student. Teachers care deeply about their students and nurture their innate curiosity by challenging them to think critically, creatively, and conceptually. RPA Academies are a safe learning community in which students are comfortable taking risks, learning new skills and ideas, exploring the world around them, and building meaningful relationships.

*Those who learn faster; promote to the next grade faster; those who learn slower, get an extra term before alternative arrangements will be required. This is a classic approach to college preparatory curriculum and will not be appropriate for those who cannot meet those standards either due to innate learning difficulties or lack of desire. Other educational options are available in the Grand Strand for programs which do not aim to have children in advance placement courses in high school or even beginning college before graduation.

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