In the landscape of schools today, there are many options for families to choose from. The culture, values, mission, programs, and curriculum are just some of the ways that schools differentiate themselves from one another. Many schools employ a “College Prep” (College Preparatory) curriculum for students in preschool through high school graduation, but what is that, exactly? At Palm Valley School, we have an unofficial motto, Paratus Enim Vitae, which translated from Latin means “Prepared for Life.” Although many public and private high schools employ a College Prep curriculum and philosophy, we believe that your K-12 education should not only prepare you for college, but beyond.
A traditional college preparatory curriculum is a series of coursework to prepare students for the content and rigor of a college or university program. However, academic habits and strong content knowledge are just a piece of the puzzle when preparing students for success in their college experience and into adulthood. Entry to post-secondary education is a time of change, when students experience so many firsts. It can be exhilarating and scary all at once! A strong college counseling experience throughout the high school years can not only ensure that students have all their best options open to them for admissions, but also that they are prepared beyond just their academic content and work habits.
At Palm Valley School, our College Counseling program starts in the middle school years. In 2019-2020, we are introducing a new curriculum via our advisory program, called “College Circles.” Developed by our administrative team, this program allows students to begin developing a knowledge base about the career paths, college admissions process, and includes campus visits and inclusion in our speaker series where representatives come to our campus to speak with students about their schools. Students can begin building a portfolio of experiences and collecting knowledge about themselves and their options for accomplishing their goals into college and beyond.
Colleges today are looking for more than just who a student is “on paper.” Most schools still ask for transcripts, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation in the application process. Some go further and ask for in-person interviews and campus visits to determine if students will be a fit and be successful. However, as acceptance rates to top tier colleges and universities get lower, the applicant pool to these schools continues to grow. Differentiating yourself beyond the basics of the application process can increase chances for acceptance to desirable schools and merit-based scholarships. Additionally, colleges and universities are looking for those differentiators, skills, and experiences that indicate students possess qualities that will ensure they are successful students, but will also become successful adults as they enter into the workforce.
At Palm Valley School, our project-based learning approach to content, strong arts and STEM programs, commitment to service learning experiences for all students, and our community support for a diverse and inclusive environment are all pathways to preparing students for a more successful college experience and really, for a more meaningful life. The 21st century skills we teach and embed in our programs are as important in a College Prep curriculum as the content and academic habits we teach. As technological advances rapidly change the landscape of the workforce we are preparing students for, we know that building skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, cultural competence, and critical thinking will be assets to our graduates for a lifetime of success. The traditional “college prep” curriculum alone is no longer sufficient for today’s students to be prepared for college, let alone for adulthood.
We are always looking for students and families who are committed to the best education that the valley can offer. We are so proud of our graduates, their college acceptances and merit scholarship offers, and especially our 100% graduation and college acceptance rate into a four-year school. If you want to give your child a head start on life with a private school education, give us a call at 760-328-0861 or reach out for a tour at info@pvs.org. We would love to tell you more about what a Palm Valley School education can offer your student.
