Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy
Is online school a good fit for your student?
One NC family gives high marks to Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy
In the middle of fifth grade, one Dunn, N.C., family knew they needed to find a better fit for their son Phoenix’s education. He was in a traditional classroom, but bullying issues continued to worsen and his mom, Jennifer, says it was difficult getting in touch with his teacher.
Jennifer knew that something needed to change. So, the family turned to Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy (CM Prep).
“He was able to jump in and work at his own pace which was incredibly helpful as he adjusted to the different curriculum,” she says. “His teacher is great about staying in touch with me – communication that I felt was really lacking in my previous parent-teacher relationships. We have been able to build great relationships very quickly.”
Phoenix says he likes working at his own pace and enjoys the hands-on lessons, especially in science. “I always look forward to the experiments,” he says. “The school sends us all of the materials to do them and that’s really fun. I didn’t get to do experiments at my old school.”
Phoenix’s older brother attends a traditional brick-and-mortar school, which has been the right fit for him, Jennifer says, emphasizing that each student has their own individual learning styles and educational path. CM Prep reports that parents seek virtual schooling for various reasons – flexibility, health circumstances, sports or dance schedules and a better learning environment.
Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy
“In some ways, COVID opened families’ minds up to alternative options for their child’s education,” says Vicky Creasy, Principal at CM Prep. “ Students enjoy the flexibility and pace, and parents are elated to watch their students succeed. With the help of new and innovative online learning tools and technology, CM Prep empowers families to discover the learning environment that is right for them.”
This year, the Hill family will receive North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship to help pay for Phoenix’s private education – and Jennifer says the family is grateful to have help with the tuition. The scholarship is awarded to eligible families through the North Carolina’s State Education Assistance Authority to expand school choices through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“My only regret is that we didn’t start him at the beginning of the year!” Jennifer says.
