Cornerstone Academy

My daughter entered Cornerstone Academy's Pre-K program this year, and my wife and I are thrilled with the quality of the education she's receiving. Each child is allowed to move at their own pace, experiment, make mistakes, and take risks. Instead of asking students to adopt a fixed mental model of how things work, they're encouraged to ask questions and given time to think and explore their own learning patterns. You get the sense there's something special about Cornerstone just by peeking at its classrooms, which look nothing like a typical classroom, or at least those that I`m familiar with. Nature is used as a learning setting, where bridges to abstract concepts are created using common experiences and experiments, students work in collaboration surrounded by materials of their own creation, and music and art play a prominent role in their overall educational experience. I suppose the simplest way to put it is this: Cornerstone looks like "home," and that`s exactly how our daughter thinks of school -- a home away from home where she can learn and have fun with her extended family.

Our fourth grader entered Cornerstone as a kindergarten student. After our daughter's first orientation meeting, we immediately knew that it was the right place for her to grow academically, emotionally and socially. Every year we are grateful for her experience. The Cornerstone teachers are gifted instructors who meet the needs of their students. Our daughter's teachers have consistently been dedicated to helping her perform to the best of her ability. Furthermore, we greatly attribute our daughter's self-confidence and appreciation for learning to her experience at the school. Cornerstone offers a wonderful mix of academic rigor and nurturing support for its students. Our daughter once shared with us that she considers her teachers and classmates as her "extended family."

My daughter is in her second year at Cornerstone Academy. I continue to be amazed at what this school offers. The academics are strong - kids graduate and go on to prestigious private high schools with ease. Because the class sizes are intentionally small, each child receives individual attention and can have the classroom lessons and homework tailored to fit their needs. Each child gets exactly what he/she needs. Social and emotional development come hand in hand with the rigorous academics - the teachers are masterful at helping children develop the social skills needed to succeed. This school has it all!

As a teacher I was very picky, when it came to picking a school for my son. I visited several schools and what I saw was, children monotonously working in workbooks. Due to my observation I wasn't satisfied with any schools and pondered on where I would enroll my son. At last I found a hidden gem, Cornerstone Academy. At Cornerstone there is a balance of hands on materials, games, and workbooks. They also have small class sizes; as a result the teacher can differentiate their lesson to reach every child. Children learn best when they are given the opportunity to explore with the materials, and have a teacher as a guide not a lecturer. This is my son's first year at Cornerstone Academy and he loves every moment of it. One of his favorite things is the outdoor learning space. I was apprehensive about my child's transition to a new school since he is timid. To my surprise his transition was an easy one. I couldn't be happier with this school.