Preparing for Excellence — The Tennessee Christian Preparatory School faculty and their families gathered for a reception of fun, food and fellowship this week before the first day of school begins Aug. 17.
There is a buzz of excitement on the Tennessee Christian Preparatory School campus as opening day, Aug. 17, draws closer. The excitement comes from several factors, including the fact that this is the first year of a five-year strategic plan developed last year as a result of funding from a matching grant for sustainability from the Maclellan Foundation.
Another reason for excitement is the accelerated standardized test scores students scored in the 2009-10 school year. For the second year in a row, the average TCPS student completed the Stanford achievement test with the ease of students three years older, and the school is again eligible for the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.
Also, two new advanced placement courses will be offered this year — AP English composition and AP European history.
“We worked diligently to develop a strategic plan that will lead to long-term sustainability,” said TCPS President Dr. Bill Balzano.
“It is great to be following the first year of the plan,” he said.
The plan called for reducing the breadth of the academic program and strengthening the core academic program. The school, following the mandate of the strategic plan, reduced faculty, strengthened the curriculum schoolwide and established a number of financial benchmarks for strengthening the school. The plan also calls for the school to develop a new physical plant in three to four years.
According to Balzano, TCPS will be on the leased campus for an additional three years. Administrators and Board of Education members are currently seeking viable land to develop a new campus. It is the goal of the school to develop such a competitive academic program and school ambiance that parents seeking a quality independent-school education will look first at TCPS before driving 30 miles to attend a private school in Chattanooga, such as TCPS’s sister school, Chattanooga Christian School.
“It is a terrific time to be part of the TCPS family,” Balzano said.
Tennessee Christian Preparatory School is an interdenominational, Christ-centered, State-accredited college preparatory school that school officials say seeks to maximize students’ God-given potential. Offering quality educational opportunities for students preschool through 12th grade, TCPS is not affiliated with any church or denomination.
To learn more about TCPS, call (423) 559-8939 or visit www.tcpsk12.org.
