Our Approach
“Many people talk about 21st century education, but Crown Leadership Academy is already reaching for end of 21st century in preparing their students to make a difference in the world.”
— Dr. Spencer Jordan, SCISA Director
Crown is a setting where students are not merely “taught” but become catalysts in their own learning. Students demonstrate mastery in an approach that is authentic and meaningful throughout integrated courses, earning Crown the coveted STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Certification from the South Carolina Independent School Association. Crown’s unique schedule gives students lessons in time management and personal responsibility.
Project Based Learning
Collaboration
Team multi-disciplinary projects require accessing all available resources, encouraging introspection and communication, and accepting personal and group responsibility. Teachers evaluate these projects not just on the content students learn, but the skills they hone to work in teams as adults. Conflict resolution is built as peers navigate how to work together. We realize that this is a difficult skill for many young people, but we feel it is crucial in our students’ future success.
Mastery
We use SC State Educational Standards as the outline of what is covered in academic classes throughout every grade level. Class discussions and “driving questions” shape the direction that students run in order to learn academic material, while also growing in practical skills. Students show mastery of material through project evaluation, presentation, classroom participation and assignments. Traditional print textbooks rarely drive the learning at Crown; however, we do use the following textbooks in math and in language arts:Math – Teaching Textbooks , McRuffy Math; CK12 Language Arts – McRuffy
Creativity
Nurturing originality is inherent in every aspect of teaching and learning at Crown. Our teachers are passionate about presenting creative and individualized information to students. We encourage everyone at Crown to express creativity in their assignments. Students who think for themselves and have curious minds will exercise these gifts and fulfill their highest goals.
Work that Matters
Elementary
In the Spring of 2020, our elementary students traveled through history with the passengers of the Underground Railroad, using our special coded quilts. Our family and friends were able to decipher our hidden messages using coding from the future (QR Codes) to successfully join us on our journey.
Middle
Our middle school students have helped map and strategically plan details of a cross-country bicycle trip that their history teacher planned to take during the summer of 2020. They will soon be launching the fundraising portion of the project to help provide bicycles to underprivileged students in the Charleston area with Going Places
High
Our students worked with city planners and business leaders to create their own new community. Along with the narrative of the culture, each town needed to think through logistics of water, transportation, industry, and supply and then account for population growth.
Executive Functioning Skills
Workload Management
We aim for our students to be individuals who experience a balanced life that includes time with family and participation in sporting, artistic and community events that contribute to their growth. Our students manage their time at school wisely so that they rarely have homework. Each student has scheduled time daily to work on independent assignments with peers and teachers.
Schedule
Students attend academic classes Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am to 3:15pm. If a student completes his or her schoolwork by Thursday at 2:00, Friday attendance is not required.
Each morning begins with Prayer, Worship, and our School Meeting where we discuss issues affecting our school, community and world.
Generally, we take a one week break following each quarter. In addition, Crown allows distance-learning arrangements to accommodate family travels and other out-of-town experiences, when coordinated with teachers in advance.
Enrichment
Crown students are encouraged to explore special interests outside the classroom. Fridays are wonderful opportunities for volunteering, hobbies, and extra-curricular lessons. High School students may earn credit by meeting with our Guidance Counselor prior to the experience for approval and then presenting upon completion. Our students have participated in sailing training, art lessons, internships, photography classes, business entrepreneurship, and travel.
SCISA STEAM CERTIFICATION
We are honored to have received the South Carolina Independent School Association’s STEAM Certification. We were awarded this distinction based on our approach which incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics throughout a student’s daily experience.