School Directory

CityView Magazine 2022-2023 School Directory 1 F rom public school and private school to charter school and home school, there are education options for families trying to find the best fit for their children. Beginning that search can be challenging. There are several learning environments outside your assigned public school if you want to explore non-traditional learning, language immersion, Christian education and other options. With each, there is much to evaluate before you make your final decision. Preschool is one of the first steps for your child. Programs in this area include everything from Mother's Morning Out, which can be important for socialization, to preparing for kindergarten with Pre-K. Popular preschools have started their open registrations so if you are interested, head to their websites or school offices to apply. The NC Pre-K program also provides free preschool education for families who qualify through participating Cumberland County Schools, Head Start programs and licensed four- and five-star private centers. Families can find more information and register at www.ccpfc.org/ncprek. For families with children where there may be concerns with development and hitting typical milestones, there is also a special education preschool program through the Cumberland County Schools Early In Special Education preschool program. For more information, go to www.eipp.ccs.k12.nc.us. There are choices for kindergarten through high school. They include schools of choice, charter schools, private schools and even homeschooling if your family wants more freedom to plan their own field trips and have classes at home around the dining room table. There are schools that teach through drama, music and art; others that offer year-round schedules; and some that partner with Fayetteville Technical Community College to offer associate degrees upon high school graduation. Each has distinct characteristics and is worth looking into to find a good fit for your child. Schools of choice Cumberland County Schools offers schools of choice throughout the county with elementary to high school options. Programs Explore choices for education By Jami McLaughlin Photography provided by Cumberland County Schools include Spanish or Mandarin Chinese language immersion, year- round, Montessori, classical studies, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and early college. The notifications come in early summer, and these programs are worth looking into if you are able to provide transportation to and from school. Charter schools There also are public charter schools in this area. Public charter schools are tuition-free and have individual lottery systems for admission. There are no entrance requirements, and they have separate boards of directors that oversee operations. Three public charter schools operate in our area: Alpha Academy, which has a STEM program; Capitol Encore Academy in downtown Fayetteville with arts-based methods of learning; and Anderson Creek Academy in Harnett County, which boasts a culturally responsive curriculum. With each charter school, families need to provide uniforms and their own transportation. All three charter schools begin accepting applications early in the year and new students are chosen by lottery. If you do not get in the first time, be patient. Wait-lists can move up quickly. Private schools Private schools have a lure for families who might want a Christian- based education or smaller class sizes. There are over two dozen private schools from which to choose in Cumberland County. For most schools, there is an application process, a tuition schedule and a requirement for students to maintain specific criteria. There may also be a requirement to have a recommendation from a church pastor if looking at a religious-based school. Most private schools require an interview. With all of the private school options, there are questions to ask to find the right fit: • Do you need transportation? Most private schools do not offer transportation; however, some do such as The Village Christian Academy, which offers bus routes to the Spring Lake and Lumberton areas. As parents, we always want the best for our children. But never has selecting the right school seemed more critical than it seems now. The challenges we've faced over the last two years have shown us how important it is to find a school that is committed to our children, one that is capable of adapting and able to help our children adapt as well. We are blessed with a variety of local options but having so many options can sometimes seem overwhelming. Our hope is that this handy guide will help with your family's research and planning.

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