Preparing Collegiate Students for Life After High School
At Collegiate, education goes beyond academics—it’s about preparing students for life after high school. Our Foundations curriculum is specifically designed to equip scholars with the skills, knowledge, and self-awareness needed to thrive in college and in their future careers. This unique program, which spans from 6th grade to 12th grade, focuses on helping students understand more about themselves, identify their strengths, explore future opportunities, and develop essential life skills.
Middle School Foundations
In middle school, Foundations lays the groundwork for both academic and personal growth. In sixth grade, students begin exploring who they are as individuals and who they are in Christ, while being introduced to important concepts like the ACT, college majors, and executive functioning skills. These early experiences help scholars adjust to the transition of entering Collegiate.
As Mr. Butler, Collegiate’s sixth grade Foundations instructor, explains, “Sixth grade foundations sets the tone for expectations, getting them in an environment where students feel believed in, and helping them with the transition into a new place. We’re that first line when they come in; regardless of what school they’re coming from, we know they’re coming to a place that’s unlike any place they’ve been before.”
In addition to learning core executive functioning skills, middle school students also dive into technology and financial literacy through our partnership with Junior Achievement. Coach Nunnley, CSM’s middle school Foundations instructor, emphasizes, “Middle School Foundations gives students confidence. Each year, they grow and mature, gaining a deeper understanding of what college and careers look like.”
High School Foundations
In high school, the Foundations curriculum shifts focus to preparing students for college and career opportunities while continuing to foster personal growth. Ninth grade sets the stage for developing skills from resume building to communication to emotional coping skills.
Ms. Tate, CSM’s 9th and 10th grade Foundations instructor, shares “The most valuable aspect of Foundations is providing a safe space for students to ask questions that they’re too afraid to ask in other classes. We’re building their confidence and teaching skills that aren’t necessarily part of traditional curriculums, but that colleges assume students should know by the time they graduate.”
As students move through high school, scholars engage in in-depth career exploration and college research. Eleventh graders focus on crafting personal stories for college essays and scholarships, while seniors finalize their college applications, scholarship applications, and prepare for life after graduation.
Building Confidence for the Future
Through the Foundations curriculum, every Collegiate scholar is empowered with the tools they need to thrive in college, their careers, and beyond. Whether learning executive functioning skills or exploring their identity in Christ, students leave Collegiate not only with academic knowledge but with the confidence and preparedness to take on whatever comes next.