Ben Lippen School
7401 Monticello Road, 29203
500 St. Andrews Road, 29210
(803) 807-4000
BenLippen.com
Ben Lippen School educates more than 700 pre-K through 12th grade students from a Christian perspective, providing a superior educational experience that is unlike any other in the area. Beginning at the preschool level, students are challenged to become critical thinkers and problem solvers while thinking creatively, working collaboratively and learning to communicate effectively. Ben Lippen has produced 12 National Merit Semifinalists in the past five years, more than any other independent or Christian school in the Midlands. All three of our current candidates have attended Ben Lippen for 12 years.
Our teaching philosophy emphasizes mentoring and personal relationships with faculty members serving as club sponsors, coaches and advisors in addition to being classroom instructors. Most importantly, our curriculum is taught from a distinctly Christian worldview.
Ben Lippen offers a diverse campus with international students from 10 countries comprised of approximately 20 percent of the high school population. With so many nationalities represented, students have the opportunity to learn from other cultures and gain experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Confidence, personal interests and talents are developed through a wide array of co-curricular opportunities in academics, arts, athletics, leadership and service. Both inside and outside the classroom, students are encouraged to develop spiritually, academically and socially as they utilize their God-given talents while displaying Christian character.
Cardinal Newman School
2945 Alpine Road, 29223
(803) 782-2814
CNHS.org
Our world is changing rapidly, learning expectations are higher than ever, and faith-filled values are the foundation of a stronger tomorrow. At the heart of this future is Cardinal Newman, where we are not satisfied with the traditional definition of educational success. We expect more and are committed to creating young faith-filled leaders by redefining excellence through the integration of Catholic values throughout a holistic learning experience on our new campus that is not just a school, but a home.
In the Classroom
Our teacher/student ratio is 1-to-10; the average SAT score is 1250; and the top quintile of the 2015 senior class averaged 1350 on the SAT.
On the Field (2014-2015)
Cardinal Newman holds 14 SCISA state titles; more than 90 SCISA All-State, All-Star and All-Region honors combined; we have a 60 percent athletic participation rate; and offer new, state-of-the-art facilities for all sports.
In the Community
Cardinal Newman has accumulated more than 25,000 hours of service in 2014-2015 alone; eighty-nine students have received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards; we have raised more than $59,000 for worthwhile community organizations; and our Dance Marathon has raised more than $146,000 in three years.
For their Futures
The class of 2015 earned an average of more than $70,500 per student in College Merit Scholarships ($5.7 million in total); we produced National Merit Scholars and Commended students; and graduates are attending prestigious universities, such as University of Notre Dame, Case Western University, Colgate University, Furman University, as well as the honors colleges at the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.
Covenant Classical Christian School
3120 Covenant Road, 29204
(803) 787-0225
CovenantCS.org
Christ Centered. Well Rounded. Covenant Classical Christian School serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Our classical philosophy of education trains students to think logically and express themselves powerfully. We ground our students firmly in an understanding of the history and literary traditions of Western civilization and equip them with the tools of math and science needed to meet the challenges of the society they will inherit. Our Christian perspective nurtures students in a biblical view of themselves and the world in the way that God made it. Graduates leave Covenant exceptionally well prepared for their next steps in life.
Covenant offers a competitive tuition with military, pastoral and multi-child discounts, and supports homeschooling families with educational, extracurricular and standardized testing opportunities.
Hammond School
854 Galway Lane, 29209
(803) 776-0295
HammondSchool.org
The fact that Hammond is the largest independent school in the Columbia area comes as no surprise. First and foremost, we take academics seriously, and our track record proves it. But that’s only half of the story. Our athletic department, art department, experiential learning programs and commitment to community service help round out the Hammond experience to develop the whole child. Field studies and overnight trips find our students exploring new environments, local and abroad, in addition to the ample opportunities that exist on our 200-acre plus campus. We believe in five imperatives that form the basis of the Hammond experience.
Rigorous Academic Standards that Prepare and Push
An average SAT score at Hammond is 1234; 21 percent of the class of 2015 was named Palmetto Fellows; 2015 academic scholarship offerings totaled $6.6 million for a class of 82 students; and 21 members of the class were named Honor Graduates.
Challenges that Build the Mind, Body and Spirit
Hammond was the recipient of the Outstanding Youth Group Fundraiser Award for community service; the recipient of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 SCISA President’s Cup for best athletic department; named an Apple, Inc. Distinguished School for technology; and has sung internationally and before Pope Benedict XVI at a New Year’s Day Mass.
A Culture of High Expectation
At Hammond, we expect more from our students and we create an environment that helps prepare them for the journey ahead. Our faculty members and coaches serve as mentors and teachers, always expecting nothing less than a student’s personal best.
A Meaningful Connection to the Larger Global Community
Beginning in pre-K, every student is exposed to one or more foreign languages and will have traveled internationally by graduation. Annually, the school sends three teachers, one from each division, to a chosen “country of study” for in-depth exposure to the culture, language and landscape of that particular country.
An Environment that Enhances, Rather than Impedes, Possibility
We believe establishing an environment conducive to a child’s learning starts in the earliest grades. Hammond has been successful in creating a culture of emotional safety where students are comfortable trying their hand at new and different experiences whether on stage or on our athletic fields. It’s not unusual to see an athlete take center stage at a play or perform at a choral concert with ease.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
3000 S. Beltline Boulevard, 29201
(803) 765-2309
Heathwood.org
Heathwood Hall is best known for providing an outstanding college preparatory education through exceptional resources, gifted teachers and unparalleled experiential learning opportunities. A Heathwood education transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.
The Heathwood difference starts with unique resources: a 122-acre campus including five distinct habitats that serve as outdoor classrooms for all of our students; an award-winning SEED environmental education program and a PEAK outdoor training program featuring the Alpine climbing tower, Odyssey Ropes Course, indoor climbing wall, giant swing and zip line; expansive, world-class athletic facilities as well as theatre, band, choral music and art studio classrooms; an early childhood STEM tinker lab; and science labs in all divisions.
Our dedicated and experienced faculty provides a school-wide personalized approach to education with an 8-1 student-teacher ratio and two teachers in every lower-school classroom. Also, we have had 10 winners of South Carolina Independent School Association Teacher of the Year since 2000.
Heathwood offers unique opportunities for academic and personal growth: students have completed 50,000 hours of community service in the past five years; more than 60 students participate in internship opportunities each year; Winterim program provides world-wide travel experiences each year; our Senior Exhibition program prepares students for college by allowing them to pursue intellectual passions through in-depth research; and our Episcopal identity encourages spiritual growth for students of all faith backgrounds.
Montessori School of Columbia
411 S. Maple Street, 29205
(803) 783-8838
MontessoriColumbia.com
The Montessori School of Columbia sits on a peaceful, wooded two-acre campus in the heart of the city, just minutes from the University of South Carolina and downtown Columbia. We serve 115 students in 3-K through sixth grade. We are a warm community of families, staff and students where children are inspired to learn.
We offer an authentic Montessori education driven by each child’s innate love of learning. Children are provided with a rigorous, self-paced and individualized curriculum. The Montessori School of Columbia strikes a good balance between recognizing children’s freedom of choice and ensuring that they receive the instruction they need.
Students work in multi-aged classrooms. We do not assume that every 4-year-old is the same because they’re 4, or every 9-year-old is the same because they’re 9. People have both strengths and weaknesses, so having children work in mixed-age groupings allows for a window of opportunity for children to work with others at similar levels, regardless of age. We value children as individuals and ensure that all children are challenged according to their ability in every subject area.
The Montessori method is designed to work with the child’s nature by allowing children to move, speak and be comfortable so that they can maximize learning with little distraction. Concepts are taught using hands-on manipulatives and then those concepts are gradually moved to abstraction. With the Montessori materials, children truly understand what they are learning, and they are active participants in their learning process.
At the primary level (3-K through 5-K), children learn without realizing they are learning. By the time a child leaves the primary program, he or she has a quiet sense of competence. The child has been introduced to storytelling, mathematics, geometry and the arts, and the groundwork has been laid for what comes next.
At the elementary level, in addition to language and mathematics, children study geometry, geography, history, life science, physical science, art, music, Spanish and Latin. We focus on teaching students how to research, and we have a robust writing program.
At all levels, children learn to respect themselves, others and their environment. We make every effort to prepare the whole child intellectually, socially, emotionally, linguistically and physically. Children develop a sense of personal responsibility. A child who completes our program over nine years is centered, competent, confident and ready to take on any challenge.
Northside Christian Academy
4347 Sunset Boulevard, 29072
(803) 520-5656
NorthsideChristianAcademy.org
“So the generations to come might know Him … ” (Psalm 78:6)
Christ. Connection. Cultivation. By God’s divine providence, Northside Christian Academy opened its doors in 2011. It exists so children from infants to 12th grade students might know the love of Jesus in a life-changing way. We are unified in our commitment to helping families grow in truth.
Unashamedly, we teach that Scripture is the infallible Word of God and that only Jesus saves. Instructors lovingly lead, challenge and equip students with knowledge and skills so that they may thoughtfully respond to God and succeed in this world.
We are a community connected by a desire to glorify God through fellowship, discipleship and stewardship. Students have ample opportunities to develop abilities, talents and character by working together on service projects, participating in fine arts, joining athletic teams and collaborating academically. The culture of NCA builds relationships, foundations and life-long skills, which we believe are critical to achieving the balance desired by our Creator.
Cultivating growth in every area of the student is our focus. NCA achieves academic excellence while holding ideas from all subject areas up to the light of Scripture. Chapels, Bible courses and spiritual retreats help students think biblically about our world. The curriculum recognizes individual giftedness and equips students to fulfill their unique callings for life.
We are privileged to make an eternal investment in the lives of our students as we help prepare them to make an eternal impact on the world.
Sandhills School
1500 Hallbrook Drive, 29209
(803) 695-1400
SandhillsSchool.org
Sandhills School gives bright students the tools they need to succeed and become leaders among their peers and in the community. At Sandhills, highly specialized teachers focus on the strengths of each student and help them navigate traditional obstacles of learning. Sandhills provides a supportive, college-preparatory environment where first through 12th grade students rediscover the joy of learning and renew their intellectual curiosity. Through authentic success in small, hands-on classes, leadership opportunities on the sports field and the stage, traveling internationally and serving the community, our students gain confidence in their abilities, and fears and anxieties begin to fade. Sandhills parents notice a positive difference in their child almost immediately.
For more than 40 years, Sandhills School has changed the lives of young people diagnosed with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia or ADHD. As the only Orton-Gillingham accredited college-preparatory school in the Midlands, Sandhills has teachers who are highly trained to provide research-based individualized instruction tailored to each student’s academic needs. This approach produces tremendous progress in everything from reading, writing and math to study skills, organization and college entrance test preparation. Our graduates go on to the colleges of their choice, are recognized by state and national scholarships and are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in college and beyond.
Thomas Sumter Academy
East Columbia Campus
806 Universal Drive, Building 1, 29209
(803) 499-3378
ThomasSumter.org
Thomas Sumter Academy first opened its doors in September 1964 to offer families in the Sumter area the opportunity to provide their students a safe, Christian learning environment. Thomas Sumter Academy is now thrilled to offer this same challenging curriculum to families in Richland County by opening a new campus in East Columbia.
The new campus will begin classes starting in August 2016 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and will offer not only the academic opportunities available at the main campus but also the same family atmosphere. The challenging academic program will include science lab, computer lab, dance, art, library, chorus and physical education. Open houses at the new campus will be on Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 9 at 10 a.m. You can also call the main campus of the school to set up a tour and to get more information. Come experience why Thomas Sumter Academy was chosen to receive the 2015-2016 SCISA School of Honor Award, which is presented to a school when it proves itself to be exemplary and goes above and beyond its own mission outside of the walls of the school. Thomas Sumter Academy is only one of 14 SCISA schools that have received this award in the past 50 years.
Timmerman School
2219 Atascadero Drive, 29206
(803) 787-4241
TimmermanSchool.org
Timmerman School was founded in 1954 by Mrs. June H. Timmerman. Mrs. Timmerman began her teaching career in Alabama’s public school system where she designed the 5-year-old kindergarten phonics program for her school district. After transferring to Columbia with John, her husband, she saw a need for pre-school education; therefore, she decided to start a school to prepare 5 year olds for the rigors of first grade. The school quickly grew adding grades and outgrowing three campuses.
Mrs. Timmerman hosted a daily live children’s educational television show through ETV for many years. She was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Mark Sanford for her contributions in educating students throughout the state of South Carolina.
Today the school enjoys a beautiful campus in Forest Acres serving young 3 year olds through eighth grade students. A highly qualified staff guides and instructs students through an advanced academic curriculum. The new gymnasium allows for a very comprehensive and competitive sports program. The performing arts are an integral part of the total Timmerman experience. Timmerman students achieve success in any high school environment. The mission of Timmerman School is to foster the three R’s: Respect, Resourcefulness and Responsibility.
