Our Programs
REACH Program
REACH was founded in 2019 to help students navigate learning and social challenges in a friendly and inclusive environment. REACH utilizes a small classroom approach to meet every student's needs through individualized programming and an inviting social environment. At REACH, we appreciate each student's unique talents and learning styles and craft instruction to be responsive to the student.
REACH provides students with a warm learning environment; keeping the class size small (approx 6-10 students per 1 teacher) gives us the flexibility to challenge students based on their strengths while bolstering their skills in other areas. We understand there is a more than one size fits all approach to academics. Our instructional levels and groups are tailored to student's individual needs and academic abilities rather than their age-based grade level.
We utilize each student's past and current educational assessments and IEPs to hone in on specific areas of challenge and strength. In addition, we collaborate with families and allied professionals on the student’s team to develop and implement goals. Progress monitoring, anecdotal notes, and benchmark assessments are a few methods we use to track the progress of goals.
In the mornings, all students receive responsive instruction for decoding, comprehension, math, and writing skills, in a supportive, guided learning environment. Decoding and comprehension are taught through specific reading and phonics programs, as well as through literature. In mathematics, engaging activities reinforce students’ understanding of important mathematical concepts and skills, and using manipulatives for applied learning is a vital component. After lunch, all students receive Einstein’s workshop, science, and social studies instruction, depending on the day. Following this, lower school students stay at REACH, while middle school students integrate with the other middle schoolers on campus.
Renaissance Program
Renaissance was founded in 2004 and has since focused on providing revolutionary educational approaches to students with learning differences, such as ADHD and Dyslexia. Renaissance School values different learning styles and empowers students to recognize their strengths and build important skills to reach new heights. Each student is provided with a learning support team to develop lifelong study skills, organizational behavior, self-advocacy, and a variety of other vital skills for long-term success. We celebrate our cognitive and cultural diversity by creating individualized pathways for each student that address their passions, talents, and needs to grow to be agile thinkers; active community members; and confident, independent, life-long learners.
Renaissance’s philosophy and educational approach are unique. The school’s curriculum blends arts and academics in an inclusive, welcoming environment to develop agile thinkers, active community members, and confident, independent, life-long learners. Because of the school’s inclusive design, it can meet its students' various needs by personalizing instruction that focuses on the student’s strengths while acknowledging and remediating, when necessary, their areas for growth. The Renaissance School emphasizes the process of learning, the process of learning how to learn, and the process of becoming a member of a community.
Renaissance Middle School
The Renaissance program designed middle school courses in which teachers use a comprehensive approach utilizing direct instruction in concept imagery, Universal Design concepts, and Socratic questioning strategies to support the development of skills that underlie oral language comprehension. Brain-based sensory integration instruction enhances cognition in imagery, vocabulary, and auditory processing.
Renaissance Upper School
Students enrolled in the Renaissance program in the upper school attend classes with all their peers and are allocated one to two learning support blocks within their class schedule. Learning support blocks focus on helping students understand how they learn and develop skills to be the most successful learner. Students will explore their strengths and weaknesses, setting goals to improve as they move through the year, and becoming advocates for themselves and what they need to be most successful. Students will learn to take charge of their learning by prioritizing, planning, and organizing to put forth their best effort in completing assignments. Specific study skills will be developed and practiced throughout the year. Some group work will be a part of the class to strengthen the student’s ability to see the perspectives of others, as well as to develop conflict management and critical thinking skills while effectively communicating with their peers and teachers.
Rolling Hills Prep Middle School
At Rolling Hills Prep School, we provide a rigorous academic curriculum in a stimulating learning environment where all teachers integrate multiple learning approaches and emphasize hands-on educational experiences. In meeting our mission, we develop students’ disciplined minds in all academic areas, including English, science, history, world language, math, PE, and the arts. Rolling Hills Prep School develops students’ creative spirits through vital skills and science opportunities, including music, drama, design, and computer coding, as well as an art gallery, museum, and theatrical production experiences.
All students, regardless of previous experience or ability, are encouraged to develop their healthy bodies through participating in the school’s multifaceted PE and athletic program, which offers basketball, volleyball, and soccer for both girls and boys, as well as diverse activities such as flag football, esports, kickball, and dodgeball games.
Rolling Hills Prep prides itself on developing its student's sound character through the outdoor education program, service-learning opportunities, and advisory system. We challenge students to explore their strengths as they become aware of their individual, social, and intellectual gifts. To foster each student's growth, we use a robust advisory program where teachers work directly with small groups of students and their parents to mentor students during this transitional and exciting phase of becoming young adults.
The sixth-grade curriculum initiates students into the expectations of the Middle School. The faculty works with the students carefully as they transition from a self-contained elementary school program to a departmentalized middle school. Students develop an increased sense of responsibility and are encouraged to take the initiative in their learning.
The seventh-grade curriculum builds upon the foundations in the sixth grade to develop highly motivated, high-achieving learners who excel in the classroom and gain confidence in social interactions with peers.
The eighth-grade curriculum prepares students for the rigors and independence necessary for success in the Upper School by cementing organization skills and group cooperation and collaboration strategies.
Upper School
The Upper School (Grades 9-12) curriculum at Rolling Hills Prep is designed to provide students with the foundation they need as they pursue their interests and passions. The faculty is adept at understanding each student’s strengths and presenting unique challenges to help everyone reach new heights.
Our faculty delivers our academically vigorous curriculum by combining tried and true educational techniques with new pedagogy that emphasizes five skills that students need as they prepare for success in college and beyond: critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, and character.
Graduation Requirements
For graduation, Rolling Hills Prep requires completion of the following credits (10 credits = 1 school year) for a total of 225 credits:
- English - 40 credits
- Mathematics - 30 credits
- History - 25 credits
- Economics - 5 credits
- Science - 30 credits
- World Languages - 30 credits
- Arts - 20 credits
- P.E. - 20 credits
- Electives - 30 credits
Note: This is a minimum. Competitive colleges and universities expect more.