The Prep Fund:  Excellence and Innovation in Education

The Prep Fund is the school’s top fundraising priority, and every gift, regardless of size, makes a difference! These annual gifts provide for the extras that are necessary to achieve our mission of excellence and innovation in education. The Prep Fund provides Tools for Teaching and Learning; Professional Development; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; the Arts; Athletics; and the Areas of Greatest Need at Prep. 

Our mission of excellence is intentional as it is the very foundation from which we build our curriculum and extracurricular activities, and when you start with a strong foundation, anything is possible. You can expect to find our four pillars integrated into our lesson plans, gym classes, technology sessions, and our special programs. Help us achieve our mission of instilling respect, integrity, perseverance, and courage in each one of our students as we look to enrich the Charlotte Prep experience, through the Prep Fund, one student at a time.


How it Works

The Prep Fund is our annual funding opportunity that kicks off each year in mid-October. Participation from the entire community helps us reach our financial goal to fund our six areas of impact. Every gift, regardless of size, supports our talented teachers, the special offerings both inside and out of the classroom, and the programs that prepare our students for the 21st century world they will enter as adults!

Participation Matters!

All independent schools aim for 100% parent participation in the annual fund, and Charlotte Prep is no different. Your contribution, regardless of the amount, demonstrates your trust and commitment to Prep and helps build a stronger community. Your participation has a direct impact in our classrooms and on your student. Inevitably, the stronger our academic programs become, the better educated, equipped, and prepared your child is for his/her high school experience and beyond.


Determining Prep’s Greatest Needs

The school’s greatest needs are ultimately determined by the school administration along with the Board of Trustees. The Head of School directs the process and ensures that the Prep Fund impacts every child, every year.  Funds are used for tools and technology in our classrooms; professional development; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; the arts; athletics; and the areas of greatest need.  Research-based classroom initiatives will enhance each student’s learning opportunities and add value to the student experience. Examples could include professional development, specialized classroom equipment, or program resources needed for a specific curriculum opportunity.

Giving Levels: The Prep Fund

These giving levels recognize total giving to the Prep Fund within the fiscal year (July 1-June 30)

Founders Circle*
$10,000 and above

Legacy Society*
$5,000 - $9,999

Head of School Circle*
$2,500 - $4,999

Prep Partners
$1,000 - $2,499

Pillars Society
$500 - $999

Tiger Club
$1 - $499
 

*Leadership donors are invited to attend an annual celebration event. 
Donor names are acknowledged and published in the annual report, unless a donor requests anonymity. Head of School Circle donors and above are invited to special receptions during the year.

Donate Now

 

GIVE TODAY
The 2023-2024 Prep Fund: Excellence and Innovation in the Classroom 
Help us reach our goal of $250,000 and 100% parent participation. Invest in our teachers, curriculum, and your children.

See The Impact of the 2022-2023 Prep Fund

Middle School

  • New science tool, PocketLab, is an excellent system for our inquiry-based curriculum. The PocketLab Notebook is an interactive, cloud-based digital science platform where students collect, visualize, and analyze live data. 
  • New Spanish curriculum, Somos, uses comprehension-based and proficiency-oriented methods of teaching language while incorporating culture into daily learning and activities to help the students explore both the Spanish language and its people’s rich culture.
  • Additional flexible seating that allows students to be more aware of the environment in which they learn best. Flexible seating promotes collaboration, creativity, self-reflection, and autonomy.

Lower School

  • A new reading curriculum, Collaborative Classroom, for grades K-3. This curriculum is based on the science of reading, which is a systematic approach to literacy and is specialized for elementary students.
  • A reading intervention program from Collaborative Classroom, SIPPS (Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words), will be implemented by our learning support specialists in both lower and middle school this year. SIPPS aligns with skills taught by classroom teachers while targeting specific areas where students need extra support.
  • A new grammar program called Daily Language Instruction for 3rd and 4th grade. This program introduces and reviews the correct daily use of standard grammar, such as punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, and usage.

Early School

  • New sheds were built for each of the early school playgrounds. 
  • Classrooms received new furniture, including bookshelves, chairs, sensory tables, easels, map cabinets, and library furniture. These additions allow for more dynamic and collaborative learning.  

Professional Development and Summer Grants

  • Two early school assistant teachers earned Montessori Infant-Toddler Certification
  • Early School faculty engaged in workshops on topics related to language/reading and classroom setup
  • Kindergarten and 2nd-grade reading curricular improvement grant
  • 4th-grade social studies curricular improvement grant
  • 4th-grade curriculum scope and sequence grant
  • Art curriculum scope and sequence grant for grades K-8 
  • 4th-grade music curriculum alignment grant
  • Responsive Classroom training
  • Community Garden planning grant
  • Women Band Directors’ Summer Conference 
  • Theater Education Conference 
  • American School Counseling Association Annual Conference in Chicago 
  • Affirming Community Together MS Diversity Conference 
  • NCAIS DEI Conference 
  • NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute in Atlanta
Tools for Teaching and Learning
a student uses an ipad for programming
Providing an exemplary education means that our classrooms are equipped with robust teaching tools, which facilitate learning that is alive with excitement and vibrancy.
Faculty Professional Development
teacher reading a book to students
Teacher professional development is unquestionably linked to student achievement. Supporting our teachers' growth ensures they are leaders in their fields who can deliver the very best education.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging
students sitting together on a big rock
We commit to the challenging work of inclusion and aim to build a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contributions and participation of community members.
The Arts
students painting a mural
Arts education supports well-rounded development and inspires children to connect with the world in new ways. The Prep Fund supports experiences that foster creativity and self-discovery.
Athletics
students playing soccer
Because wellness and learning go hand in hand, we place a high priority on the mental and physical health of every student. The Prep Fund supports our athletic teams, playgrounds, and physical education program.
Areas of Greatest Needs
A student in a playground
When a school is committed to excellence, needs will always arise. New books, the latest tech, curriculum enhancements... Thanks to your support, if we need it, we have the resources to fund it.

Charlotte Preparatory School's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 each year. Pledges are accepted throughout the year, with payments due by June 30. Gifts are credited to the fiscal year in which they are received. For more information, contact Heidi Kelley in the Development Office at [email protected]. Charlotte Preparatory School is a 501© (3) organization. All gifts to the school are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.