When do classes start for the 2023-2024 school year?
Our mandatory orientation is Tuesday, August 15. All students and a parent must attend. We will cover many different topics needed for the start of the school year. We will also have help available for those needing assistance with Canvas, our learning platform.
Our first day of classes will be Tuesday, August 22.
What is it like to be a part of Compass Prep?
Your high school student will be surrounded by a supportive group of homeschoolers, instructors, and families all joined together for the purpose of giving each student the best opportunity for academic growth and fellowship. We not only focus on the classes offered by our instructors but strive to encourage the students to participate in the many social and service activities that we hold throughout the year.
Where and when does Compass Prep meet?
We meet at Hope Fellowship Church in Rock Hill each Tuesday and Thursday. Our first class starts at 8:30 am and our last class is over by 1:55 pm. We meet for 15 weeks of each semester starting in August and ending in early May. Students can take a full course load or one class. The program is designed to meet the needs of our homeschooling community.
The church’s address is 95 Bird Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Are there any activities outside of classes that we can take part in?
Yes! Compass Prep wants to engage the whole student. We have activities each month to further nourish the student in ways of service to the community, social activities for friendship, and fun spirit days for fellowship. Our activities are led by our Student Leadership Committee. The committee is comprised of volunteer students who plan all the events for the student body. We have found that students leading students helps to bring a sense of community to all.
Who teaches the classes?
All of the instructors are independent contractors employed by the parents and are teaching in their learned discipline or areas of passion. All instructors must agree to Compass Prep’s Statement of Faith, included in our policies, and undergo a criminal background check. Many of the instructors are current or former homeschooling parents with many years of homeschooling experience.
How do I sign-up my student?
Our informational meetings happen in March each year with open registration starting in April for new families. Our course offerings page is kept up to date on class openings and lists the daily schedule. You will need to fill out an online registration form. Once your class selections have been reviewed, you will be notified to pay the registration fee. Once the registration fee has been paid, you have a seat in the class and have committed to the school year.
What if all the classes I want are full?
Our website is kept up to date on classes that become full. Please refer to our courses page before registering. We offer a wait-list for all classes that have filled, and if there is enough interest for a second class, teachers may offer an additional class time. It is important that you fill out the registration form for classes that you would like to register for, even if they are listed as full. We are often able to move families off of the waiting list, and we use our waiting lists to determine whether or not we have enough interest to open a second class.
What are the costs involved?
A non-refundable registration fee per student, per year, will cover a donation for use of church facilities, general administration expenses for the group, and liability insurance for students, instructors, and directors. This fee is due at the time of registration. If it is not paid in a timely manner, all classes for that student will be dropped. A fee will be charged for each course, set by the instructor, in addition to the non-refundable registration fee. These fees are split into two payments due July 1 and November 1. No refunds will be given for classes dropped during the year. Classes will have additional required materials.
When and how do I pay for classes?
Individualized tuition emails are sent out at the beginning of June and the beginning of October with instructions for making the two payments to cover the year’s tuition. Payments are made to individual teachers.
How many classes does my student have to take?
Students can take as many or as few classes as their needs and interests dictate. We have some students who take only one class, while we have others who take a full load. All classes are year-long, so you are committed to the full year once registration has been paid. If a student has a free period between classes, he or she must be enrolled in a study hall.
What classes are open to my child’s age?
All of our courses are taught at the high school level, and students are in grades 9-12. If there is a specific grade or prerequisite required for a course, you will find that under the course description. If you have any questions about the level of the class, you may always contact the instructor.
How are the courses determined each year?
We start the planning process in January of each year. Classes are determined by the needs of the current families who are returning in the fall. Popular classes have been offered for multiple years, while others follow a schedule of need. Due to space and time limitations, we cannot offer every class every year, so we prioritize classes that are the most popular and most needed by our families. We try to also offer a couple of new classes each year to provide some variety. Some classes generally follow an every-other-year schedule, but we start from scratch each year and base our decisions on what our instructors want to teach, what our families need, and what space we have available.
When do you begin planning classes for the coming year?
We begin planning in January, with the goal of having our schedule and course descriptions posted by March 1.
Will the students have homework in their classes?
Our classes offered by the instructors are meant to prepare the student academically. There will be homework. Most courses are planned as either a full high school credit or a half credit, so you can generally plan for your students to be working on assignments each day that they are home. Specific questions on the amount of work for each class can be directed to the instructor offering the class.
What is required of me as a parent?
We do not take the place of the parent as the primary teacher and therefore require the parents to be actively involved. Since our courses meet on a limited basis, they require follow-up at home under the direction of the parent. Parents are asked to observe their students through the Canvas platform, which gives them access to all of the assignments and communication from the instructors. Record-keeping and ensuring the student is meeting all legal homeschool requirements is the responsibility of the parent. We also need parent volunteers throughout the year to serve in different capacities such as mentoring the Student Leadership Committee or being a chaperone at a social event.
Can I wait in the church while my student takes classes?
Compass Prep is a drop-off program. It was designed to give the students more independence academically and socially. We do not have space nor insurance coverage for parents to wait in the church for their children.
HSLDA
Compass Prep is a HSLDA member. You will be notified of our group number at orientation. We recommend that homeschooling families join HSLDA. Even if you never experience legal trouble yourself, your HSLDA membership will help enable other homeschooling families to get the legal help they need and will help defend our right to homeschool here in South and North Carolina. Membership in HSLDA also gives you personal access to the legal staff; HSLDA’s experienced high school, struggling learners, and early years consultants; selling privileges at the HSLDA Curriculum Market; and discounts through HSLDA’s PerX program. (For more information about HSLDA’s many benefits, see www.hslda.org.). Compass Prep members SAVE $20 off the HSLDA membership price when you enter our Discount Group code on the HSLDA membership form.