You Have Questions, We Have Answers

You get questions.  We have answers.  ☺

You may talking to friends, or be on social media, and encounter questions about Trinity Prep.  Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions.  If you get a question you can’t answer, post our general information email address:  information@trinityprepkeller.org.  We'll answer their questions. That is also the email they may use to schedule a visit.

What is Trinity Prep – would I call it a co-op?

No.  We are not a homeschool co-op, where parents teach each other’s children, although co-ops are wonderful!  We are also not a “University Model school” (that’s a trademarked term, so we don’t ever use it!)  We have our own trademark:  We are a College-Style School™.  We are truly a two-day school.

Why is there a For Sale sign in front of the campus?  What is going to happen to Trinity Prep, and when?  

Trinity Prep will stay where we are for the next school year, 2019-20.  We are now leasing from our second owner and may soon have a third owner during our time as tenants on this campus, but per Texas law, our lease remains intact in spite of any change in ownership.

For the future, we ARE seeking a building or land upon which to build our permanent home.  We look forward to a building that is designed for our ministry.   We are looking in a five-mile radius of our current campus, primarily north or west.

Is it only for homeschool families?  Do you have to be a ‘homeschooler’ to enroll your children and make it work?

No.  Families do come to us from full-time schools.  We show them how to partner with us!

What about special situations - do you enroll students who are non-traditional?

Yes.  Every year we enroll students who are on a different path.  For example, we've had very accelerated students who enroll in high school classes but are middle school age - and do very well with the course content.  We have many traditional learners, and all of our students benefit from our commitment to small class sizes.  We cap enrollment at 10 students for K, 12-14 students for Elementary-Middle School (1st-8th), and 16 students for high school.  Students with learning challenges can work through our college-prep curricula successfully with the support of our Education Specialist.

What about sports?

Our students play on teams with THESA, HSAA, or other organizations offering team sports for homeschoolers; or on club teams, city-sponsored teams, or YMCA teams.  In other words, it is not necessary to attend a full-time school to pursue sports.  There are many options available to our students.

As an example, there is a former student of Grace Prep in Arlington who played college and NFL football, retiring in 2016.  Grace Prep is a ‘part-time’ school like Trinity Prep – and they are the founding school of the University Model.  In other words, it is not necessary to attend full-time school to participate in team sports and if the student excels, to be considered for college teams.

Can homeschool parents enroll their children in just a few classes?

No.  Students must be enrolled all day for Elementary (K-5) and Middle School (6-8).   For some high school classes we may allow part-time enrollment on a case-by-case basis, but we are not structured like a co-op where you pick and choose your classes from what’s offered each year. 

Do we have K-4?   

Yes, on a case-by-case basis we can admit 4-year-olds in our Kindergarten class.  But we conduct an assessment to determine if our K class would be a good fit for that child.

Can students get dual credit?  

Yes, in several ways.  We have online high school courses that are dual credit for various Christian colleges (and transferable).  Every year we have students sit for AP tests and earn college credit with a passing score.  We provide high school guidance counseling and cover all these options with the parents and students.

Do we have music and fine arts classes?

Yes and no.  Although we are making plans to offer music and art classes in the near future, at present we do not offer these classes.  However, art expression is included in many Elementary activities, and high school students who need fine arts can earn those credits with one of our area partners (Creative Soul, Artful Mayhem, as examples).

What does "College Prep" mean in practical terms?

It means all of our classroom instruction and our curricula are on grade level, meeting state or national standards for content.  Some curricula does not, so we do review all curricula to ensure it meets applicable standards.  College-prep also means that in high school, the track is rigorous and designed to develop academically well equipped students who are critical thinkers.  

Are we “classical” and what does that mean, anyway?

Yes.  Classical means:

• Systematic teaching and curricula for the skill areas (reading and math).  We rely on instruction and resources that are logical and incremental in their introduction of skills – for example, a phonics-based curriculum to teach reading.  We do not rely on self-exploration and direction in hopes a student will 'catch' skills.  We rely on proven teaching methods.
• History is taught every year, and chronologically.  It IS a story, from ancient times to present, so we learn about it that way.  K and 1st grade learn about Bible stories and events.  From 2nd – 12th grades, students study the entire sweep of history, from beginning to present day, in three cycles – Elementary, Middle School, and finally a third time in High School. History provides context for our lives:  “There is nothing new under the sun…”  (King Solomon)
• We read good literature that ties to our History studies for that grade level.  That way the readers do double duty as examples of good writing and as glimpse into the time period students are studying.
• We have a Core Program – all students are being equipped in Math, Language Arts, Science and History every year, K – 12th.
• We recognize the developmental stages of learning:  Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric.  In Elementary years, students are primarily laying a foundation of Knowledge.  In the Middle School years, the students are building upon that foundation to add Understanding – how the world is interconnected and how they are connected to it and to others. They begin to engage in more analysis of information.  In the High School years, they work to develop Wisdom, measuring everything they encounter against Biblical Truth, and determining how they should respond.  We want to develop critical thinkers who can identify Truth so they may live lives of Virtue.

Thank you for joining me for another Trinity Prep Talk!

Leslie Kent

School Director