Want to be a part of your child’s school community? At First Presbyterian Academy, the support of parents is integral to the successful execution of the school’s mission and vision. First Presbyterian Academy has two campuses in Greenville and serves students from K3-12th grade. They are enrolling now for the 2022-2023 school year and encourage families to contact them to learn more about how families, the church, and the school work in concert to foster young people’s learning and growth.
First Presbyterian Academy (FPA) is a private school that provides quality academic instruction characterized by academic excellence, Biblical integration, Bible study, and Christian standards for life. FPA believes that the home, the church, and the school should complement one another and promote each student’s spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical growth.
Parents as Partners
Parents are partners at FPA. FPA believes that Christian education is a cooperative partnership between the school, parents, and students. Accordingly, the school depends on the support of its parents in order to truly carry out its mission to the glory of the Lord. They humbly request that parents partner with the school and with their student(s) to support the school, and participate with the school through volunteer involvement and giving, understanding that tuition alone does not cover all operating expenses.
“One of the things that makes our school different is our partnership with parents. We work together with a common goal of educating students from a Biblical perspective,” explains FPA Upper School Principal Amber Thompson. “It is a blessing to step alongside parents and work together in the most challenging adventure of their lives. Our doors are always open to listen and help. We are humbled by the fact that parents trust us to educate their child and we are excited to watch boys and girls grow into amazing men and women.”
Parents play an active role in the life of First Presbyterian Academy in many ways. Through the Crusader Connection Parent Volunteer group, parents lend support to the faculty and staff, organize appreciation events, and social events for the entire school community. The organization includes Room Moms who serve in each classroom in the Preschool and Lower School grades. Middle and Upper School enjoy the support from Grade-level Moms.
The Crusader Booster Club, made up of parents of athletes, lend support to the 22 athletics teams at FPA. Through various annual fundraisers, a year-round signage program and family membership fees, the Crusader Club support our Athletic Programs in a variety of ways. By purchasing uniforms, supplies, and equipment for our student-athletes, the Crusader Club is a consistent partner to the school in providing an excellent, Christ-centered program.
Parents also partner with the Athletic Department to serve through team support, the selling of concessions and contributing financially to the maintenance and improvement of the school’s athletic buses, athletic fields, athletic facilities and more. They staff home game gate and concessions, as well as special events like cook-outs, fund-raisers, etc.
The First Presbyterian Academy Vision & Mission
When a student enrolls at FPA, parents agree to support the school and pledge full cooperation with the school’s Mission and Vision, as well as its policies, practices and goals. In turn, it is important that all FPA families understand the school’s Mission and Vision and are committed to the same basic, scriptural principles on which they were founded.
The FPA Vision statement reads as follows: “FPA ignites a passion for excellence in learning and infuses God’s Word as a lens for learning, so its students may grow to impact the world for Jesus Christ.” And the mission of FPA is “FPA is a Christian community dedicated to providing a premier college-preparatory education, grounded in a Biblical worldview, which develops character in students from varied backgrounds for a lifetime of learning and service.”
The administration, faculty and staff always welcome input from parents, and they are always open to conversations that will benefit all students. Experts believe that a parent’s role in a child’s life can have a long-term impact in improving that child’s self-esteem, self-worth, confidence and behavior.
“Educating students at any level is based on the partnership developed and nurtured between the home and school. This relationship is the key to success as we educate the whole student, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” says FPA Head of School Tom Roe.
Former First Lady Barbara Bush once said, “The home is the child’s first school, the parent is the child’s first teacher….” At FPA, they couldn’t agree more!
Learn More
FPA has two campuses. Their downtown Greenville campus includes K2-K6 and has 128 students enrolled. The Shannon Forest campus has 435 students across K3-12th grade. 100% of FPA graduates are accepted to the college/university of their choice. FPA students also consistently score above national averages on college entrance exams. Last year, FPA students scored an average of 21 on the ACT and 1160 on the SAT.
Inquire today at www.firstpresacademy.com.
Downtown Campus
K2, K3, K4, K5 & K6
200 W. Washington Street
Greenville, SC 29601
864.565.0990
Shannon Forest Campus
K3 – 12th Grade
829 Garlington Road
Greenville, SC 29615
864.678.5107