At Oak Crest Private School, students advance according to ability rather than age. Starting at three years old and continuing through to eighth grade, children are expected to master what they are learning 100% before moving on to more difficult materials. Our small class sizes and unique educational approach make this possible.
Each student has an individual written program, which is shared with parents, that guides him or her through their own personal required coursework. As soon as the student has attained the knowledge and skills required at a particular level, the child moves up to the next higher one.
Much of the learning is self-paced. If a student knows the material, he or she advances to the next step. Fast students are not held back, but there are many optional enrichment courses available to them, if they are interested and have time to do them.
Students who need a little extra time to feel certain about a particular topic can take the time they need to achieve full understanding. This helps to ensure that children are never bored, but always challenged and never overwhelmed. It builds a very solid academic foundation.
The levels used are called “Forms.” Since the expected standard is 100% mastery, it is impossible to show an exact equivalent with traditional grades, but teachers are very mindful of what a child of a particular age needs to know according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards. The table below shows an approximate relationship between forms and traditional school grades.
| Form | Age in Years:Months | Grade Level |
|---|---|---|
| Early Beginners | 3:0 - 4:6 | Pre-K / Kindergarten |
| Beginners 1 | 4:0 - 6:1 | Kindergarten |
| Beginners 2 | 4:7 - 7:1 | First Grade |
| Form 1 | 5:7 - 8:3 | Second Grade |
| Form 2 | 6:9 - 9:6 | Third Grade |
| Form 3 | 8:0 - 10:11 | Fourth Grade |
| Form 4 | 9:7 - 12:7 | Fifth and Sixth Grade |
| Form 5 | 11:3 - 14:6 | Seventh and Eighth Grade |
