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High Point Academy

Elementary School

Elementary School

High Point Academy's elementary program welcomes kindergarten through fifth grade. Our teachers implement South Carolina Standards with clear expectations for each student and grade level. In addition, we use data for every student to target their strengths and weaknesses and help them be more successful. 
 
We utilize Great Mind's Eureka curriculum for mathematics and follow a Balanced Literacy approach for ELA instruction. MAP testing measures a student's progress or growth in school, providing detailed, actionable data about where each child is on his or her unique learning path. Teachers take this information and classroom data and create small groups with lessons tailored to meet students' needs. By working with students in small groups, we can meet the diverse needs of students more efficiently. Students also take the SC PASS and SC READY state standardized tests in the third through fifth grades. These tests help to track the progress of each child, as well as measure teacher performance.
 
We are proud of our Fine Arts program and Performing Arts Center at HPA. Academic Art classes in music, piano, physical education, dance, art, and library are built into students' daily schedules. We want them to experience a variety of arts so that when they enter middle school, they can select courses that best suit their interests.

Our Elementary School is also a Project Lead the Way School of Distinction!  Project Lead the Way is a STEAM Curriculum that encourages problem based learning with focuses on Biomedical Science, Robotics, and Engineering.  Each year students complete three to four PLTW units beginning in Kindergarten and going all the way through fifth grade.  In Middle School, students have the option to continue with PLTW as an elective course.

Another unique aspect of our Elementary Program are our two Multi-Age classrooms.  While most of our classrooms follow the traditional same grade level model, we have two classrooms that house first through third grade students in the same room.  These students are taught using a Montessori style approach that focuses on independence, problem solving, and self paced learning.  For more information,  check out the video below!









Principal Kelly Buster

HPA Elementary Principal Kelly Buster

Ms. Kelly Buster grew up in Columbia, SC and always knew that she wanted to be a teacher. She has had a passion for serving students in multiple roles throughout her twenty-six year career in education. She has served as a teacher and librarian in Spartanburg Districts 6 and 1 before joining High Point Academy in 2019. Ms. Buster is a lifelong learner, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Winthrop University, a Master’s in Library and Information Science and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina, and a Master’s in Elementary Education with a certification in Early Childhood Education from Converse College. She was named Teacher of the Year twice in her previous schools and Support Staff of the Year for HPA 2022-2023. Ms. Buster enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family at the beach in her free time. 


Kelly Buster

Elementary Principal

[email protected]

    Multi-Age Classroom