Frequently Asked Questions About Upper Elementary Curriculum
Upper Elementary School Age Classes
As your children continue to grow and develop, it’s important to provide them with the best possible learning opportunities. As your student is preparing for middle school and high school, it’s essential that they develop a solid academic core to help them be successful for the rest of their school career and their lives as well. For more than 37 years, Yorkshire Academy has been attracting families from Houston, TX, and all over the world. We know you likely have questions as to what makes Yorkshire Academy such an outstanding choice for upper elementary. We always welcome additional questions, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
1. What grades and ages can attend upper elementary?
Our upper elementary school age group is for students in the 3rd through 5th grades. Yorkshire Academy teaches students starting at 18 months old in our early childhood, preschool, pre-kindergarten, and lower elementary school programs. After they graduate from 5th grade, many students move on to other private schools in the Houston area. We’d be happy to discuss middle school options with you after they learn all they can from us!
2. What is a typical school day like at Yorkshire Academy?
At Yorkshire Academy’s upper elementary school, we focus on the core academic courses but combine them with enrichment activities to help your child enjoy every aspect of their learning. We focus on making sure your student graduates from fifth grade prepared for successful social and academic middle school experiences. Every day offers different learning opportunities, as we consistently provide a safe, secure, and challenging environment. It's well documented that students learn best in classrooms with low student/teacher ratios. Yorkshire Academy is fortunate to be able to offer lower student/teacher ratios than most elementary schools. We have a variety of special events throughout the year, including field trips, academic competitions, art shows, community service projects, Science Fair, our annual spring musical, and much more.
3. Will my student be challenged academically?
Yes, your student will have plenty of opportunities to shine academically. We focus on the core academic courses of math, language arts, social studies, and science, but there’s a lot more to it than that. We also mix in extraordinary enrichment classes like art, music, computer technology, library, Social Emotional Learning, Spanish, and physical education. Upper elementary school is also an important time to reinforce and sharpen what they’ve previously learned in school and make sure students have a solid foundation to go forward and succeed in school and in life. Yorkshire Academy receives incredible feedback from area middle schools both private and public alike as to the preparedness, confidence, and leadership qualities our students possess.
4. What is the upper elementary curriculum like?
Our upper elementary curriculum focuses on getting your student ready to succeed in middle school. Our accelerated math curriculum uses a blend of Go Math!, Greg Tang math, and other resources to create a specialized math program that builds a strong foundation of number sense and a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics. We also use Pearson Language Program, which places an emphasis on phonics, reading, comprehension, listening, writing, and grammar. As part Language Arts, students experience Literature Circles. While reading novels in a cooperative social setting, the students engage in discussions that are similar to literature classes you can find in a university setting. At Yorkshire Academy, we also use the History Alive! curriculum, and McDougal Littell New Espanol! We use a specialized science program based on the National Science Standards. Yorkshire Academy is the 1st Ocean Guardian School in Houston, TX, which provides our students a unique opportunity for hands-on learning that makes an impact on the world. Our curriculum meets the standards of the British Curriculum Equivalent, which has helped many students succeed. If you’re looking for a perfectly balanced upper elementary program that combines just the right mix of right and left brained experiences, Yorkshire Academy is the right choice.
5. What are the school hours for upper elementary?
Upper elementary school-age students should arrive between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. for class that begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Our upper elementary students are dismissed between 2:45 and 3:00 p.m., and we also offer before- and after-school care.
6. Why is Yorkshire Academy the right choice for my child?
We’re confident that you’ll agree that Yorkshire Academy is the right choice for your student. Our upper elementary school focuses on core academics and mixes in great opportunities like the Nutcracker play, PSIA academic competition, literature circles, SEEDS, a talent show, community service projects, field day, and so much more. We make it our mission to cultivate qualities of character, citizenship, and academic curiosity in a safe, secure, and loving environment, providing personal and engaging educational opportunities in academics and the visual and performing arts. We’ll make sure our students are ready for middle school. Yorkshire Academy is a fully accredited private school in Houston, TX, that blends academic and enrichment classes with small class sizes taught by incredibly gifted and dedicated teachers. We provide a secure and nurturing environment. We invite you to schedule a tour to find out why we’ve been called the little school making a big impact!