Academics
Elementary School Program
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
The beginning years of a child's elementary school experience are full of wonder, growth, change, and excitement.
Beginning in kindergarten, students take part in many of the special traditions of our elementary school, from morning assemblies and the annual Olympics, to acting as community service representatives and members of multi-age "families". Children enjoy a 10:1 student-teacher ratio in kindergarten, and a 15:1 ratio in grades 1-3; our two lead teachers in every classroom conduct a combination of whole-class, small-group, and individual instruction to meet the needs of our diverse learners. The social-emotional makeup of each student is considered; ever-mindful of the developmental spectrum along which our students grow, our teachers observe, assess, and communicate the needs of the whole child to parents and to one another.
Teachers give students choice in what they read alongside carefully structured teaching of decoding and comprehension strategies. Children learn to creatively express themselves in writing while practicing conventions of grammar and spelling. Math classes are characterized by real-world applicability and focus on problem-solving. In social studies, our students broaden and deepen their definition of community, from their families and our school to our city and the global village. Students encounter CEE’s four core values - caring, responsibility, honesty and inclusion - and have opportunities to live out the core values in service learning projects.
Students attend specialists in art, science, music, technology, library, and PE throughout the week.
4th through 6th Grade
Throughout the elementary years, students are challenged to think analytically and creatively as the curriculum deepens and connections are made across the disciplines.
Children learn how to independently manage their time for both short-term and long-term assignments as they develop study skills and organizational skills. Achievement and effort grades are given in the four core subjects of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Fifth and sixth grade students are part of student-led parent conferences each year so they can join in on the discussion to support their own learning.
Students explore how to clearly and fully express themselves in written, oral, and artistic forms. In science and math they learn to observe, collect, apply, and evaluate data to solve problems. Students collaborate with others through social studies projects and service learning experiences, developing a historical perspective and how the decisions they make can affect others. A 1:1 laptop program enables students to reach beyond the classroom and evaluate for themselves the tremendous amount of information accessible to them. CEE students learn to navigate learning networks in safe, effective, and ethical ways.
Specialist classes enrich and extend our students’ daily experience, incuding regular visits to the library, Art and Music, and Physical Education. At the conclusion of sixth grade, CEE students are well-prepared and ready to continue their self-exploration as learners, thriving in their new secondary school environments.
After School Programs
The After School program supplements the regular school day curriculum with courses in academics, arts, sports, and hobbies.
Does your child want to play the violin or trumpet? CEE has an instrumental music program. Is your child a budding actor? Then they can try Lullaby of Broadway (musical production). Are they an aspiring chef? Try a cooking class after school!
The Center also offers Extended Daycare before and after school, starting at 7:30 AM and continuing until 6:00 PM. At Daycare, teachers lead group activities, outdoor games, and quiet corners for those who want to draw, read, or do homework.
“CEE was an amazing support system for our family throughout the elementary school years. [The school] helped us turn our children into lifelong learners and, most importantly, kind and compassionate people.
The faculty at CEE is beyond phenomenal - when our kids remember CEE, it's always with a story about a particular teacher whom they created a bond with and who helped them navigate the early learning years with such grace and unyielding support. We are forever grateful.” -CEE Alumni Parent
The faculty at CEE is beyond phenomenal - when our kids remember CEE, it's always with a story about a particular teacher whom they created a bond with and who helped them navigate the early learning years with such grace and unyielding support. We are forever grateful.” -CEE Alumni Parent
The Center for Early Education, a socio-economically and culturally diverse independent school for children, toddlers through grade six, strives to graduate students who are joyful, resilient, life-long learners. The Center embraces a philosophy of education that combines a nurturing, inclusive learning environment with an increasingly challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child.