Where is Aiken Preparatory School located? Aiken Prep is located in beautiful, historic downtown Aiken. Our address is 619 Barnwell Avenue, Northwest. Please view our map for directions. Back to Top

What is the Aiken Preparatory School mission statement? Founded in 1916, Aiken Preparatory School, an independent coeducational community, provides a challenging, yet nurturing, learning environment for a diverse student population: day pupils in four-year-old kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Through both traditional and innovative programs, as well as the careful selection of our faculty, we equip our students for the challenges of college studies and life-long learning.

Our curriculum emphasizes mastery of academic and critical thinking skills. In addition, an accepting and cooperative atmosphere fosters inquiry and curiosity, instills a love for learning, and helps develop a keen sense of self-worth.

The Aiken Prep experience contributes to the social, physical, aesthetic, and moral development of each student, reinforcing the values of integrity, respect, generosity, sportsmanship, and responsibility.

Aiken Prep is more than a school; it is a home where children may strive to realize the best of their capabilities.

Aiken Prep gives students the confidence in doing, encouragement in trying, praise in succeeding, discipline when needed, but love and friendship always. Back to Top

How does Aiken Prep compare with other schools? Aiken Prep, by any standard, is one of the strongest academic institutions in the CSRA. However, we do not directly compare ourselves with other schools because we feel that the most important task for each family is to find a school that best matches the needs of the family.

An ideal school for one student may not be right for another. We suggest that you visit Aiken Prep and other schools in the area, so that you can judge for yourself how well Aiken Prep fits your student’s needs. Back to Top

When was the school established? Aiken Preparatory School was founded by Louise Hitchcock in 1916 as a junior boarding school for boys. In 1989, Aiken Prep merged with the Aiken Day School and became a new entity serving boys and girls in Aiken, the Southeast, and the world.

In 1999, Aiken Prep added grades 10, 11, and 12, ended its boarding program, and now serves the greater Aiken community as a 3K-12th grade independent day school. Back to Top

Are there required religious services? Aiken Prep is a non-denominational school; therefore we do not require attendance at any religious services. We do have a traditional school prayer that was established 90 years ago. This prayer is recited at our weekly assembly gatherings. Back to Top

What is Aiken Preparatory School's enrollment? Aiken Prep currently enrolls 145 students in grades 3K-12, with a student/teacher ratio of 8:1. Back to Top

What is the average class size? The average class size at Aiken Prep is 18 students. Back to Top

What types of students attend Aiken Preparatory School? Aiken Prep students are committed to their education. We look for students who take academics seriously but still want school to be a fun place. We seek the average to above-average student who is engaged in his/her studies but also has other areas of interest.

At Aiken Prep, our students seek the kind of personal and academic preparation that will bring them success with the challenges of college and beyond -- the kind of preparation that develops a deep love for life-long learning. Back to Top

Is Aiken Preparatory School accredited or a member school of any organizations?Aiken Prep is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), SACS, SAIS, and the CSRA Middle School League. Back to Top

How many faculty/staff are employed at Aiken Preparatory School? Aiken Prep employs 33 full-time and part-time men and women. Back to Top

How many of your faculty hold advanced degrees? Fifty-five percent of our teaching faculty holds advanced degrees. Back to Top

What is tuition? As an independent school, Aiken Prep receives no funds from federal, state, or local governments. The school does not receive support from any religious organizations. The school has a variety of payment plans. To learn about tuition for the current year, please visit the Financial Information section of our website. Back to Top

Is financial aid available to my family? Aiken Prep awards approximately $150,000 in financial aid each year.

The purpose of the Financial Aid Program at Aiken Preparatory School is to provide assistance to deserving students.

Financial aid is available in the form of outright grants.

All financial aid at Aiken Prep is need-based with individual merit being a consideration after need has been established. The determination of need is based upon a standard application process which is objectively reviewed by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (Princeton, New Jersey). This application process requires all candidates to submit specified financial data in a timely fashion. The resulting financial analysis is evaluated by Aiken Prep’s Financial Aid Committee, which makes all grant awards. Back to Top

Do you offer scholarships? We offer some select scholarships to students in 6th through 12th grades, based on specific criteria, such as test scores, GPA, and leadership. Back to Top

How many of your students receive aid? Aiken Prep provides scholarships and financial aid exceeding $150,000 annually, assisting 40% of our student body. Back to Top

What about fund-raising? Since Aiken Prep does not receive funding from government or religious sources, the school depends on the philanthropic support of its families, friends, and alumni/ae.

To give to the annual fund or learn more about other philanthropic opportunities, please visit the Advancement & Alumni page on our website (www.aikenprep.org) or call the school at (803) 648-3223. Back to Top

Is there a uniform? All students at Aiken Prep are expected to adhere to the school’s uniform policy. Students should refer to division-specific requirements addressed in the handbook, located on the About Us page of our website (www.aikenprep.org) Back to Top

Do you provide bus transportation to and from Aiken Preparatory School? Unfortunately at this time, Aiken Prep does not offer transportation to and from school. We encourage parents to connect with other parents in their area to arrange carpools for their children.

We do provide transportation to and from field trips, athletic events, or other school-sponsored events. Back to Top

What about lunch? Aiken Prep does offer a lunch program. Parents may choose to purchase lunches on a monthly basis or to be billed at the end of the month for the actual number of lunches purchased.

Two lunch choices are offered daily, including a hot meal or some type of salad, complete with sides, beverage options, and dessert. Back to Top

Do you have after-school care? Yes, Aiken Prep offers an after-school care program from 7:00 A.M. to 7:45 A.M. and from after school to 6:00 P.M. daily. Parents are charged an hourly fee for basic care and are billed monthly. Back to Top

Do you have a tutoring program? Aiken Prep does not have a formal tutoring program. However, students have every opportunity to talk with subject teachers and may receive individual help with homework before or after school or during the school day, depending on the schedules of the student and the teacher.

While not a special needs school, Aiken Prep does have a Learning Strategies Program designed to help individual students with minor learning variations or specific academic weaknesses. The learning strategists are specialists in their fields and are well prepared to address a variety of academic challenges. The program is designed to reinforce academic strengths, provide skills in dealing with learning variations, and empower students to realize how they learn best.

It is the goal of the Learning Strategies Program that students will become their own advocates in the classroom, eliminating the need for outside assistance. A student may be scheduled for one to five sessions per week, as needed. The number of sessions may be adjusted at any time. The cost of the Learning Strategies Program is $30 per session. Back to Top

How much homework do students have on a regular basis? Homework depends on the student’s grade and course load. To learn more about our homework policy for each division, please refer to the Student Handbook, also accessible from the About Us page of our website. Back to Top

What type of standardized testing does Aiken Prep administer to its students? Annual standardized testing is administered as follows:

Grades 1-2: the OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test)
Grades 3-8: the OLSAT and the Stanford Achievement Test Series
Grade 9: none required; the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) or PLAN (preliminary ACT) may be taken upon teacher recommendation
Grade 10: PLAN required
Grade 11: PSAT required
Grades 11-12: Students are required to take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and/or the ACT (American College Testing program) at local off-site testing centers.
Note: It is recommended that students take the ACT once at the end of 11th grade. The SAT should be taken more than once during 11th and 12th grades. Back to Top

What are the graduation requirements for high school students? To graduate, students must complete 24 credits. Aiken Prep accepts some credits from other middle and high schools and posts those credits to the student’s Aiken Prep transcript. To learn more, please visit the High School page of this website. Back to Top

What about college counseling? Please visit the College Counseling page of this website to learn about our College Counseling program. Back to Top

What sports are offered? Aiken Prep offers a full range of interscholastic sports during the school year for middle and high school students.

Our middle school students compete in the Augusta/Aiken Middle School League. Students in grades 5-8 are eligible for competition in this league.

High school varsity teams compete in the SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association) Region 1-A League. Aiken Prep regularly offers the following sports at the middle and high school levels:

Fall: co-ed soccer, women's volleyball
Winter: women's and men's basketball
Spring: women's soccer, golf (co-ed), women's and men's tennis, co-ed baseball
Cross-country and track are available if we have interested students.

In addition to interscholastic sports, Aiken Prep offers athletic events within the school through PE classes, Green-Gold competitions, and Field Day. Back to Top

What kind of music program does Aiken Prep offer? Please visit the Beyond the Basics page of this website to learn about our music program. Back to Top

Do these band sections perform? Please visit the Band page of this website to learn about our Band program. Back to Top

Does Aiken Prep offer drama programs? Please visit the Drama page of this website to learn about our Drama program. Back to Top

What kind of art program is available at Aiken Prep? Please visit the Art page of this website to learn about our Art program. Back to Top

What kinds of computer instruction do students receive at Aiken Prep? Please visit the Computer Electives page of this website to learn about our computer instruction at Aiken Prep. Back to Top

Does Aiken Prep have any open houses? Yes, every day is open house at Aiken Prep!  Back to Top

What do we have to do to enroll our child? Aiken Preparatory School has an application process for every family interested in attending the school. Here is the Aiken Prep Admission Checklist:

• Parent Interview and Visit
  The purpose of the interview is to discuss the education goals and the expectations of the student and to explain the philosophy of Aiken Prep.
• Application Submission
  A general application with $50.00 processing fee is submitted to the Admission Office. This is followed by the submission of the following additional materials:
  A student profile with a graded writing sample or portfolio (grades 6-12 only)
  A math teacher recommendation
  An English teacher recommendation
  A personal recommendation
  Copies of school records.
• Student Interview and Visit
  A prospective student spends at least one day in classes at the school. This gives the student a chance to meet teachers, participate in class discussions, and sense the spirit of Aiken Prep. Faculty observes prospective students during the visit, noting academic readiness and behavior in the classroom.
• Testing and Screening
  Admission testing is given to ensure prospective students are able to find success in our school.
• Decision Notification

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the school year. If the applicant meets all of the criteria for admission and if space is available in that particular grade prior to the reenrollment deadline in mid-February, the applicant is accepted and an enrollment contract is issued. Once the contract and a non-refundable deposit is received, the student is added to the class roster. Please visit the Admissions Page for further information and related application files: Go to Admissions Page Back to Top

What will happen when I visit Aiken Prep? During your visit to Aiken Prep, you will receive a tour of the school, conducted by our Director of Admission. The prospective student also visits classes; generally for one full day. We may also administer placement testing as part of the application process. (To learn more about the application process, please click on the Admission Process button.) Back to Top

What kind of placement testing does my child have to take? Admission testing is used to ensure that prospective students are able to find success in our school.

We use the Brigance Development Inventory for 4K applicants, in conjunction with classroom observation, to determine readiness.

The Brigance or the NEAT may be administered to 5K applicants. The Norris Education Achievement Test (NEAT) is administered to applicants for 1st through 5th grades. For applicants in 6th through 12th grades, the Admission Committee reviews standardized test scores received from current and previous schools. Applicants in these grades may be given some form of testing, depending on the individual applicant’s academic history.

The SAT, the Stanford, and educational evaluations such as the WISCIV or Woodcock Johnson are acceptable forms of testing for high school students, if the scores are current within the past two years. Back to Top

How late in the year can I apply? Aiken Prep will accept applications throughout the year as long as space is available. The best way to ascertain if the admission office is accepting applications for a particular grade is to call the school at 803-648-3223. Back to Top

How can I obtain application materials? You can download our application materials right from home.

Please visit the Admissions Page for the appropriate files. Please print the materials at home, complete the paper work, and mail all forms to:

Admission Office
Aiken Preparatory School
619 Barnwell Ave, NW
Aiken, South Carolina 29801 Back to Top