Preschool

List of 3 items.

• K3

  K3 is Athens Academy's half-day, week-long preschool program for children ages 3 and 4—a gentle introduction to school that celebrates curiosity, builds confidence, and creates a true sense of belonging from day one. Here, our youngest learners will discover a safe, nurturing community where each child is known, cherished, and celebrated.
  
  

  One special part of the K3 experience is our buddy program: third grade students visit regularly to build sweet, meaningful friendships with our K3 friends. These connections create trust and belonging, offering K3 students their first meaningful community relationship beyond the preschool classroom.
  
  

  Every day in K3 is a journey of exploration and wonder across our 152-acre campus. Students might venture down the hallway to our Preschool library to discover new stories or step outside onto our scenic nature trail to observe the world around them. Throughout the year, guided by thoughtful learning targets, children engage in hands-on experiences that nurture natural curiosity while building foundational academic skills. This balance of structured classroom routines and dynamic, open-ended exploration ensures that every child grows at their own pace in a space designed just for them.

  
  Through a blend of teacher-guided instruction and meaningful student choice, K3 students develop essential skills that will serve them throughout their time at Athens Academy and beyond. Confidence, collaboration, and critical thinking bloom as children explore, play, and work together. As they practice taking turns, sharing, and cooperating with peers, they build the social foundation and love of learning that will carry them forward. K3 is not just the beginning of preschool; it is the beginning of a beautiful journey of growth, friendship, and discovery at Athens Academy.
  
  

  CLICK HERE FOR K3 CURRICULUM GUIDE

   

  Students must be 3 years old by September 1 of the matriculation year in order to be considered for enrollment in the K3 class.

• K4

  K4 at Athens Academy builds thoughtfully on the strong foundations of K3, offering a half-day, week-long program for children ages 4 to 5. Our K4 students continue their journey of exploration and discovery within a community designed to nurture growing confidence and academic curiosity.
  
  

  A meaningful part of the K4 experience is our buddy program: fourth graders visit regularly to share activities and build genuine friendships. These eagerly-anticipated visits deepen each child's sense of belonging, offering K4 students a connection to the Athens Academy community and the joy of having an older friend to look up to.
  
  

  Our K4 curriculum builds intentionally on the skills established in K3, introducing early reading, writing, and math concepts through developmentally appropriate, purposeful instruction. Guided by clear learning targets, teachers provide intentional teaching that deepens each child's confidence and competence as they engage with increasingly academic experiences. K4 students develop lasting understanding through hands-on discovery—leading peers in writing the daily class message, participating in small reading groups, and exploring number sense and patterns. Learning extends beyond the classroom walls to our learning garden and Preschool library, unique spaces that bring learning to life and strengthen the emerging skills taking root in K4.
  
  

  As significant as academic progress is the continued growth of social and emotional development. Independence becomes a cornerstone skill as K4 students learn to care for themselves, support peers, and contribute to their classroom community. In an environment where each child feels genuinely known, valued, and celebrated, K4 students actively practice problem-solving skills, build deep resilience, and cultivate the confidence and independence they will carry forward—emerging from K4 ready, eager, and excited to embrace the learning adventures and friendships that await them in the next chapter of their journey at Athens Academy.

  
  CLICK HERE FOR K4 CURRICULUM GUIDE

   

  Students must be 4 years old by September 1 of the matriculation year in order to be considered for enrollment in the K4 class.

• Pre-first Grade

  With a strong foundation in early reading, writing, and math developed in K3 and K4, our pre-first students are ready to take the next step in their learning journey. As their academic day extends beyond lunch, students apply the skills they've built to more complex tasks, growing into more independent and confident learners. Pre-first students are paired with fifth grade buddies, creating a meaningful friendship across the Athens Academy community. This connection to the Middle School enriches the pre-first experience and strengthens the bonds that define our school culture.
  
  

  Throughout the year, students deepen their understanding of key concepts within subject areas. They write across multiple genres, make exciting strides as readers, and begin to see how numbers work together. A signature tradition—the 100th Day of School—brings the entire Preschool community together in celebration. With parent volunteers helping to bring the number 100 to life through hands-on experiences, students engage with number sense, place value, and mathematical thinking in tangible ways. Students proudly showcase their learning through writing, reading, and foundational math mastery, marking a milestone of growth and accomplishment.
  
  

  Beyond the classroom, students continue to eagerly explore the world around them. Our specialists nurture their love for art, music, science, library, and physical education through dynamic, hands-on learning experiences all over our 152-acre campus. Whether creating in the art room, moving in rhythm in the music room, or discovering the wonders of the natural world, students build knowledge and joy. As they grow academically, their social and emotional development remains a key focus. Through regular classroom-based lessons led by our Pre/Lower School counselor, children explore perseverance, empathy, resilience, and goal-setting. Pre-first students emerge from this year well prepared to carry their confidence, curiosity, and compassion into first grade and beyond.

  
  CLICK HERE FOR PRE-FIRST CURRICULUM GUIDE

   

  Students must be five years old by September 1 of the matriculation year in order to be considered for enrollment in the pre-first class.