FAQs
General Information
What is the origin of the school's name?
Covenant is the way God relates to people - a deep, intimate, permanent relationship. God also created husbands and wives to be in a covenant relationship and He often blesses parents with children. At TCS, our desire is to create an educational environment that cultivates relationships between God and children and between parents and their children. We believe God has given parents the responsibility to raise, educate, train, and disciple their children. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 1:7-8). We long to partner with families in this endeavor, assisting them in their desire to create lifelong learners who are passionate about Christ and His kingdom.
What days and times does the school meet?
The University-Model® is a five-day academic program with students spending 2-3 days in the central classroom and 2-3 days in their satellite classroom at home. Both classrooms are under the supervision of the professional educator.
Grammar students at The Covenant School meet on campus Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:45 am - 3:45 pm and are in their satellite classroom at home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Dialectic and Rhetoric students at The Covenant School meet on Mondays from 8:45 am - 2:45 pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:45 am - 3:45 pm, and are in their satellite classroom at home on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Where is the central campus located?
Classes are held at 5904 West Market Street inside of Guilford Baptist Church.
Our mailing address is: The Covenant School, PO Box 10454, Greensboro, NC 27404.
What is the school's leadership structure?
The school is governed by a Board of Directors which oversees our Head of School and our Executive Team.
Head of School: Drew Hill
Admin Team: Drew Hill, Chris Munn (Principal), Rhonda Lin (Director of Enrollment and Student Advancement), Sheresa Lacey (Director of Operations), and Amy Sasser (Operations)
Board of Directors: Kevin and Amy Sasser, William and Jesse Duke, and Drew and Natalie Hill
Does TCS fulfill NC state requirements?
Yes. TCS is registered with the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education and meets all state requirements. We have set high academic standards that will be looked upon favorably by colleges. We are a member of UMSI (University-Model® Schools International) formerly known as National Association of University-Model® Schools (NAUMS).
Academics
What grades are offered and how many students will be enrolled?
For the 2023-2024 academic year, TCS will serve students in Kindergarten through 11th grade. We plan to add 12th grade in the following year. Our classes typically have between 14 and 16 students each. Total enrollment for 2022-23 is approximately 250 students.
What subjects are offered?
We teach English (phonics-based reading, composition, and grammar), math, geography, history, literature, science and Spanish. Integration of learning is emphasized as are great works of literature and writing. Logic and Critical Thinking is also taught in the Dialectic School.
Do you offer foreign languages?
Students begin taking Spanish in Kindergarten.
Do you offer sports, art, and music?
We currently offer various courses in Physical Education, Art, Drama, and Music. Please visit our Student Activities page to learn more about our athletics and after school opportunities.
Admissions
How much is tuition?
Tuition (2023-2024)
Grammar School (K-5th): $5,153 annually
Dialectic School (6th-8th): $6,526 annually
Rhetoric School (9th-10th): $6,678 annually
Please note that curriculum, field trips, and uniforms are not included in the tuition cost.
Tuition Discounts: The annual tuition is discounted by $100 for those who would like to pay lump sum in August. The discount is $25 per semester for those who would like to pay for each semester as a lump sum. At this time we are not able to offer any additional financial assistance.
The tuition covers our facility, teacher salaries, membership in U.M.S.I (University-Model Schools International), and other administrative costs.
The required curriculum typically costs between $200 and $300 per student.
Is Admissions “first come, first served?”
We take a holistic approach to admissions considering many factors in an attempt to ensure a great fit for our school and each family. While we encourage you to apply in a timely manner, there are variables outside of the application date that may affect when your application is reviewed.
Are there enrollment and/or re-enrollment fees?
Application Fee
An application fee of $200 is required for each application submitted.
Enrollment Fee and Tuition Deposit for New Students (2022-2023)
A non-refundable one-time $250 enrollment fee is due with each signed Continuous Enrollment Agreement along with a non-refundable tuition deposit of $150 (deducted from next year’s tuition).*
*The tuition deposit is anticipated to be $500 beginning for the 2023-2024 academic year as we move to Continuous Enrollment for all students.
Continuous Enrollment and Re-Enrollment
Once a student is accepted to The Covenant School, our Continuous Enrollment Agreement (CEA) will be signed by both parents. The contract will remain in effect for each successive academic year until your student has graduated from The Covenant School, unless it is terminated by The Covenant School or the withdrawal procedure is completed before February 1, by the family as outlined in the CEA you will sign.
The non-refundable tuition deposit amount due for each following academic year will be communicated to parents of enrolled students by the end of December, once it has been approved by the Board.
The goal of continuous enrollment is to reduce the workload, paper, and time required by the school and you as parents.
Does TCS offer financial aid?
At this time we are unable to offer any financial assistance. We are registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit and are accepting donations to hopefully be able to offer assistance in the future. You can, however, apply for the NC State Education Opportunity Scholarship Program which is a grant that provides full tuition for eligible children.
What about students with disabilities?
We will talk with each family on a case by case basis, but we are likely not equipped to serve families of students with disabilities at this time.
Model
What is the difference in a University-Model® School and a homeschool co-op?
A University-Model® school combines the best attributes of traditional schooling with the best attributes of homeschooling and integrates them into one model. The result is quality, cost-effective, college-preparatory education that gives parents more time with their children, providing parents the space to impart their own faith and values.
The University-Model® is a five-day academic program with students spending 2-3 days in the central classroom and 2-3 days in their satellite classroom at home. Both classrooms are under the supervision of the professional educator.
The Covenant School is a member of UMSI (University-Model® Schools International).
Homeschool co-ops are a good way for homeschooling families to pool their resources and expertise for specific study projects. One parent may be especially proficient in math and teach a group of students that subject for a period of time. Generally speaking, homeschool co-ops are age-integrated, specialized, and parent-run. In some cases, co-ops take over the primary responsibility of teaching certain courses instead of integrating the teacher and parent effectively for each course as is done in the University-Model®. The UMS is also different by virtue of having specific grade levels, consistent accountability from semester to semester, a full spectrum of courses complete with prerequisites and diploma plans, and a professional administration and faculty (much like a traditional school) that partners with the parents in their child’s education. Read more about the University-Model® here.
Do you allow students to enroll in classes on an a la carte or part-time basis?
No, students must enroll in the complete curriculum by grade level.
What if parents don't have homeschooling or teaching experience?
Parents need not have teaching experience. The teachers at our central campus are professionals who introduce and teach new concepts to students. They provide detailed assignments each week and maintain open lines of communication with the parents. Parents act as co-instructors under the guidance of the classroom teacher. In addition, we offer instruction to parents and partner with you as you help your children learn.
Will this model work for us if both parents work full-time outside the home?
One of the most important ingredients in the success of the University-Model® is an available parent who can assist and properly work with the student. For a family in which both parents work outside the home on a full-time basis a more traditional school is likely a better choice. By the time a student reaches the Dialectic grades, however, they should be working very independently on their home days. While parent involvement is still needed at this level the time required by the parent should be much less than the Grammar grades.
The Covenant School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the admission process.