At Clarksville Academy Lower School, we believe the foundation of a lifelong love of learning begins with a nurturing, challenging, and inspiring environment. Our dedicated faculty foster curiosity, creativity, and character through a dynamic curriculum that balances academic rigor with emotional and social growth. Small class sizes ensure that each child receives individualized attention, allowing their unique strengths to flourish.
From early literacy and numeracy to hands-on science, technology, art, music and physical education, students are encouraged to explore their world with confidence and joy. We emphasize critical thinking, compassionate leadership, and respectful collaboration—skills essential for success in the classroom and beyond.
Choosing Clarksville Academy means choosing a community where every child is known, cared for, loved valued, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Why Clarksville Academy Lower School?
- Excellent academic standards
- Rigorous curriculum
- Solid educational foundation for students in these formative years
- Certified teachers
- Weekly communication through newsletters, emails, and Blackbaud
- Positive learning environment
- Hands-on approach, problem-based learning, and critical thinking skills
- Students are guided through a nurturing environment
- Small class sizes with individual attention
- Innovative curriculum – 1:1 iPad
- Maynard Makerspace for critical thinking and hands-on learning
- Character education and leadership-building programs
- Diverse population
- Art, music, foreign language, science lab, and daily physical education
- Daily recess
- Aftercare available
- Trusted by parents for over 50 years
Pre-Kindergarten
At Clarksville Academy, we recognize that every child is a unique learner, developing at their own pace and in their own way. Our Pre-Kindergarten program is designed to nurture the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively—through a rich blend of hands-on experiences, imaginative exploration, and purposeful play.
We believe that learning should be both joyful and meaningful. Through creative activities and play-based learning, children engage with their environment in ways that spark curiosity and build foundational skills. Our program incorporates the Orton-Gillingham approach to early literacy, laying the groundwork for strong reading and language development in a way that is accessible and engaging for young minds.
Our dedicated teachers support each child’s growth with intentional strategies that promote independence, collaboration, and a love of learning. Stimulating classroom environments encourage imaginative thinking and real-world exploration, helping children make meaningful connections between home and school.
Developmentally attuned and thoughtfully designed, our Pre-K experience prepares students not only for a seamless transition into Kindergarten but also for a lifetime of confident learning and discovery.
Kindergarten
In our Kindergarten program, the foundation for a lifelong love of learning is carefully nurtured. Strong academics are paired with a warm and supportive environment, where students feel both safe and excited to explore. We emphasize hands-on, engaging experiences that cater to the diverse needs of young learners, addressing key developmental areas: cognitive, emotional, social, physical, academic, and motor skills.
Our teachers craft each day with purposeful learning activities that guide students through critical milestones in math, reading, science, language arts, and social studies. By using small group, highly differentiated instruction, we ensure that every child progresses at their own pace, helping them reach their fullest potential.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is integrated into our reading instruction, offering multi-sensory lessons that help children develop strong literacy skills. Our instructors not only teach foundational content but also encourage problem-solving, creativity, and curiosity, fostering a spirit of self-direction and responsibility in every student.
At Clarksville Academy, we ensure that every Kindergarten child has the tools and support they need to thrive academically and personally, setting them up for success in the years to come.
A distinctive and cherished element of our Kindergarten program is the meaningful connection formed between our youngest learners and our senior student mentors. Through our buddy system, Kindergarteners are paired with seniors, creating a cross-grade relationship that extends far beyond the traditional classroom experience.
These interactions offer Kindergarten students the opportunity to learn from exemplary role models—observing firsthand how to express themselves respectfully, interact confidently, and navigate social situations with grace. In turn, our senior students develop leadership skills, empathy, and a sense of responsibility as they guide and support their younger peers.
This unique bond often leads to lasting friendships and helps instill values of community, respect, and personal growth from an early age, setting a foundation that will benefit our students long after they leave the Kindergarten classroom.
First Grade
In First Grade, the curriculum emphasizes the core foundational disciplines, placing a strong focus on the development of essential study habits, learning skills, and positive attitudes. This year marks an important time for students to build academic confidence and social-emotional growth, as they work collaboratively with their teachers and classmates to foster a supportive and cohesive community.
The daily and weekly schedules for First Graders strike a balance between child-initiated activities and teacher-directed projects. Students engage in whole-group discussions, one-on-one time with teachers, independent work, and small group collaborations, ensuring a dynamic and varied learning environment.
Reading and mathematics fundamentals are at the forefront, with continued instruction in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy. This method breaks down reading and spelling into smaller, manageable skills by connecting letters and sounds through sight, sound, touch, and movement, offering a multi-sensory learning experience.
In addition to language arts and mathematics, first-graders explore social studies, science, and other core subjects within the academic program. They also benefit from specialized instruction in art, music, physical education, foreign language, science lab, and library skills, enriching their overall educational experience.
Annual field trips and unique activities, like the beloved pet show, provide valuable opportunities for students to apply their learning in real-world contexts. The pet show, in particular, gives first-graders the chance to practice public speaking before a large audience—an experience that helps build confidence and poise. It is one of many traditions at Clarksville Academy that we take great pride in, offering both educational value and lasting memories.
Second Grade
Second grade serves as a pivotal year in laying the academic groundwork for future success, with a strong emphasis on the core disciplines of reading, writing, and mathematics. At this stage, students are encouraged to become independent, confident learners through differentiated instruction, purposeful technology integration, and engaging, hands-on experiences.
All second-grade teachers are trained in the IMSE Orton-Gillingham methodology, employing explicit, direct, sequential, and multisensory strategies to support foundational reading development. Instruction is intentionally designed to meet diverse learning styles and build essential literacy skills.
Beginning in second grade, Clarksville Academy introduces a departmentalized teaching model, where students transition between instructors for science and social studies. This structure helps students adapt to a more specialized academic environment, preparing them for the increased rigor of the upper elementary program.
Beyond the classroom, second-grade students participate in enriching and enjoyable field trips that extend learning beyond textbooks. One of the year’s highlights is an in-depth biography project, where students research, write, and ultimately present their findings to a public audience of parents and peers. This culminating event not only sharpens research and writing proficiency but also fosters public speaking skills and self-assurance.
Third and Fourth Grade
Instruction in third and fourth grade is intentionally designed to give students an early glimpse into the structure and expectations of Middle School. At this developmental stage, students are ready to embrace greater responsibility, including managing a rotational class schedule that encourages independence and accountability.
Teachers in these grades specialize in subjects they are deeply passionate about, allowing them to bring enthusiasm and expertise to the classroom. Students rotate for core subjects such as language arts, reading—delivered through the Orton-Gillingham approach—and social studies. Math and science instruction is also departmentalized, with third and fourth-grade teachers providing targeted, grade-specific lessons.
In addition to academic rotation within the third and fourth grades, students engage in a rich variety of enrichment classes, including art, music, foreign language, and science lab, as well as daily physical education and recess. This well-rounded schedule nurtures creativity, collaboration, and physical development, while also helping students discover personal interests and strengths.
Time management and organizational skills are key areas of focus during these years, as students learn to navigate their more dynamic schedules. To further support this growth, students participate in extended-day field trips that enhance classroom learning and foster a greater sense of community. Hands-on, project-based learning is emphasized across subjects, allowing students to apply their knowledge in meaningful, tangible ways.
This comprehensive approach not only prepares students for the academic and personal challenges of Middle School but also cultivates a genuine love for learning.