Admissions
Determining if the BEST way is right for your student
The admissions process at BEST Skills Academy helps us determine if your student is a good fit with the BEST way of learning.
These are the steps for admission:
Schedule an appointment
Call us at 864.977.1285 to arrange a visit to our campus. Seeing our school and facilities, and meeting our Executive Director is essential — for you and us.
During your visit, you’ll receive a personal tour of our campus, following by an interview with the Executive Director. Please allow two hours for your tour and interview.
We require all applicants to interview. If you’re out of town, we can conduct a virtual interview.
We encourage prospective students applying after the start of the school year to shadow BEST students for a day. If you’re interested in applying after completing these steps, please note our $50 application fee.
The BEST Admissions Board reviews your application
The board will review the application and our interview notes to determine if BEST can meet your child’s educational needs. We’ll notify you of our decision within two weeks.
All new students complete a 30-day probationary period
During your student’s first 30 days at BEST, we’ll assess their work, classroom participation and interaction with staff and other students. This trial period helps us make sure that new students and their families are compatible with the BEST way.
We’re looking for students and families willing to work cooperatively with our instructors, students and administration. Upon satisfactory completion of this 30-day probationary period, your student will be part of BEST Skills Academy.
What we look for in a BEST student
The BEST interview is a two-way process. You’re looking for the right school for your student — we’re looking for students and families willing to do things the BEST way.
This is important because this is a small school and a safe space. Our students come together to learn life skills along with academic subjects.
Our students protect and support each other. We protect them and encourage their success, in part by making sure that new students share our values and commitment to the BEST way.
These are the issues we consider during the application process:
Both the student and parents (or grandparents or legal guardian) must express a genuine interest and commitment to enrolling at BEST Skills Academy.
In addition, they should have a shared understanding of our values, our focus on mentoring and our unique educational approach.
Prospective students must not have displayed any physically aggressive behavior within the past two years. Many of our students are coping with trauma — a safe space that helps them process this trauma has zero physical aggression.
We look at the behavioral patterns of prospective students. The BEST way teaches strategies and tactics to manage conflicts or challenges.
Our students learn that it’s OK to feel angry, but how they express these feelings makes a key difference in their growth and personal development.
Prospective students must read above a third-grade level. This ensures that they can engage effectively with our academic curriculum and mentoring program.
We use academic records, reports and/or a brief assessment to verify reading ability.
We’re not equipped to support students with intellectual disabilities or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Families should share relevant educational and behavioral challenges during the interview process. This will help ensure that we’re ready to meet your students’ needs.
The prospective student must demonstrate a willingness to improve, both personally and academically.
Our interview questions assess the student’s goals, work ethic and openness to mentoring.
Your prospective student should show interest in key areas of personal improvement. These include financial literacy, civic engagement and academic growth.
These are fundamental to our mentoring program.
Parents must take an active role in their child’s education. We count on their support and collaboration with the school when necessary.
We also ask that parents express their support of our focus on mentoring and overall development. Your support and engagement are vital to your students’ success.
A few follow-up questions
Once we’ve completed our interview process, we have a few more questions for parents to answer. Your answers can help you and us determine if your student is ready for the BEST way.
Your student’s learning style
Do you think your student will do well in a smaller, mentoring-focused academic environment? How well do they handle independent learning and collaboration with peers, such as group projects?
These are critical parts of the BEST way. They’re also learned skills, so as long as your student is willing to try a different approach, we can move forward.
Your family’s ability to handle transportation and costs
BEST Skills Academy is located on Greenville’s West side. We don’t offer school bus service and because we’re not a public school, there are costs to consider before enrolling your student.
Can you handle or arrange for your student to be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon?
Can you cover the costs of attending Best Skills Academy? For information regarding tuition, please contact info@best-skills.org.
Do you understand our limited extracurricular offerings? We don’t have baseball, basketball or footballs teams. However, if you and your student are looking for an academic focus and emphasis on personal development, the BEST way may be the right choice.
Do you support our school’s mission?
Parental involvement is vital for a child’s academic success. Before you enroll your student at BEST Skills Academy, we ask that you decide this is the right choice.
We also ask that you support our approach as an alternative to the traditional school system.
NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
BEST Skills Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
If you and your student can meet our selection criteria, and you’re ready to commit to the BEST way we encourage you to apply.
BEST programs
We offer a private middle school, high school learning center and mentoring program.
About BEST Skills Academy
The BEST way combines academic instruction with personal and professional development, plus formal mentoring.