Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone. It is also a significant transition that asks children to use many new skills at once. They must listen, follow directions, communicate their needs, work independently, participate in a classroom, build relationships, and begin applying foundational academic skills.

At Foundations Academy, kindergarten preparation is not treated as a checklist completed during the final weeks of VPK. It is part of the thoughtful, consistent learning that happens throughout the year.

Our teachers help children develop the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual foundations they need to walk into kindergarten feeling capable, supported, and ready to learn. Recent early literacy screening results offer encouraging evidence that this approach is making a meaningful difference.

Early Literacy Results That Reflect Strong Preparation

During the April through June 2026 screening window, 26 Foundations Academy Pre-K students completed the Renaissance Star Early Literacy assessment. Of those students, 25 scored at or above the district benchmark. That means approximately 96% of the students tested demonstrated benchmark-level early literacy performance.

In one VPK class, all 13 students- 100% of the class- scored at or above the benchmark. In the second class, 12 of 13 students, or 92%, met or exceeded the benchmark. Only one student was placed in the “On Watch” category. No students were identified as needing Intervention or Urgent Intervention. These results are worth celebrating, but they represent more than strong scores. They reflect the learning, encouragement, repetition, and personal attention taking place in Foundations Academy classrooms each day.

Building the Skills Children Need Before Kindergarten

Early literacy is an important part of kindergarten readiness. Before children can become confident readers and writers, they need opportunities to develop skills such as recognizing letters, connecting letters with sounds, listening to stories, understanding spoken language, identifying patterns, and expressing their own ideas.

At Foundations Academy, these skills are introduced through developmentally appropriate instruction and reinforced through engaging classroom experiences.

Children do not all learn in the same way or at the same pace. Some may quickly recognize letters but need more support with listening comprehension. Others may have strong verbal skills but need additional practice connecting sounds with printed letters.

Because Foundations Academy teachers know their students personally, they can recognize these differences. They can provide added encouragement, adjust instruction, revisit a concept, or offer an additional challenge when a child is ready. This personal understanding helps children make progress without feeling overlooked or rushed.

Kindergarten Readiness Is About More Than Academics

Strong early literacy results are important, but true kindergarten readiness extends beyond academic performance. A child may know letters and numbers but still need practice waiting for a turn, completing a task independently, managing frustration, or asking for help. These everyday skills can have a major effect on how comfortably a child adjusts to kindergarten.

Throughout the VPK day, Foundations Academy students learn how to function as part of a classroom community. They practice listening during lessons, following routines, caring for classroom materials, working alongside classmates, and completing age-appropriate responsibilities. They also learn that making a mistake is part of learning. Teachers encourage students to keep trying, solve problems, and take pride in their progress.

These experiences help children develop confidence and independence. Instead of entering kindergarten unsure of what will be expected, they arrive with an understanding of how a classroom works and with greater confidence in their ability to participate.

A Classroom Where Every Child Is Known

Young children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and understood. At Foundations Academy, students are more than names on a roster or scores on a report. Teachers come to know their personalities, strengths, interests, challenges, and learning styles.

When a teacher knows that a child is hesitant to speak in a group, the teacher can create gentle opportunities for that child to participate. When a student is ready for a greater academic challenge, the teacher can provide one. When a child is struggling, the teacher can respond before that struggle becomes discouragement. This personal attention helps children build both skills and confidence. It also allows families to feel more connected to their child’s education because teachers can provide meaningful insight into how each student is growing.

Preparing the Whole Child

Foundations Academy approaches kindergarten readiness by supporting the whole child. Students are encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Faith, kindness, respect, and responsibility are woven into everyday classroom life. Children learn to care for others, make thoughtful choices, and understand that they are loved and created with purpose. These lessons help shape the way children interact with teachers, classmates, and the world around them. They provide an important foundation not only for kindergarten, but for the years of learning that follow.

A Confident Beginning Makes a Difference

No assessment can measure every part of a child’s development. However, the recent Star Early Literacy results provide a meaningful snapshot of the strong academic preparation taking place within Foundations Academy’s VPK program.

With 25 of 26 students meeting or exceeding the district benchmark, and no students requiring intervention, the results demonstrate that Foundations Academy students are developing important early literacy skills before entering kindergarten. Just as importantly, they are learning how to listen, participate, persevere, build friendships, and believe in themselves.

At Foundations Academy, preparing children for kindergarten means helping them take that next step with strong foundational skills and the confidence that comes from being truly known, supported, and encouraged.

Families interested in learning more about the VPK program are invited to schedule a tour and experience the Foundations Academy difference in person.