Beacon College Prep Elementary

Beacon College Prep is a K-8 charter school in Miami, Florida that leads students to superior academic achievement, cultivates their talents and interests, and fosters admirable character traits to build strong foundations that empower their success to-and-through college.

We believe that a holistic educational experience that balances the academic attainment of students, the development of their social skills, and the incorporation activities that they enjoy both inside and outside of the curriculum will develop empowered, well-rounded, and highly invested students. This is chiefly important because our students are among the most vulnerable and “at-risk” to a variety of external factors which are beyond their control.

Dr. Martin Luther King said that “Intelligence plus character –that is the true goal of education”. We could not agree more. Without strong character, our students will not have access to opportunities in this country – especially considering the degree to which stereotypes, racial bias and discrimination still inhibit the prospects of so many bright students of color.

At Beacon College Prep, we take an unconventional approach to fostering admirable character: we give students choice and guiding principles as opposed to rules and consequences. Rules and consequences prepares students to enter a world of law and order: one where it is customary – and even prudent - to be fearful of authority and learn to do good only when people are watching. Students cannot learn in fear, just like citizens cannot fully live in it. Beacon College Prep uses student choice and guiding principles (core values) to help students learn right from wrong from experience, and to maintain a supportive relationship between students and staff as opposed to an authoritative one that is steeped in fear.