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Bristol Preparatory Academy

About BPA Home

What Makes BPA Unique?

Bristol Preparatory Academy is a high school credit recovery program of approximately 55 students from BC and BE. We are a school of choice and new opportunities!  As an alternative program, we are able to create an environment that allows students to be more successful than they may have been in a traditional high school setting.  Our class sizes tend to be smaller and our core academic courses meet for 45 minutes daily.  Each full year course is chunked into six, 6-week units of study.  Students have an opportunity to choose courses of interest and earn 0.2 credits at the end of each unit, for a total possible 1.2 credits per core academic course by the end of the year.  Students can also participate in service learning, Mens/Womens Issues, online, and independent studies for additional credits. We also offer life skills, job exploration, and clinical counseling programs. Students who graduate from Bristol Prep must meet the State of Connecticut high school graduation requirements and will receive a traditional high school diploma.  

The philosophy of Bristol Preparatory Academy is that our family of learners will experience success in a small, personalized program, individualized to accommodate each student’s academic, social and emotional needs. At BPA, teachers foster a positive, safe, and collaborative educational environment and ensure students’ short and long term goals are realized.  Additionally, our school philosophy promotes the concept of project based learning and utilizes field trips, grant opportunities, reward incentives, volunteer experiences, and family engagement to increase each student’s sense of self-respect and worth and commitment to being positive and productive agents of change within their community.

If a student and /or parent is interested in learning more about BPA, please contact us directly or have your child speak to their guidance counselor. Admissions into the program is competitive.  Sudents must complete an application packet and participate in an interview. Students may be given an attendance challenge to complete prior to acceptance.  Admissions windows are generally in April for August entrance (first day of school year) and November for January entrance (start of semester 2).

The ideal BPA student is ready to earn their high school diploma on time or as close to on time as possible. They are also interested in exploring and pursing postsecondary options.  Successful qualities include:

  • Has expressed a desire to be in a different school environment
  • Commits to coming to school regularly and for the full day
  • Is ready to make a positive change
  • Is willing to set personal goals, reflect on their progress, and give their BEST effort
  • Could be successful with individualized academic support
  • Would benefit from social emotional learning curriculum and supports
  • Demonstrates a desire for autonomy and a flexible student schedule.
  • Prefers a smaller school community and class sizes

Bristol Preparatory Academy Mission Statement

At Bristol Preparatory Academy we commit to being… 

Present and Prepared, 

Respectful, 

Engaged, and 

Persevering, positive members of our school community.

PREP!

Our Commitments

Present & Prepared

  • Get a good night’s sleep
  • Bring a pencil & charged Chromebook/charger to school
  • Be in the building by 7:30 daily and stay the full day
  • Drop your cell phone off in the filebox upon entering school
  • Follow your schedule and attend all classes with required materials
  • Communicate with staff (in person, email, ParentSquare)

Respectful

  • Use appropriate language - if you slip up, acknowledge, apologize, move on…
  • Take ownership for your actions
  • Be honest with yourself & others
  • Respect personal space &  property
  • Be mindful of others’ needs; be patient
  • Label your emotions & communicate your needs appropriately
  • No vaping, smoking, lighters, drug paraphernalia

Engaged
  • Give 100% of your available effort at all times
  • Give your full attention when someone else is speaking
  • “Table” an issue until after class
  • Collaborate with classmates on assigned task
  • Workspace is free from distractions (Chromebook, backpacks off the table unless directed by teacher)

P
ersevering & Positive
  • Approach problems with a Growth Mindset
  • Have a positive attitude & try your best 
  • Try 3 strategies before asking an adult for help
  • Be willing to try new things
  • Assume positive intentions
  • Ask questions ~ the only bad question is the one you don’t ask
  • Be OK with making mistakes

View Our Vision of The Graduate

  • School of Choice
  • Project based learning and interdisciplinary projects
  • Use of restorative practices
  • Attendance incentives and accountability
  • Emphasis on learning by doing
  • Cooperative learning
  • Provide a real world experience
  • Smaller class size
  • Individualized attention
  • Proactive not reactive
  • Credit Recovery – online program and independent study opportunities
  • Life Skills, Mens/Womens Issues, Job Exploration, Clinical counseling programs
  • Bristol Preparatory Academy is a high school credit recovery program of approximately 55 students from BC and BE. We are a school of choice and new opportunities!  As an alternative program, we are able to create an environment that allows students to be more successful than they may have been in a traditional high school setting.  Our class sizes tend to be smaller and our core academic courses meet for 45 minutes daily.  Each full year course is chunked into six, 6-week units of study.  Students have an opportunity to choose courses of interest and earn 0.2 credits at the end of each unit, for a total possible 1.2 credits per core academic course by the end of the year.  Students can also participate in service learning, Mens/Womens Issues, online, and independent studies for additional credits. We also offer life skills, job exploration, and clinical counseling programs. Students who graduate from Bristol Prep must meet the State of Connecticut high school graduation requirements and will receive a traditional high school diploma.  

    The philosophy of Bristol Preparatory Academy is that our family of learners will experience success in a small, personalized program, individualized to accommodate each student’s academic, social and emotional needs. At BPA, teachers foster a positive, safe, and collaborative educational environment and ensure students’ short and long term goals are realized.  Additionally, our school philosophy promotes the concept of project based learning and utilizes field trips, grant opportunities, reward incentives, volunteer experiences, and family engagement to increase each student’s sense of self-respect and worth and commitment to being positive and productive agents of change within their community.

    If a student and /or parent is interested in learning more about BPA, please contact us directly or have your child speak to their guidance counselor. Admissions into the program is competitive.  Sudents must complete an application packet and participate in an interview. Students may be given an attendance challenge to complete prior to acceptance.  Admissions windows are generally in April for August entrance (first day of school year) and November for January entrance (start of semester 2).

  • The ideal BPA student is ready to earn their high school diploma on time or as close to on time as possible. They are also interested in exploring and pursing postsecondary options.  Successful qualities include:

    • Has expressed a desire to be in a different school environment
    • Commits to coming to school regularly and for the full day
    • Is ready to make a positive change
    • Is willing to set personal goals, reflect on their progress, and give their BEST effort
    • Could be successful with individualized academic support
    • Would benefit from social emotional learning curriculum and supports
    • Demonstrates a desire for autonomy and a flexible student schedule.
    • Prefers a smaller school community and class sizes
  • Bristol Preparatory Academy Mission Statement

    At Bristol Preparatory Academy we commit to being… 

    Present and Prepared, 

    Respectful, 

    Engaged, and 

    Persevering, positive members of our school community.

    PREP!

    Our Commitments

    Present & Prepared

    • Get a good night’s sleep
    • Bring a pencil & charged Chromebook/charger to school
    • Be in the building by 7:30 daily and stay the full day
    • Drop your cell phone off in the filebox upon entering school
    • Follow your schedule and attend all classes with required materials
    • Communicate with staff (in person, email, ParentSquare)

    Respectful

    • Use appropriate language - if you slip up, acknowledge, apologize, move on…
    • Take ownership for your actions
    • Be honest with yourself & others
    • Respect personal space &  property
    • Be mindful of others’ needs; be patient
    • Label your emotions & communicate your needs appropriately
    • No vaping, smoking, lighters, drug paraphernalia

    Engaged
    • Give 100% of your available effort at all times
    • Give your full attention when someone else is speaking
    • “Table” an issue until after class
    • Collaborate with classmates on assigned task
    • Workspace is free from distractions (Chromebook, backpacks off the table unless directed by teacher)

    P
    ersevering & Positive
    • Approach problems with a Growth Mindset
    • Have a positive attitude & try your best 
    • Try 3 strategies before asking an adult for help
    • Be willing to try new things
    • Assume positive intentions
    • Ask questions ~ the only bad question is the one you don’t ask
    • Be OK with making mistakes

    View Our Vision of The Graduate


At Bristol Prep, we commit to being Present & Prepared, Respectful, Engaged, and Persevering, Positive members of our community.