Academics

Curriculum

Pee Dee Academy takes pride in both its fully qualified instructors and in the academic programs provided to its students. In the lower school, K3 – 6th grade, typical elementary education subjects are taught throughout all grades: Math, Reading, Spelling and Vocabulary, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Writing. Students also attend weekly Physical Education, Music, Art and Computer classes as, well as the Library’s Accelerated Reader program. 

Upper School includes grades 7 –12. While 7th and 8th graders take classes similar to the lower school, an Honors Track program allows qualified 8th graders to take English I and Algebra I. The College Preparatory/Honors curriculum provided in the Upper School includes:

College Preparatory Courses

Honors Program Courses

English I                Physical Education    English II               Computer Science    English III              Word Processing    English IV               Psychology    Algebra I                Sociology    Algebra II              Current Events    Geometry               Art    Pre Calculus           Creative Writing    Biology I                Health    Chemistry I            World Geography    World History         Spanish I    U.S. History           Spanish II    Economics             Government

H – English I          H – English II          H – English III          H – English IV          H – Algebra I          H – Algebra II          H – Geometry          H – Pre – Calculus          H – Calculus          H – Physics          H – Western Civilization          H – Biology II          H – Chemistry II          H – Spanish III

 

While PDA does not offer advanced placement courses at this time, several courses are offered as both a high school and college credit course. Plans are being made to offer additional classes as dual credit courses. 

In addition to the courses listed above, PDA periodically offers a SAT preparatory class for students interested in taking the SAT. 

Any summer course work must be pre-approved by the Headmaster or Guidance Counselor.

 

Grading   Testing  Graduation

Graduation

A College Preparatory diploma requires 21 units. However, most Pee Dee Academy graduates accumulate 24 units as students must take 6 classes each year.

 

Class                Graduates               Accepted into College

`03                        29                                  100%

`04                        24                                  100%

`05                        38                                    96%

`06                        34                                  100%         

`07                        41                                  100%

 

The average SAT score for PDA graduates since 2000 is 1025. All colleges in South Carolina and many colleges out of state have accepted PDA graduates. Scholarships totaling over $1,125,000.00 were awarded to the Class of 2007.

 

Testing

The Academy participates in programs from the College Board and Harcourt Educational Measurement, which are used nationwide by both private and public schools. The PSAT is given at PDA to sophomores and juniors while the ASVAB, a vocational aptitude battery, is administered to students in their senior year by the Armed Services.

Pee Dee Academy administers the Stanford 10 Achievement Test to all students in grades K5 – 8th  annually. The Stanford is a test given nationally to measure basic academic achievement. Scores from 2007 indicate a strong academic program at PDA. The Total Battery score on the Stanford is a score made up of Math, Reading, Social Studies, Science, Study Skills, and Language Arts. While standardized test scores are only one measure of an academic program, such scores are indicative of an outstanding academic program.

 

Grading Scale

In the spring of 2000 Pee Dee Academy adopted the State Uniform Grading Policy, which is required for students to qualify for the Life Scholarship and other education funding provided through the South Carolina Lottery.  

Class rank is determined by Grade Point Average (GPA).