Since 2005, AlphaBEST Education has been bringing quality before- and after- school enrichment to students across the country—and they’re based right here in Forsyth County!
AlphaBEST is part of the Lewisville, North Carolina-based Kaplan Early Learning Company family of brands, and they’re headquartered in Lewisville as well. Unlike Kaplan, though, which focuses almost exclusively on an early learning (pre-elementary school) population, AlphaBEST serves students in both elementary and middle school (and have a couple of early learning centers, as well). As far as their footprint goes, they extend far beyond North Carolina, serving 20,000+ students each school day at 300+ sites across 12 states.
“Even though we’ve been operating for more than a decade right here in Forsyth –and have programming at five local elementary schools here—many families still aren’t familiar with who we are and the services we offer,” said Melissa Moreano, CFO, who works out of the company’s headquarters here in Lewisville, and who has been with the company since it was founded. “We love telling our story to families all across the country, but especially right here in our own backyard—letting people know what we’re all about and what makes AlphaBEST stand head and shoulders above other after-school programs.”
AlphaBEST’s model includes three areas of programming: before- and after school care and curriculum throughout the school year (Extended Day); short-term, focused enrichment classes (Explorations); and weeks-long themed Summer Camps. At the heart of all AlphaBEST does is their curriculum, and that’s what makes them stand apart from other similar partners. They bring cutting-edge themes to their students, focusing on real-world activities that not only make learning fun, but also teach students to be lifelong learners. AlphaBEST’s curriculum areas are centered within five key themes (they call them “Zones”): STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), World Languages & Culture, Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Fitness, and Maker.
Maker Zone is the newest addition to the AlphaBEST curriculum line-up and introduces the in-demand Maker Movement to their students. These open-ended activities—which take place each Friday across all AlphaBEST Extended Day sites—encourage skills such as problem-solving, asking good questions, and perseverance.
In addition to exposure to these engaging, yet educational, hands-on activities, AlphaBEST students receive daily homework help as well as a snack and unstructured playtime to help get their energy out.
“When schools partner with AlphaBEST for Explorations, our enrichment-based programming, we work with school leaders one-on-one to choose the right activity (or multiple activities) to bring to their students,” said Dawn Hosni, AlphaBEST’s Chief Partnership Officer, who oversees the Explorations arm of the company. “These engagements tend to last anywhere from eight to 12 weeks, and our class options range from Chess to Coding to LEGO Robotics to Cartooning and much, much more. We often work in lockstep with PTO/PTA organizations at our partner schools to bring Explorations classes to life in those communities.”
During the summer, AlphaBEST loves partnering with school districts to host AlphaBEST Summer Camps, where students can come Monday through Friday (for about 10 weeks, in most instances) to be with their friends; go on weekly field trips; and engage in fun, educational activities that help them enter the next school year more seamlessly. These camps are the perfect solution for working parents because it’s full-day programming that goes far beyond just childcare.
Here in Forsyth County, AlphaBEST partners with Clemmons Elementary, Middle Fork Elementary, and Southwest Elementary to offer after-school Extended Day programming throughout the school year, and they offer before- and after-school programming at both Kimmel Farm Elementary and Moore Elementary. If your child attends a school where AlphaBEST doesn’t currently offer Extended Day programming, they still may be able to partner with your school to bring Explorations classes to your child and his or her classmates (and they’d love to talk more with you about that!).
Please send any questions or comments to alphabestinfo@alphabest.org, or call 1.866.931.7996.
