We will be in California the next few days presenting on behalf of our school, The Classical Academy. TCA is the largest brick and mortar charter in Colorado, and we've learned some things in the school's eleven year history.
TCA has successful athletic teams, an outstanding music program, had an average ACT score of almost 25 this past year.
TCA has over 1,500 elementary students on three campuses that feed the junior high and high school.
TCA has also implemented a strong merit pay (we call it strategic compensation) system for teachers.
TCA is innovative in Charlotte Mason style education, which is unique in the public school world. We are currently piloting a program with only 16 children in first grade classrooms, which will expande to grades 2 and 3 over the next few years.
The school also has successfully issued over $50 million in bonds to build its facilities, including a dual enrollment program that will begin in the fall with Pikes Peak Community College (on their land). This innovative program will provide a K-14 education all on one site if parents choose that direction.
As we've evolved and grown, we've also faced the challenges of life cycle processes. The school began as a sort of "mom and pop" organization largely run by a few administrators and a lot of volunteers. We've had to work through a lot of growing pains to figure out what it means to be a school of 2,600+ FTE (over 2,800 planned for next year). So we understand a lot about the necessary changes as well as the importance of good board governance through that growth.
We'll bring these insights to California in our four sessions as we assist the charter community nationwide to provide high quality education to our kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment