Made up of 17 counties and more than 200 charter schools, the Bay Area, North and Central Coast Region contains all types of charter schools--from rural to suburban to urban, from independent study to site-based, from a focus on arts to a focus on technology, and more. Together, they share a commitment to high quality and a focus on college readiness for all their students.
Recent accomplishment by charter schools and their students and staff in the region include:
- American Indian Public Charter, American Indian Public Charter School II, Lighthouse Community Charter High, Oakland Charter Academy, and KIPP Bayview Academy received the 2010-11 Title I Academic Achievement Award. To meet the criteria for this distinction, the school must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards and the school's socioeconomically disadvantaged students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.
- American Indian Public Charter, American Indian Public Charter School II, American Indian Public High School, KIPP Bridge Charter, KIPP Summit Academy, KIPP Bayview Academy, and Pacific Collegiate Charter were named 2011 California Distinguished Schools.
- Northcoast Prep and Performing Arts Academy in Arcata was named one of the top 20 high schools in the county, and the top high school in California, by the Washington Post. The Post's "High School Challenge" identifies public high schools across the nation effectively preparing students for college.
- Three of Oakland Military Institute's teachers ere recently announced as 2010 National Board Certified teachers. Johnna Grell (English Language Arts/Early Adolescence), Alicia Koster (World Languages Other than English/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood), and Rachel Mahlke (English Language Arts/Early Adolescence) are now part of an elite force of only 3% of America's teachers who have earned this prestigious honor.
- Theo Kell, a 6th grader from Mary Collins at Cherry Valley Charter School in Petaluma won the Sonoma County Elementary School Spelling Bee.
- Sebastopol's Reach Charter School won a $10,000 Bright Ideas grant from PG&E to pursue a long-term monitoring project on a local waterway.
- KIPP Heartwood Academy was named a 2010 Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement especially among disadvantaged and minority students.
Charter schools in Oakland are supported by the Oakland Charter School Collaborative, which is an organization of key partnerships, supports and services that are beneficial to members of the local charter school community. Many San Jose charters participate in the San Jose Charter Schools Consortium.
Links
For more information about some of the charter authorizers in the Bay Area and North and Central Coast region, check out links to: