Western Region Projects

Western Region Charter School Projects

Scroll Down for Additional Projects

Equestrian Academy Charter School
	Ages/Grades: Grades 9-12, with possibility of feeder middle school
	Contact: Susan Hollins
	Area Located: Planning to open first campus in Rochester, NH, on equine hospital and conference center 120-acre site. Will continue to seek space in other areas for 2nd campus.
	Read the Charter: Click Here
	Go to Website: Click Here
	Students Served: Plan is for 15-30 students in 1st year; up to 120 students by end of 5-year charter. The school is designed to offer a college preparatory academic program and also a serious equestrian studies and business program.
2005 Status: The charter school application was authorized by the State Board of Education after a second meeting and presentation Wednesday, September 14th at 1:15 p.m., Department of Education, Concord. This school project received a planning grant and developed statewide interest through mailings and meetings. They submitted a charter application to the State Board of Education which was heard January 2005 again 9/15/05. The Board neither approved nor denied the charter request in January, but asked for more information on insurances, academic program, and budget. The school had hoped to be approved and open in Sept. 2005 with 25 students, expanding gradually to serve 60 students in the Keene area and 60 students in the Rochester area over 5 years, bringing the school's total population to 120. With authorization received September 2005, the school founders will redo the timeline and workplan, to open the school. The timeline for opening is dependent on facility readiness and will be no sooner than February 2006 and most likely September 2006. Abstract: The Equestrian Academy Charter School is designed to meet the needs of high school students with specific interests in both college academic preparation and also training in the equine industry. The academic program is a a high standards college-readiness program requiring 4 years each of English and mathematics, 3 years each of science and history/civics, and 2 years of world language for all students. In addition, students would be required to have 3 credits in entrepreneurial business courses with real experiences and specific courses with real hands-on training in equestrian studies. Students will have apprenticeships in equestrian industry businesses. Students who graduate from this program will be prepared for specialized workforce positions as well as for post-secondary education. Updated September 15, 2005 Click here to participate or ask questions Click here for a Student Application Click Here for School Insurance Information Click Here for School Budget Information Click Here To read Statewide Feedback! Click Here for an interview we conducted with the founders.

New Hampshire Public Academy of Science
	Area Located: On Concord to Nashua corridor. Contact: Matora Fiorey, Project Director	Ages/Grades: Grades 9-12 Web Site: Click Here
Students Served: Anticipate opening with grade 9, class size 40; adding a new 9^th grade class each year, to expand within 4 years to 180 students.
2005 Status: A planning grant was received and a charter is almost completely written. The current goal is to submit the charter application in November/December 2005 and attempt opening for September 2006 or at the latest 2007. Timeline will be significantly influenced by ability to find suitable space. Interested business, college, teachers, parents, and students are welcome to make contact and/or assist in final stages of planning.
Abstract: The New Hampshire Public Academy of Sciences, NHPAS, is a public charter college-preparatory school, serving students in grades 9-12. NHPAS will provide students with a rigorous, four-year course of integrated-curricula study with a strong focus on the sciences. NHPAS will ensure that graduates are prepared to learn with the best and brightest university students in the country through a highly integrated sciences and humanities curriculum embracing a broad range of pedagogical methodology and curricula. NHPAS's course of studies will provide a rigorous academic secondary school program in which graduation requirements will exceed state requirements in science, mathematics, and other disciplines. To graduate, NHPAS will require a minimum of four years of science, four years of mathematics, and three years of world languages. Specific course offerings will follow standards recommended by institutions of higher education and, to the maximum extent possible, will be designed around the specific student interests. Features of the school include: mentorships, apprenticeships, fellowships, and field researchraditional and non-traditional classroom and laboratory learning with an emphasis on integrated curriculum; students will take courses at NHPAS's campus, as well as in diverse learning environments such as local courthouses, businesses, research institutes, and local college campuses virtual learning options research and stewardship projects within the community, including required Sophomore Stewardship and Junior Summer Mentorship projects product marketing economics emphasizing environmentally sound practices utilization of professionals in the community as adjunct faculty student involvement in national competitions, e.g. Science Olympiad Courses (projected minimum graduation requirements in parentheses) include: Applied Mathematics through Calculus (4 years math/as necessary) Integrated Biological, Earth and Marine Sciences (1 years) Integrated Chemical and Environmental Science (1 years) Integrated Physics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Programming (1 years) Elective advanced science courses (1 years): forensic science, physical oceanography, renewable hydrogen fuel cell science, marine science, botany, forestry, natural history, design technology, history of science, ethics in science, sustainable agricultural science, population biology, advanced computer programming, computational sciences, advanced electronics, archaeology, anthropology, transportation sciences, environmental engineering Integrated World Language and Cultural Studies (3 years) English/Literature (4 years) Humanities/Arts: (3 years); electives include: law, history, business/marketing, traditional and applied writing, music, political science, theatre, film, television/video production, ethics, radio, philosophy, psychology, forensics, ethics, government, Great Books Additionally, students and faculty will be involved in school-related entrepreneurial projects, e.g. a student/faculty run non-profit store specializing in "green" marketing; summer eco-tourism enterprises; apprenticeship/mentorship enterprises. Click Here for a brief survey regarding the New Hampshire Academy of Sciences. Read a recent article in the New York times about the shortage of new scientists the United States is facing.

Ashuelot Valley Academy
	Area Located: Southwestern, NH Contact: Peter Majoy	Ages/Grades: Grades 9-12 Web Site: N/A
Students Served: Currently, the plan is for a chartered high school academy serving 200-300 students. As with most chartered public schools, the plan will likely include opening with a small number of students and gradually building to full capacity.
2005 Status: These founders have worked for over a year to build a diverse and large group of community members who support this proposal. The group plans to have a web site in place by December 2005, to meet with the Monadnock School Board before mid-November, and to proceed with local authorization procedures of RSA 194-B which will involve a citizen petition asking the community to allow the school board to review a proposal (requires no future commitment...but just allows the proposal to be considered and discussed). In addition to core subjects required of high schools, the school's curriculum will have a three-fold focus on art, science, and agriculture. Founders' timeline is submitting the charter proposal in 2006 and, if approved, opening September 2007.
Abstract: Fashioned after the principles of The Coalition of Essential Schools and The Community Schools movement, a group of educators, college instructors, and others in the Southwestern area of New Hampshire (Winchester-Richmond-Keene) are now meeting. This 9-12 high school program is being planned with these features: heterogeneous grouping, focus on the arts, science and agriculture, alternative assessment, community service, real world on-site extended apprenticeships, and lengthy camping trips with curriculum-in-hand. In addition to core subjects required of high schools, the school's curriculum will have a three-fold focus on art, science, and agriculture. Founders' timeline is submitting the charter proposal in 2006 and, if approved, opening September 2007.