The North Country Charter Academy
A lifeline – one student at a time

Annette Kurman,
NH Center for School Reform

Serving the northern tier of New Hampshire, where some of the state's poorest communities are located, is the North Country Charter Academy – one of the state's first-authorized chartered public schools. With locations in Littleton and Lancaster, the North Country Charter Academy has literally been making the difference in the lives of young people who have dropped out, or are on the verge of dropping out, of public schools. These students are at risk of not only not completing high school, but of all of life’s disadvantages that result from such a decision.

In addition to saving these young people from a future that often includes minimum wage jobs, poverty-level living, dependency on government subsidies, and even possible homelessness or incarceration, North Country Charter Academy has been providing a life-line to these students who have so few options, especially in the rural northern tier of New Hampshire.

Said Director Lisa Lavoie of the 60 students served annually, “Our students LOVE it here and they are truly succeeding and truly engaged.” This year marks the school’s fourth year of charter school operation.

To be accepted, students must commit to the rigorous demands of the Charter Academy, including three hours daily of individualized, computer-based coursework, strict daily attendance, and 11 hours of work or community service per week. They leave with a high school diploma – something many students thought would never be possible. In fact, many graduates go on to post-graduate colleges and programs, another achievement that likely never entered their minds while struggling at their home high school.

North Country Charter Academy serves the state’s entire North Country, all 4,000 square miles, where it is well known among the nine SAUs and 26 school districts. Lavoie and her team receive calls and are in communication with school counselors nearly every day because the charter school has become the lifeline and only viable option for students dropping out from their home high school.

When asked about student backgrounds, LaVoie mentions the struggles and challenges of these students' lives. She says "first, this is a poor area...some families struggle to survive--just putting food on the table and having heat in their house. There's domestic violence. Drug and alcohol background. Single parenting families. Pregnant teens. More homeless students this year than any other year. Students in homeless shelters.... The school is like a lifeline to these students. We believe in these students. They are succeeding. And all of a sudden they have self confidence. It’s like a magic wand."

Students accepted at and committed to North Country Charter Academy begin with a clean slate. No one is considered “stupid,” no one is “the slow one.” Each is assessed to determine where they are academically. Individual goals are set specific to their course requirements and career interests. Each works on his or her own plan and goals; the typical grading and comparing of grades found in the traditional school is not a part of the program or culture here. Every student who shows achievement is successful.

Teachers, counselors, parents visiting the school are amazed. “I can’t believe it,” said one teacher applicant who saw a student she knew. “This is working!”

Explained Lavoie, “We have an intense intake interview where we share our expectations; if students are not willing to meet them, they will not be successful and we don’t admit them.” Students who perhaps skipped class because they knew they were failing anyway or neglected to pay attention to instruction, are told from day one of the charter academy’s strict rules. Students need to be at school 100% of the time; they need to show progress every day. They need to be respectful of others. They need to apply themselves during the three hours of focused, independent academic work.

The result? Said Lavoie, “Our students are consistently engaged and working on academics for three solid hours.” The balance of the school program involves11 hours a week of employment, vocational training, or volunteering. Although options in rural communities are limited, students find ways to meet that work requirement through construction trades, service industry, hospital, and nursing homes. "They can't have more than five days without a job" and stay at the school. "They know they cannot get fired."

North Country Charter Academy is a lifeline for students

The success of the North Country Charter Academy, said Lavoie, is due to the kindness, caring, and individualization. Students are out of the “big” school system. They discover their identity. There’s no peer pressure. No negative comments.

“I’ve heard a student say, ‘I don’t feel lost [like I did before.]’”

“Parents are so thankful for what we do. They constantly ask how they can help the school with continued funding,” she said.

This year’s commencement on June 9 will see some 30 students graduating with a high school diploma. Their last graduations have been attended by more than 300 people, many in tears as they listen to the personal stories of these students and about their new successes and directions.

And then, many graduates come in three months later and say, “Oh my God, I’m going to college! Can you believe it?”

Yes, said Lavoie, we can.

North Country Charter Academy is one of the independent, state-authorized, chartered public schools. It is the state's first charter school dedicated to drop-out recovery. In the United States, 7,000 students drop out of high school every day, and the financial cost to the country for each year’s worth of dropouts is over 300 billion dollars. A second and similar chartered public school has now opened in Merrimack Valley. The point and purpose of the state's pilot program was to create unique schools that could be replicated. For more information, contact: The New Hampshire Center for School Reform, www.nhschoolreform.org, 603-224.0366.