The U.S. News and World Report just ranked Ridgeview Classical Schools in Fort Collins as the 15th best high school in the nation. The charter school, which opened in 2001, has been at the top of the state's School Accountability Report measures and was previously near the top 100 in the U.S. News and World Report study.
The charter school uses a "classical" approach to education with a focus on Latin, classical literature, writing, and critical thinking. The trivium of classical education is grammar, logic and rhetoric. Grammar is learning basic skills often by rote mememorization, associated with elementary school-aged students. Logic happens during the middle school years when students begin thinking using the skills they have previously acquired. Rhetoric is in the high school phase when students apply all they have learned to participate in deeper discussions and cogently persuade their readers.
The school has been fortunate to have numerous key individuals shape the school's initial years. Dr. Terrence Moore was critical to the formation of the academic program model. Founders Kim Miller and Peggy Schunk, honed in on keeping the original vision and mission in all decision-making. Since the beginning, other individuals have served on the governing board and in key staff positions. For example, the current principal, Dr. Florian Hild was a teacher from the very beginning.
Ridgeview Classical Schools is authorized by the Poudre School District. Last week the Court of Appeals handed down a decision ruling in favor of Ridgeview in a case where the school district wanted to pro-rate student funding if a student left Ridgeview after the annual Oct. 1 funding date.
Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette ranked #69 in the US News and World Report listing. Peak to Peak was in the top 100 last year, also. Dolores Huerta in Pueblo ranked in the Bronze category.
No comments:
Post a Comment