Visions Academy Charter High School
“Students Achieving Success as a part of a
Global Community”
Executive Summary
Imagine a high school as described in the book by Ted Sizer, Horace’s Hope. It is graduating proficient young women and men with competencies for postsecondary education. Not only do the students have a dream and determination but also possess the academic aptitude to be successful in a global community. This is a school where you don’t have to leave your IPOD at the door because it’s one of your learning tools. Every class will relate to one another and when you graduate you will have produced a project that requiring analytical and critical thinking skills. Although the day is longer and the summer vacation is shorter, students come to school every day ready and eager to learn. Imagine that this school is in the heart of the City of Newark, serving at-risk high school students and it is called Visions Academy Charter High School (Visions Academy).
Proposed to open in 2010, Visions Academy will enroll 150 students in 9th grade. Located in a state of the art high school complex at 88-108 Shipman St. Visions Academy will expand over the next 4 years to offer grades 9- 12 for 600 students.
The curriculum will be delivered in an engaging and multi-modal thematic format. It will both meet the needs of all students and the New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards. Every lesson will be planned from a global theme. Visions Academy will develop students who are academically proficient and achieve literacy in all content areas, develop the ability to think critically about their world, connect ideas in different contexts and demonstrate independent thinking—the intellectual capital necessary for success in college or the workplace.
In classrooms at Visions Academy Charter High School, there will be a congruity among academic content, instructional methods, school culture and classroom structures. Each will be integrated and highlight the other. In every class and through every lesson, students will be given the opportunity to develop skills to solve real-world problems. School-wide procedures and classroom structures that promote student achievement will be established, enforced and monitored. At Visions Academy, there will be a relentless pursuit of academic excellence and expectation of high moral character. The focus on international engagement will position graduates of Visions Academy to enter post secondary institutions with the academic foundation, creativity, resiliency and global understanding to succeed and become dynamic leaders in their local, national or global communities.
With a longer school day from 7:45 AM to 4:05 PM and a longer school year of 192 days, Visions Academy will maximize the time students spend in our environment to transform their educational experience for success. Parental participation and community partnerships are critical elements to the success of this mission. The Board of Trustees will represent all stakeholders and help to anchor Visions Academy firmly in the Newark community.
Graduation criteria will not only include proficiency on the state HSPA testing, but completion of an action-research project, community service and 150 class credits. All stakeholders at Visions Academy will be committed to students achieving success as part of a global community.