Charter Schools
What is a Charter School and how are they diffferent?
Charter schools are innovative public schools that operate with greater independence than traditional district schools. We're publicly funded, tuition-free, and open to all students, but we have the flexibility to create unique educational environments tailored to different learning approaches and community needs.
Unlike traditional public schools that must follow district-wide policies and curricula, we have the autonomy to design our own educational programs, choose our teaching methods, and make decisions quickly to better serve our students. We're governed by our own board rather than a large district bureaucracy, allowing us to be more responsive to our school community's specific needs.
We don't have attendance boundaries - families from anywhere in our area can choose to enroll their children here based on whether our educational approach is the right fit, rather than simply living in the right neighborhood.
Our smaller size and focused mission allow us to know each student individually and tailor our approach to different learning styles and interests.
Personalized Education:
Our shared educational vision creates a tight-knit community of families who have actively chosen to be part of our school.
Strong School Culture:
We're held to high performance standards in our charter agreement - we must demonstrate results or face closure, ensuring we remain focused on student success.
Accountability:
Our educators have more freedom to innovate in their classrooms and aren't bound by district mandates that may not serve our students' needs.
Teacher Empowerment:
While we receive public funding, we may have fewer resources for extensive facilities, sports programs, or specialized services compared to larger district schools.
Limited Resources:
Our specialized approach means we're not the right choice for every student - it's important that our educational philosophy aligns with your child's needs and your family's values.
Selective Fit:
If we're popular and have more applicants than spaces, we use a fair lottery system rather than first-come-first-served admission.
Admission Process:
Charter schools work best when there’s a strong alignment between the school’s mission and a family’s educational goals. Come see if River Montessori Charter School is a good fit for your family.
Questions?
Give us a call. Let’s schedule a time to meet.
Kelly Griffith-Mannion is not only the Executive Director and Superintendent of River Montessori. Kelly is also a lifelong Montessorian, an expert in child development, and a fantastic parenting coach. She is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend, and an all-around good hang. She leads most school tours, and all of the Family Information Nights. Sign up here.