School in the Square Public Charter School

1. Academic achievement is our key focus. S2 is committed to being data driven while keeping students, not only test scores, at the center. Our students come from many places with varied levels of academic skills. To meet students at their level and pace, a co-teaching model allows for targeted teaching in all core academic classes. Students who are particularly struggling benefit from additional small group learning periods throughout the week. As well, students can take advantage of computer-based blended-learning curricula in both ELA and Math, which provide extra practice for lower performers and more challenging work for higher performers. We are personalizing each student's education because that is the key to their success.2. Learning extends beyond the classroom. S2 offers high quality experiences that spark each student's passion for learning and build skills beyond core subjects. Teaching artists and staff from community-based organizations mentor cohorts of youth through interest-aligned programming. Students benefit from our partnerships with the People's Theatre Project and the METS baseball team, and enjoy playing rugby, making mural art, taking classes in coding and exploring cartoon art. Through these programs students gain a vision of future possibilities and forge bonds with their community.3. Building a democratic community. At S2, we give students varied and authentic opportunities to practice democracy and make choices that contribute to the school environment. Every six days, students come together for Voice, a time for reading texts, discussing complicated issues, developing proposals and presentations, and participating in democratic decision-making. Through Voice, we empower students to address important school, community and social issues while learning multicultural awareness practices and perspective taking. We find that when children believe their choices matter, they crave the academic and personal skills necessary to exercise them responsibly.