Wright School is a charming old school southwest of highway twelve in Santa Rosa. The school has been at its current location since 1953. Many of the students we currently serve had parents who attended Wright School. The community is rich with history and with parents and faculty who are committed to seeing the students of Wright School receive the best educational experiences possible.

Over the last several months we have been exploring the possibility of converting Wright School into a Charter School.  In February, the Wright District Governing Board approved a charter petition from the Wright School staff to convert Wright School into a K – 8 Charter beginning in the fall of 2009.   Seventh grade will be added in the 2009-2010 school year, and eight grade the next.

Wright Charter School students will continue to be educated in the core curriculum and meet grade level standards.  In addition, environmental stewardship, inquiry based thematic instruction, and teamwork will be central to the development of responsible students. Below you will find FAQs that may be helpful during our transition. For enrollment information, click here or the Parents link on the left hand side of this page.

 

What is a charter school?
A charter school is a public school that is organized by a group of teachers, community members, parents, or others and sponsored by an existing public school board or county office of education. Charter schools are open to all students and do not charge tuition. Funding is provided through state and local revenues. They operate with more flexibility than traditional public schools and are held accountable for academic performance and fiscal practices.

Wright Charter School was organized by the current group of Wright School teachers after surveying the Wright School District and determining community support for a charter school offering 7th and 8th grades and a broader K-8 curriculum focus.

How does a charter school differ from a traditional school?
Charter schools are generally exempt from most laws that apply to regular public schools. Administrators, staff and parents have flexibility in designing educational program and budget that meet the needs of students. Accountability, goals and objectives for educational program is established through the charter petition.
The purpose of charter reform is to provide quality education choices for families, encourage innovative changes in school operation, and provide increased competition within the public sector.

Wright Charter School will differ from the traditional school that it has been in several ways. First of all, we will add 7th and 8th grade students to our student body. In addition, beginning a new charter school has invigorated the teaching staff and enabled the beginning of a new mission and vision that incorporates the strengths of our current program and services into new and innovative ideas that will benefit the overall growth of our students.

Where will the charter school be?
Wright School will be converted into the new Wright Charter School.

Why are we converting Wright School to a charter school?
The Wright School District seeks to provide a school of choice within the district offering a small safe school environment for students in grade 7th and 8th grades to continue their educations. The school will also develop students K-8 through a rigorous standards based curriculum that includes broadened opportunity for connecting knowledge and concepts across curriculum. Strategies for broadening concepts and connecting knowledge include increased parent involvement, community service, eco-literacy, and project-based learning.

When will the school open?
Wright Charter School will begin its next school year on August 17th. Seventh grade will be added to the school campus in the 2009-2010 school year. Eighth grade will be added to the school campus in the school year 2010 to 2011.
How can student enroll?
Parents can pick up an enrollment packet in the school office.

Does a completed enrollment packet guarantee a spot in the charter school?
No, priority enrollment is established in the school charter petition. If the number of students who wish to attend exceeds the school’s capacity, then enrollment is determined by lottery. If a lottery process is necessary, enrollment preferences are applied using the following criteria:

Students attending the school at the time of conversion to charter status

Students residing in the prior attendance area of the Wright Charter School prior to conversion.

All other district residents

Students with siblings in the school

Children of school employees

Students who reside outside of the district



What curriculum and courses will the Wright Charter School offer?
Wright Charter School will continue to use curriculum adopted by the state of California and approved by our Board of Directors. In addition the school will provide supplemental materials and instruction that match the needs of our students. Students in grade 6, 7 and 8 will be provided with a challenging academic program that prepares them for high school. The program will integrate curricular areas wherever possible to provide the most efficient use of time. Enrichment course will be offered, but are in the developmental stages at present. Courses will include; health and nutrition, arts, technology, journalism, Spanish, music and others. PE will be required. Eco-literacy and Character Education will be integrated into the educational program of all students. Students will be expected to contribute to the community.

Will sports, music, arts, drama and dance be part of the curriculum?
Yes, each of these subjects will be part of the school curriculum. Sports will be offered to students, but is dependent upon a volunteer coach.

What is Project-based learning?
Project based learning is learning through real life experiences. The activities or projects may be the way in which students acquire skills or knowledge initially, or it may be how they learn to apply a variety of concepts that they already know. It is also about tying together separate skills in meaningful ways, across the curricular areas. Instruction can be tailored to the needs of the students and, because projects are open-ended, students have the opportunity to explore problems at a variety of depths or levels.

If projects are incorporated into the instruction does that mean that there won’t be an emphasis on academic instruction and learning?
All students will be expected to perform at their highest level and to excel in the content areas outlined in the state curriculum standards. The purpose of project-based learning is to teach and then reinforce a variety of academic concepts by applying them to experiences that are meaningful, long-lasting and effective.

How do students interact with their community?
Students will interact with the community through site based presentation and off site field trips. For instance, the second grade may develop a project with the food bank and then go to the food bank facility to see how food is distributed. Businesses and organizations will provide opportunities for students to expand their understanding of community and their role as responsible citizens.

Will traditional services be part of the charter school program?
Yes, special education, nursing care, speech and language, counseling, and tutoring will continue at Wright Charter School. Cal Serves after school program will also continue. The program for English Language Learners will continue at the same level of service.

Will there be busing?
The current plan is to continue to bus the kids in the area surrounding Wright Charter School as has been done in the past. No new busing is currently being planned.

Will there be child care?
Child care will continue to be offered through the Extended Child Care Coalition. They provide before and after school care to students age 13 and under.

Will the seventh and eighth grade students be separated from the younger students?
Generally, they will be separated during class times and recesses and during lunch. Students in the seventh and eighth grades may occasionally provide service to a classroom with younger students when they serve as instructional assistants.

Will the buildings be updated?
During the summer of 2009 our blacktop will be resurfaced and the parking lot will be expanded. The building will be painted.
In the year 2012 there will be some reconstruction to update the buildings.

For further information please contact Terrena Rodebaugh, Wright Charter School principal, at 707-542-0556.

 

June 2009 of Firm, Fair and Consistent can be found by clicking on the image below. 

 Need a school calendar to print? Click the links below for the school year of your choice.

2008-2009 School Year