Family School Guide
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CAMDEN CITY FAMILY SCHOOL GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Introduction 4 Types Of Schools 5 New School Options: 2015-16 School Year 6 Language Assistance and Special Education Services 7 Early Childhood Education 8 Map of 2015-16 Camden City K-8 Schools 9 2014 INFORMATION CARDS: CAMDEN CITY K-8 SCHOOLS 10 Traditional Schools • Henry L. Bonsall Family School • Octavius V. Catto Family School • Cooper’s Poynt Family School • Alfred Cramer College Preparatory Lab School • R.T. Cream Family School • Dr. Henry H. Davis Elementary School • Thomas H. Dudley Family School • Forest Hill School • Cooper B. Hatch Family School • Harry C. Sharp Elementary School • Charles Sumner Elementary School • Veterans Memorial Family School • J.G. Whittier Family School • Dr. U. S. Wiggins College Preparatory Lab School • H.B. Wilson Family School • Yorkship Elementary School CAMDEN CITY FAMILY SCHOOL GUIDE 1 42 Magnet Schools Table of Contents • Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy 44 Renaissance Schools • KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy • Mastery Schools of Camden • Uncommon Camden Prep 50 Charter Schools • Camden’s Pride Elementary School • Camden’s Promise Middle School • Environment Community Opportunity (ECO) Charter School • Freedom Prep Charter School • Katz-Dalsey Academy Charter School • LEAP Academy University Charter School 60 Alternative Education Programs 61 Parochial Schools 62 SCHOOL INFORMATION CARD COMPANION GUIDE 2 CAMDEN CITY FAMILY SCHOOL GUIDE INTRODUCTION FAMILIES CAN MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHEN THEY HAVE ALL THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION. That is why we have worked hard, in consultation with hundreds of parents and community members, to develop School Information Cards for every public school in Camden – including our District schools, renaissance schools, and charter schools. Last year in the Camden Commitment I promised Once the cards were developed, we took them to provide an information card for every public back to the community to make sure the final school in the City. The individual cards will be design was as user-friendly as possible. Finally, available on the District’s and schools’ websites the cards were integrated into this family school this spring, and the full Camden Schools Guide guide, a central source of information designed will be available at www.camden.k12.nj.us. to help families learn more about Camden City family school options. There is information here The cards were designed to give students, to help you navigate the guide, and understand families, community members, educators, the information included on each school’s card. and administrators clear, apples-to-apples information about each of the public school If you have questions about the School options available in the city of Camden. With Information Cards, or would like to share greater supports for all of our schools, having feedback on how we can improve them for clear information is more important than ever. next year, please email communications@ camden.k12.nj.us. For any enrollment-related The School Information Cards were designed questions, please contact the Enrollment Office based on feedback from the community. In at [email protected]. We welcome our Let’s Talk About Great Schools campaign, the opportunity to continue to work with you to we hit the streets and classrooms to ask make the School Information Cards a useful tool parents, educators, and students what kinds of for you. information they want to know about Camden’s public schools. We received over 475 responses Sincerely, through online and in-person surveys, and received helpful input during six community focus groups. One thing we heard clearly is that no one thing makes a school great. A great school is made up of great teaching and learning, well-prepared students, a safe and supportive school environment, and much more. I hope Paymon Rouhanifard you see this feedback reflected in the School SUPERINTENDENT Information Cards. Camden City School District CAMDEN CITY FAMILY SCHOOL GUIDE 3 TYPES OF SCHOOLS TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION Traditional elementary and family schools are PROGRAMS managed by Camden City School District (CCSD) and Alternative education programs are designed to follow the curriculum set by the District. All students support students in meeting their academic needs in CCSD have a neighborhood school at which they and obtaining a high school diploma. For a list of are guaranteed enrollment. For information on which alternative education programs for K-8 students in neighborhood school your child is zoned to, visit Camden, see information starting on page 60. the ‘Streets and School Boundaries’ section of the CCSD website at www.camden.k12.nj.us. For more information on Camden’s traditional schools, see the INTER-DISTRICT SCHOOL School Information Cards starting on page 10. CHOICE PROGRAM (OUT-OF- DISTRICT CHOICE) MAGNET SCHOOLS This program is a federal mandate that gives Magnet schools are managed by CCSD and serve students who attend schools identified for school students with a particular learning style or common improvement, corrective action, or restructuring academic interest. For more information on Camden’s the option to transfer to another public school in magnet schools, see the School Information Cards another district. For a complete list of New Jersey starting on page 42. For enrollment information choice districts, as well as application deadlines and and a copy of the magnet schools’ 2015- 2016 resources, visit www.state.nj.us/education/choice. applications, visit each school’s website, listed in the School Information Card, or visit the ‘Schools’ section of the CCSD website at www.camden.k12.nj.us. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS Parochial schools are private schools affiliated with a RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS religious organization and whose curriculum includes general religious classes, as well as core subjects. Renaissance schools are public schools managed in A parochial school is overseen by a church parish partnership by CCSD and non-profit organizations, or organization. For more information on parochial and overseen by the NJ State Department of schools in Camden, see information starting on Education. Students who live in a renaissance page 61. school’s catchment area may choose to enroll at that neighborhood renaissance school. For more information on renaissance schools, see the School Information Cards starting on page 44. For renaissance school enrollment information, visit each school’s website or contact the school directly. CHARTER SCHOOLS Charter schools are independently operated public schools that are governed by an independent board of directors and overseen by the NJ State Department of Education. For more information on Camden charter schools, see the school information starting on page 50. For charter school enrollment information, visit each school’s website or contact the school directly. 4 CAMDEN CITY FAMILY SCHOOL GUIDE NEW SCHOOL OPTIONS: 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR In spring 2015, Camden City School District announced new partnerships to transform five of its most struggling elementary and family schools into renaissance schools. Because East Camden Middle School, McGraw Elementary School, and Molina Elementary School are undergoing major transformation, their past track record is not reported in this guide. Some grades will continue to be served by Bonsall Family School and Whittier Family School, so their past information is included in this guide. All new options will be included in next year’s school guide. For information about these schools, or the renaissance partners who will be leading them this fall, see below. All current students at these schools have the choice of enrolling in the renaissance school or attending an alternative District school that we are working hard to improve. SCHOOL TRANSFORMATIONS FALL 2015 & BEYOND Camden Prep Bonsall Elementary School • A new renaissance school open to all current Bonsall students who are entering grades K-4 Henry L. Bonsall Uncommon • New leadership, significantly renovated building Family School Camden Prep • Students in grades 5-8 will remain at Bonsall with many of their current teachers and staff Mastery: East Camden • A new 6-8 renaissance school open to all East Camden students East Camden • New leadership, significantly renovated building Middle School Mastery: McGraw Francis X. McGraw Mastery Schools • A new K-5 renaissance school open to all McGraw students Elementary School of Camden • New leadership, significantly renovated building Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School Mastery: Molina • A new K-8 renaissance school open to all Molina students • New leadership, significantly renovated building KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy • All Whittier students may attend school in the brand-new KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy in Lanning Square J.G. Whittier KIPP: New Jersey • A new renaissance school open to all Whittier student who Family School are entering grades K-1 or 5-8 • Students in grades 2-4 will remain with many Whittier teachers and staff, but will also attend school in the brand- new building Have additional questions about the school Have additional questions about the school transformations, or want to learntransformations, more about or want to learn more about enrolling at enrolling at Camden’s renaissance schools? Camden’s renaissance schools? Mastery Schools of Camden www.masterynj.org (856) 777-2149 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy www.kippnj.org (856) 409-0493 Camden Prep (Uncommon Schools) www.camdenprepschools.org (856) 379-4488