Bart Smith walks Friday at the Eastgate Town Center past the Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence.WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?Charter schools are state-funded, public schools operated by independent, nonprofit governing bodies that must include parents. They are free from many regulations that apply to traditional public schools. In Tennessee, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools.Source: Tennessee Department of EducationHOW TO APPLYThe Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence will accept applications for kindergarten through second grade until Aug. 10. An open house for parents will be held July 19. Download application from www.chattanoogacharter.com.
After fighting for the Hamilton County school board’s approval for more than a year, officials with Chattanooga’s newest charter school are working hard to recruit students.
Almost all the 125 spots in kindergarten through second grade at Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence are filled and the second-grade class has a waiting list, said Marcia Griffin, who moved from Florida to found the city’s third charter school.
Griffin said parents are coming from all over Hamilton County. Children are enrolling from Barger Academy and Soddy, Woodmore, Calvin Donaldson, Clifton Hills and Rivermont elementary schools, she said.
“We felt like education in the county is lacking,” said Carissa Chacon, who will teach second grade at the school and whose daughter will be enrolled in kindergarten. “There is too much emphasis on too broad of a standard. Here, we are going to master the basics and give them a well-rounded education.”