What is a charter school?

A charter school is an independently run public school granted greater flexibility in its operations, in return for greater accountability for performance. The"charter" establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, students served, performance goals, and methods of assessment.

No, charter schools are public schools that receive public funds. They cannot charge tuition for the regular school day. They may charge fees for before and/or after school care.

Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters.

No. Charter schools can vary a great deal in their design and in their results. Uncommon Schools creates schools based on the principles and practices that have proven successful in producing significant academic gains at high-performing urban charter public schools across the country.

Nationwide, students in charter schools have similar demographic characteristics to students in the local public schools. In some states, charter schools serve significantly higher percentages of minority or low-income students than the traditional public schools.

Complete the online Pre-Enrollment Application form or visit us directly at the following temporary application acceptance address:

Address: 8985 Lone Star Rd
Jacksonville, Florida 32211

Office hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

The school entrance is through the building main lobby. All visitors must immediately check in at the Office and receive a Visitor Pass.

The Florida Charter School Statutes require charter schools to be guided by the following principles:

◦ To meet high standards of student achievement while providing parents the flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state's public school system

◦ To promote enhanced academic success and financial efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability

◦ To provide parents with sufficient information on whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the child gains at least a year's worth of learning for every year spent in the charter school

Additionally, Florida charter schools are authorized to fulfill the following purposes:

◦ Improve student learning and academic achievement

◦ Increase learning opportunities for all students, with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading

◦ Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including ownership of the learning program at the school site

◦ Encourage the use of innovative learning methods

◦ Require the measurement of learning outcomes, along with creating innovative measurement tools

◦ Provide rigorous competition within the public school district to stimulate continual improvement in all public schools

◦ Expand the capacity of the public school system

Students enrolled in a charter school must be funded as if they are enrolled in a basic program or a special program at any other public school in the school district. Each charter school must report its student enrollment to the school district and the school district must include each charter school's student enrollment in school district's report of student enrollment that is submitted to the state.