Phoenix Academy

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PHOENIX ACADEMY
Rock Hill School District Three of York County
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Questions Posed to Design Team

• If you could design a high school without
  restrictions and mandates, what would it look
  like?
• If a high school was built around student needs,
  how would it look?
• How could you develop a seamless high school
  program without limitations?

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Keys

• Flexible learning environment
• Self pace and style
• Engage traditional and non-traditional students
• Flexible time constraints
• Technology enhanced
• Non-conventional grading practices
• Tailor made academic plan based on individual
  student needs
• Rigorous instruction in a caring environment

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Research

• Studied Working on the Work, Phillip C. Schlechty
• Visited technical colleges, universities, middle
  colleges and model high school alternative
  programs
• Studied various materials on high school reform
• Collected data and information from students
  about their individual needs
• Attended workshops and conferences
• Talked with parents and business leaders
• Involved principals, teachers, and counselors

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Key Components

• 115 Teacher Ratio
• Highly Qualified Teachers
• Close Teacher Relationships
• Direct and On-Line Instruction
• School Governance Committee
• Code of Dress (Khaki pants/white shirt)
• Parent Contracts
• Individualized Education Plans
• Collaborative Planning
• Community Networking
• Full Range of Counseling

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Why Attend?

• Credit recovery
• Transfer credit
• Early graduation/ acceleration
• Medical conditions
• Disengaged with traditional structure
• Teen parents
• Daytime employment
• Honors, AP, IB students to take additional
  courses
• Who does not attend?
• Expelled
• Severe discipline problems

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Learning Environment

• Sandbox Conference Room
• Attractive Refurbished School
• Flexible Furniture in Classrooms
• Technology
• Cyber Café
• Track/Outside Areas
• Indoor Exercise Room

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Application Process

• Referral by principal, teacher, parent,
  counselor, minister or student.
• Guidance counselor at home-based school submits
  the information.
• Academic, attendance and discipline records.
• Intake Interview with student and parents.

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Staff

• Director (Curriculum Leader)
• Administrative Intern
• Administrative Assistant
• Secretary
• 12 Academic Teachers
• Special Education Teacher
• Guidance Counselor
• Technology Specialist
• Custodial Team

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Academy Schedule

• Monday Thursday
• 815 a.m. to 800 p.m.
• Friday No Scheduled Classes
• Tutorial Assistance
• Computer Labs Opened
• Designing/Updating Web-Based Curriculum
• In-Service Instruction
• Field Trips

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Student Schedules Vary

• Full time at Phoenix
• Part time at Phoenix and at Home Based School
• Part time at Phoenix and at Applied Technology
  Center
• Full time at Home Based School and evening class
  at Phoenix
• Part time at Phoenix, Applied Technology Center,
  and Home Based School

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Students Served
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(No Transcript)
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Motto

• We educate individuals not the masses.