General Questions
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are tuition-free, open-enrollment public schools that enjoy greater freedom in exchange for greater accountability. Their independence allows for innovation, thus offering parents meaningful choices in the education of their children. Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School offers a traditional education in the liberal arts and sciences, with an emphasis on moral character and civic virtue. In Pennsylvania, each charter school is operated by an independent school board under the terms of the school’s charter, as approved by an authorizer. In the case of Valley Forge Classical, the authorizer is the West Chester Area School District.
What is classical education?
A classical education is an education aimed at human excellence. It is traditional in the ends it pursues, in the materials it uses, and in the methods it employs. Classical schools seek to cultivate virtuous habits of thought and action in order to orient students’ minds and affections to the true, the beautiful, and the good. To this end, classical schools offer a traditional course of study that focuses on the liberal arts and sciences, and a traditional pedagogy that emphasizes active, integrated learning. For more about classical education, see What is Classical Education?
Is Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School a private religious school?
No. Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School is a public school. As such, it has neither a religious identity nor a religious mission. World religions do come up in the study of history and literature, but our aim is to inform, not to proselytize.
Does the school offer transportation?
No. Unlike conventional public schools, charter schools do not receive money through local property taxes for capital improvements or transportation. However, the surrounding districts retain approximately thirty (30) percent of the district per pupil funding to provide transportation and cover administrative costs. This funding goes to providing transportation to you and your family through your school taxes.
Does Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School have a uniform?
Yes. In order to level the playing field socially, foster an atmosphere of respect, minimize distraction, and elevate the tone, students are required to wear uniforms. Studies have reaffirmed what we already knew to be true—that uniforms are conducive to learning. The school will make every effort to provide assistance to families in need. Valley Forge believes in the value of uniforms but is committed to not allowing uniforms to become a barrier to entry. Our education is for everyone who wants it, regardless of income.
What qualifications do you require of your teachers?
As required by state law, at least 75% of our full-time teachers are state-certified or in the process of obtaining a valid form of certification or licensure. At Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School, we seek teachers who love learning, who are expert in the subjects they teach, and who can ably communicate what they know. We seek teachers who love working with young people, who seek to instill good habits in the students, and who accept the responsibility of modeling what they wish their students to become. In the upper grades, especially, we seek content area experts.
Questions about the Curriculum
How much homework should a student expect?
Nightly homework is a regular part of our academic program. As a general rule of thumb, students should expect ten minutes of homework per grade level, plus some additional reading. Thus, the typical first-grader should anticipate 10 minutes of homework each evening on average, besides the time his/her parent spends reading to the child, whereas the typical sixth-grader should expect roughly an hour of homework each evening (minus whatever the student completes in the half-hour study hall that upper school students have at the end of each school day).
What is your position on the use of technology in the classroom?
We believe that technology should be regarded as a tool. Where it is helpful, we favor its use. Where it is a hindrance, we avoid it. Typically, students do not use electronic devices in the classroom. We certainly do not aspire to a 1:1 student/technology ratio. Use of cell phones is not permitted during the school day. That said, various electronic tools, including student laptops, are available for use at the discretion of the teacher.
Why the emphasis on Latin?
The Latin language outlived the Roman Empire. It remained the common language of the educated class throughout the West until the 1700s. Those who master the Latin language will enjoy immediate access to two millennia of some of the greatest philosophical, theological, political, literary, scientific, mathematical, medical, artistic, musical, architectural, and educational works ever written. Translation of Latin literature also cultivates a keen sense of style, one that is characterized by precision, order, and beauty. Even for those who do not achieve mastery, the benefits are significant. Study of the Latin language provides an excellent foundation for the study of English vocabulary and grammar. Roughly two-thirds of the English language derives from Latin. Other benefits owe to the structure of the Latin language. Translating Latin demands careful and logical thought. The memory, discipline, and focus required by the study of Latin provide the sort of mental conditioning that makes students more capable in every other course of study they undertake. It is no accident that students who study Latin consistently score higher on the SAT and outperform their peers in other fields of study.
“Latin is the key to the vocabulary and structure of the Romance languages and to the structure of all the Teutonic languages, as well as to the technical vocabulary of all the sciences and to the literature of the entire Mediterranean civilization, together with all its historical documents.”
— Dorothy Sayers
Why the focus on the Western tradition?
We seek to prepare students for the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. To that end, we seek to impart cultural literacy—to introduce students to the accumulated wisdom and experience of our intellectual and social traditions. Our culture’s roots are predominately Western. And so, while we study non-Western cultures as well, particular emphasis is put on the West. And within the West, we give particular attention on our own country. We strive for a balance of depth and breadth. Beginning in Kindergarten, students at Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School begin studying world history and geography. They also begin learning American history, literature, sayings, and poems. By the time students reach middle school, they will have studied virtually every major civilization, ancient and modern, Western and non-Western. Meanwhile, they will have engaged in a rich and recurring examination of American history, literature, philosophy, and politics.
What is Literacy Essentials?
Literacy Essentials, by Access Literacy, is a form of explicit phonics instruction in the Orton-Gillingham family of curricula. This approach lays the foundations for high levels of literacy through explicit, intensive phonics instruction. Students learn all 71 phonograms in the English language and the rules for their use, as well as penmanship and grammar. For more information, see www.accessliteracy.com/.
“Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School emphasizes America’s founding principles. Students at our school not only will read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, they will understand them.”
— Jenifer MacFarland, Board President
What is Core Knowledge?
The Core Knowledge Sequence is the backbone of the K-8 curriculum in history, science, literature, music, and art. The Core Knowledge Sequence is premised on a few basic ideas. The first is that knowledge builds upon knowledge. In each subject, a student’s reading comprehension and overall academic success depends on whether he or she possesses sufficient background knowledge to make sense of new material. The second idea is that there is a common body of knowledge all citizens should possess. A shared body of knowledge makes possible high levels of literacy and communication. Mastering this common body of knowledge broadens students’ minds and lays the foundation for effective communication and intelligent participation in the civic life of our country. Consistent with both of these ideas, the Core Knowledge Sequence seeks to teach students the “grammar” of each subject. The Sequence consists of an integrated, content rich course of study that systematically builds students’ background knowledge in the various academic disciplines. For more information, visit www.coreknowledge.org/sequence.
Why Singapore Math?
Singapore Math was developed in the nation of Singapore, which consistently ranks at the top of the world in mathematics. Singapore Math teaches the subject in the way that older generations of Americans learned it. This approach is marked by a teacher-guided discussion of each component part of a math concept in order to avoid over-reliance on formulas. It builds a conceptual understanding by moving from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract. It places particular emphasis on mental math and mathematical reasoning skills. For more information, visit www.singaporemath.com.
Enrollment Questions
How long is the school day?
The school day will be commensurate with the surrounding districts school days.
How old does a child need to be to attend Kindergarten?
Students must be at least 5 years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
Do you have a preschool program?
No. We do not currently offer preschool.
Does Valley Forge Classical Academy admit students who are receiving special education services?Â
Yes. Our Student Services department provides assistance to those with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), English Language Learners, and students who are significantly behind grade level. Valley Forge Classsical Academy Charter School practices an inclusion model. Classroom teachers and student services staff collaborate to ensure that students remain in the general classroom as much as possible with minimal alterations to the curriculum.Â
Does Valley Forge admit students who are English Language Learners?
Yes. Valley Forge Classical Academy will provide English as a Second Language (ESL) support. However, we do not offer bilingual instruction.
What if there are more applicants than seats?
As a general rule, all students who register in a timely manner will be given an equal opportunity for admission. After the initial registration period each year, enrollees will be processed in the order in which they are received. There are two exceptions: As permitted by state law, siblings and the children of faculty and staff will receive priority admissions status for any open seats. Where there are more registrants than seats, the order of admissions will be decided by public lottery. Once enrolled, students at Valley Forge Classical Academy will be guaranteed a seat in each subsequent year, so long as their parents inform the school of their intent to return the following year.
Is it possible to enroll after the school year begins?
Yes. If a seat becomes available, the school will contact the family at the top of the wait list to discuss their interest in filling the opening.
