About Urban Choice Charter School
The Urban Choice Charter School was founded by a group of Rochester citizens who are confident that the vast majority of Rochester public school students can achieve academic standards comparable to their suburban peers.
Our team includes members who spent many years in the Rochester City School District as administrators, teachers and parents. We know why students in one classroom excel while others down the hall fail. We understand why a staff at one school seems inspired but another one down the road seems defeated. Our team understands what needs to be done.
The Urban Choice Charter School provides Rochester students with a safe, supportive, and intellectually superior educational experience based on New York State Learning Standards.
This is not simply our vision. We have seen it done.
How do we achieve this?
Our school is a place that inspires and addresses the intellectual, physical, emotional, and social aspects of all its students. Our school was founded on the principle that strong teacher/student relationships, a balanced curriculum and a supportive environment, are central to educational achievement, particularly for economically disadvantaged students.
An experienced group of successful urban educators provides guidance and support to a school staff that includes extraordinary teachers.
- Our teachers engage students by personalizing instruction and maintaining dynamic classrooms in a culture of continuous improvement.
- Resident physicians and other caring adults work in classrooms personalizing learning for students.
- Instructional specialists, working as partners with the teachers, ensure internal accountability.
- Strong Instructional Support
- A Teacher Support Coordinator, who proved for ten years that Rochester at-risk students can achieve at the highest academic levels, works with a diverse team of instructional specialists to provide classroom teachers with the guidance and resources they need to increase student performance.
- Teacher Recruitment
- The Urban Choice Charter School recruits and retains the best teachers. A plan was adopted that called for early recruitment and an extensive selection process. Three educators with over 60 years experience working with Rochester public school students supervised the search.
- K–12 Design
- An intimate K–12 grade configuration will provide greater continuity to both students and teachers, creating a strong sense of community. We started as a K–4 school with approximately 220 students. The student population will grow slowly, adding one grade (two classrooms) per year. The school will eventually have approximately 575 students in grades K–12. This design has been shown to decrease dropouts and increase student achievement.
- Longer School Day
- We extend the school day to 4:30 p.m. This additional time allows core subjects to be mastered and still provides the time for other non-traditional subjects to be studied.
- Classroom Management Model
- Engaging classroom environments are maintained by implementing five key elements:
- Practical home communication
- Useful classroom assessment
- Functional technology
- Effective learning centers, and
- A student accountability system
- Adult Support
- Tutors are recruited and trained to assist our students in collaboration with the classroom teachers. During these times, the students receive the individual and small-group attention required to meet their academic needs.
- Assessments to Guide Instruction
- Assessments occur at regular intervals and the results of these are used to shape future instruction. These evaluations are fixed to explicit goal-setting. Learning plans are personalized.
- Reading Accountability
- The reading specialist and assessment coordinator works closely with classroom teachers increasing early literacy competency. Language skills are stressed. A detailed plan including early hiring practices, collaboration, and effective use of reading assessments, have been developed to ensure early reading success.
- Accommodating Daily Schedule
- Daily activities are predictable and supportive so teachers can implement personalized learning plans based on best practices. Students and teachers should not be guessing about what each day will look like. Great care went into establishing our school day.
