Application for Renewal of a Washoe County Public School ...

RAINSHADOW COMMUNITY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL 1

Application for Renewal of a

Washoe County Public School Charter

Washoe County School District 425 East 9th Street Reno, NV 89520 775.348.0200 775.333.5013 (fax)

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Rainshadow Community Charter High School

Charter Renewal Application

CREATING EMPOWERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH REAL WORLD EDUCATION

RAINSHADOW COMMUNITY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Charter Renewal Application ............................................................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. 3 PROGRESS OF RAINSHADOW COMMUNITY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL ............................ 5

HISTORY ................................................................................................................................................... 5 MISSION .................................................................................................................................................... 5 VISION ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................................. 6 ORIGINAL GOALS AND PROGRESS OF ORIGINAL CHARTER ................................................. 6 ORIGINAL GOALS.................................................................................................................................. 6

Compliance with State and District Assessment Requirements and Accountability ................................................................................................................................... 6 Demographics Reporting .................................................................................................................. 7 Public Policy, Accountability, and Assessment ................................................................... 8 Governance and Staffing ............................................................................................................... 8 Recruitment and Parent Education .......................................................................................11 Enrollment History .......................................................................................................................13 Attendance Policy ..........................................................................................................................13 Curriculum and Environment ..................................................................................................16 PERFORMANCE REPORTING .............................................................................................................16 Annual Yearly Progress and School Performance Plan......................................................18 Graduation Rates ................................................................................................................................19 Financial Standing..............................................................................................................................20 Average Daily Attendance...............................................................................................................22 Reenrollment Data .............................................................................................................................23 Governing Body...................................................................................................................................23 EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ............................................................23 Curriculum and Environment .......................................................................................................23 Rainshadow Student Assessment...........................................................................................25 Overview of Courses..........................................................................................................................26 Schedule ............................................................................................................................................. 29 Rainshadow Model........................................................................................................................30 Academic Alignment and Assessment ..................................................................................33 Special Populations.......................................................................................................................33 ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL VISION....................................................37 Academic Goals....................................................................................................................................37 Financial Goals.....................................................................................................................................38 Organizational Goals .........................................................................................................................39 Facility Improvements .....................................................................................................................39 Improvements from Previous Charter Renewal ..............................................................39 CHANGES TO THE INITIAL CHARTER............................................................................................41 Strengths and Weaknesses of Original Charter.....................................................................41

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Additional Information .........................................................................................................................42 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................43

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PROGRESS OF RAINSHADOW COMMUNITY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

HISTORY

Rainshadow Community Charter High School (RCCHS) is a public charter school that provides free education to students grades 9-12. The school opened in August of 2013 at 434 Washington Street in Reno, Nevada with approximately 75 students. Over the next several years, the school grew to 120 students. In 2009, after successful completion of the Northwest Accreditation process, it was determined that the school would better be able to serve the needs of its students by relocating. In that same year, the school relocated to 121 Vesta Street in the mid-town area of Reno. With the move, the school was able to enroll up to 150 students. In addition, the location provided the opportunity to introduce a culinary department, and also a school lunch program. This vital addition allowed the school to remain closed campus, and to provide free meals to all students. Over the course of the next several years, RCCHS has maintained about 135 students between 9th and 12th grade. In 2014, RCCHS presented to AdvancEd to become accredited, and was successful.

Please see Appendix P for lengthier history described in last charter renewal.

MISSION

The Board of Directors approved a change to the mission statement in the fall of 2008. The original mission was:

The Rainshadow program is dedicated to helping all students, regardless of interests, aspirations or prior academic achievement to become enthusiastic learners through participation in field-based disciplinary studies. Rainshadow students will learn the value of the academic disciplines by applying them to achieve meaningful community goals. Rainshadow's founders believe that students learn best when involved in activities that allow them to use the skills and knowledge they are learning to achieve real world ends. The program will involve students in projects aimed at improving the quality of life in the local community. They may work on helping restore a river or determine how the region can use the river to promote a healthy economy. They might design a museum exhibit, or a museum. The project-based program is designed to help students learn to use the disciplines to think critically and grow in problem solving ability to become productive individuals and capable, caring citizens.

The original mission is still a critical concept to Rainshadow's curriculum, and serves as an underlying mentality that is cultivated within the school.

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