Sturgis Charter Public School

Infobox_School
name = Sturgis Charter Public School


imagesize = 140px
motto = "I.B. for All"
"Student learning is why we are here"
established = 1998 as "Sturgis Charter School"
grades = 9 - 12
district =
type = Charter [ high school]
headlabel = Executive Director
head = Eric Heiser
enrollment = 326
enrollment_as_of = 2005-06
faculty = 24.4 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 13.4
nickname =
conference =
colors =
location = 427 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
information = 508-778-1782
website = [http://www.sturgischarterschool.com School website] The Sturgis Charter Public School is a charter school located in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The school received its charter in February 1998 and opened in September for the 1998-1999 academic year with 162 freshman, 15 faculty and staff, a newly renovated facility, and a $1.2 million budget. The school philosophy is International Baccalaureate for all students.

For its first six years, the school was known as Sturgis Charter School. In 2004, the Sturgis board changed the school's name to "Sturgis Charter Public School," in keeping with a public relations initiative of the Massachusetts Charter School Association (formerly the Massachusetts Charter School Association). According to the enabling legislation for Massachusetts charter schools, a "charter" school is by statutory definition a public school. Sturgis determined that many people were unaware of this, and thus added the Public for clarity.

Initially approved to serve 540 students, Sturgis trustees in recent years have twice voted to down-size.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 326 students and 24.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.4. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3409210&ID=340921000568 Sturgis Charter Public School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 21, 2007.]

Awards and recognition

In May 2007, Sturgis was ranked 55th in the nation in "Newsweek" magazine's ranking of "The complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. schools". [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/site/newsweek "The complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. schools"] , "Newsweek". Accessed October 8, 2007.] The magazine's ranking is based exclusively on the number of Advanced Placement Program and IB tests taken divided by the number of graduating seniors. [Méndez, Teresa. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0512/p11s01-legn.html "A top-100 list roils high schools: Do best-of lists spur schools to try harder - or simply feed an obsession with rank?"] , "Christian Science Monitor", May 12, 2005. Accessed December 20, 2007. "To calculate high school rank, Newsweek uses an index that divides the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken by students at public high schools in 2004 by the number of graduating seniors at their school that year."] In May 2008, Newsweek ranked it 43rd in the nation among schools [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380&GT1=43001 America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com ] ] .

turgis and The International Baccalaureate

In 2004, the Sturgis Charter Public School became an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the Diploma Program (DP) to students in the 11th and 12th grades, along with an intensive "pre-IB" program in the 9th and 10th grades. Sturgis is one of six high schools in Massachusetts that offer the IB Diploma Program. [ [http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?programmes=DIPLOMA&country=US&region=MA&find_schools=Find Find an IB World School—results] , International Baccalaureate. Accessed May 19, 2007.]

Students who elect to take the full IB Diploma Program complete a course of studies in six groups. Courses are offered at the Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) All students at Sturgis are required to take IB courses during their junior and senior years, and whether they are required to take the associated IB exam is at the discretion of the instructor (taking the exam is highly encouraged, but not typically required, with a few exceptions); the IB Diploma is earned by students who choose to pursue it.

In the last examination session, students completed the following exams: Biology HL, Biology SL, Chemistry SL, English A1 HL, English A1 SL, Environ.Syst SL, French Ab. SL, French B HL, French B SL, History HL, History SL, Information Technology in Global Society HL, Information Technology in Global Society SL, Latin HL, Latin SL, Math.Studies SL, Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL, Music HL, Music SL, Physics HL, Physics SL, Psychology SL, Spanish Ab. SL, Theatre Arts HL, Theatre Arts SL, Theory Knowl. TK, Visual Arts HL and Visual Arts SL.

Diploma and acceptance by universities

Students who fulfill all these requirements earn the IB Diploma. Additionally many colleges and universities in the United States and abroad grant credit for students who receive exceptional marks (usually a 6, or 7, sometimes 5 as well) in higher and very occasionally standard level courses, in the same way institutions grant credit for Advanced Placement exams. Some schools only consider offering credit for students who have completed the full IB diploma (such as Amherst College), not simply individual courses. Students who opt not to complete the diploma but who complete and pass some exams can receive certificates, and in some cases earn college credit.

Extracurricular activities

*There are several school clubs and other extracurricular activities available at Sturgis. Some of the most prominent school clubs include: Student Council, "StormWatch" (school newspaper) Mock Trial, a ski club, Film Club, a Model United Nations club, GSA, several choruses and a string ensemble. There is also a Chess Team and recently added Key Club.

*Sports at Sturgis include: Boys and Girls soccer, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Boys and Girls Basketball, Cheerleading, Boys and Girls Tennis, Lacrosse, Golf, Baseball, Softball, and Co-Ed Volleyball.

References

External links

* [http://www.sturgischarterschool.com/ Sturgis Charter Public School]
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2500058 National Center for Educational Statistics data for Sturgis Public School]