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Academy Of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School

Supporting Students to Reach High Standards

Topics: School Mission
Instructional Practices
At-risk Learners
Special Education Students and At-Risk Learners
Mission: The mission of Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School is to empower urban students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to achieve their full intellectual and social potential by combining the best of the East - high standards, discipline and character education with the best of the West - a commitment to individualism, creativity and diversity.
Goals: Academy of the Pacific Rim is a model school for the Project for School Innovation, an organization founded by the Neighborhood House Charter School to encourage the sharing of best practices between charter and district public schools.
Summary: Supporting Students to Reach High Standards. Academy of the Pacific Rim believes that a key component of its success rests in the school’s ability to cultivate a spirit and culture of academic achievement in their students. The school has developed specific practices and systems to support each student as he or she strives to meet the school’s rigorous academic standards, including prerequisites to implementing student support systems; the four complementary programs that prevent students from falling behind while motivating them to set and achieve academic goals; three practices that establish a culture of academic achievement among students at the school; and four ways to support faculty collaboration and communication as they work to learn about student needs and meet them. As a model school for the Project for School Innovation (PSI), Academy of the Pacific Rim (APR) participates in various initiatives to support the sharing of effective school practices, including the By Teachers, For Teachers publication series and the PSI Associates program. The By Teachers, For Teachers publication series provides a set of step-by-step instructions and practical advice for implementing researched and documented best practices in today’s schools. The books are written by teachers and administrators at the schools where the practice was originally conceived and implemented with documented success. Academy of the Pacific Rim teachers developed a book in the By Teachers, For Teachers series titled Supporting Students to Reach High Standards. This publication provides educators with specific guidelines and tips on how to best support students while maintaining high expectations for their ability and academic achievement. PSI Associates are trained educators and consultants who share their school’s effective practices among colleagues within their own and other schools. Several teachers from Academy of the Pacific Rim have been trained as PSI Associates.
Partner(s): Various district partners through Project for School Innovation and the Massachusetts Charter School Association
Dates: 01/01/2007
Contact: Piel Hollingsworth, Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School (phollingsworth@pacrim.org/617-361-0050, ext. 114) Ruth Feldman, Project for School Innovation (rfeldman@psinnovation.org/617-825-0703 ext. 3290)
Resources: Supporting Students to Reach High Standards (www.psinnovation.org/http%3A/%252Fwww.psinnovation.org/what_we_do/dissemination/books/supporting_students_to_reach_high_standards) Customized Workshops and School Visits facilitated by PSI Associates and the Project for School Innovation
Federal Charter Schools Program Funds? No

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Last Updated: June 23, 2017