WSCA: Right for Rocklin
Western Sierra Collegiate Academy is poised to bring an outstanding public school choice to the Rocklin community. WSCA will be Rocklin’s only college preparatory public, seven through 12 school offering a small, individualized school environment. Students who attend WSCA will find an engaging academic curriculum focused on math, science, social studies, language arts and fine arts. Matching the academic standards will be high behavioral expectations and a commitment to ethical and civic values. Parents will be full partners with the school. In seventh- and eighth-grades, WSCA offers the nationally recognized Core Knowledge curriculum, providing a solid foundation for success in grades nine through 12. All ninth- through 12th-grade students will be enrolled in courses required for entrance to the University of California, California State University and private universities. This rigorous curriculum exceeds California state standards. All students will take Advanced Placement courses and/or University of Cambridge International Examinations in 11th or 12th grade. WSCA is based on Pacific Collegiate School, the third-ranked high school in the United States, and Rocklin Academy, the highest performing public school in Placer County and one of the highest performing public schools in California. WSCA will be open to all. Admission will be by lottery as required by law so that every child will have an equal opportunity to attend. The WSCA petition meets all requirements of law. Three comprehensive and unbiased reviews by the California Department of Education, the State Board’s Advisory Commission on Charter Schools and the Placer County Superintendent of Schools all concur – all recommend approval. Rocklin has good schools. However, no school meets the needs of every student. Parents, not bureaucrats, should have the right to choose the school that best meets the needs of their child. Consider the following: Only four of every 10 Rocklin Unified School District graduates have taken the courses needed to attend the University of California or a California State University. If you happen to be African American, only two in 10 qualify. If you are a Hispanic male, only one in 10 qualifies (source: CDE). Based on results from California State University’s Early Assessment Program, 28 percent of Rocklin students are ready for college English and 14 percent are ready for college math (source: CDE). RUSD makes a number of misleading claims against WSCA. WSCA does not take funding away from RUSD. The state sends funding to the school where the student enrolls. We totally reject RUSD claims that WSCA will not be ethnically diverse. Rocklin Academy is already more ethnically diverse than RUSD (source: CDE). WSCA will be as well. RUSD makes similar misleading claims regarding special education and English language learners. RUSD is wrong about the compatibility of students in grades seven through 12. Under our supervision, these students will be safe and will thrive academically. RUSD has received hundreds of millions of tax dollars and Rocklin residents have paid millions more to build schools for all Rocklin students. WSCA has requested space at the Rocklin High School annex for Rocklin students with access to the main campus only as needed. WSCA is also seeking its own separate permanent facility. WSCA will be a great educational choice for Rocklin. For more information visit www.wscacademy.org.
|
Change Location:
|
Great Job Wendy! Your article "WSCA: Right for Rocklin" is clear and timley. The facts you presented are accurate and documented on the California Department of Education website. I believe your thesis statement (restated below) places this issue in proper focus...
"Rocklin has good schools. However, no school meets the needs of all students. PARENTS, NOT BUREAUCRATS, SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE the school that meets their childs needs." (Note: capital letter emphasis mine.)
Viva La PARENT CHOICE! Viva La WSCA! Rocklin area parents and secondary students will be well served by this extaordinary 7-12 public charter shool opportunity. I encourage approval of WSCA by the California State Board of Education and look forward to a personal and active involvment in it's success.
Dr. and Mrs. Gary F. Hartman
Educatiional Consultants (EdCo Enterprises)
I am so grateful to live in a community where people work hard to create educational opportunities for all children. Thank you for supporting schools of choice with your time and service. I look forward to seeing WSCA approved!
Thanks for offering and standing up for educational choice for the Rocklin community. My family and I moved to the city of Rocklin specifically because of the great schools. We are so glad to see that parents have so many exciting educational opportunities. WSCA sounds like another right choice for students and parents.
Every child is unique and every family have a choice to enroll their kids that fits their needs. We are fortunate to have that option in Rocklin and we are very excited to get the WSCA approved, so our kids can continue their academic journey into their life long carrier.
WSCA will be another great educational option for families. I look forward to seeing WSCA finally become a reality. WSCA will benefit the community and add to the many excellent choices of schools for families. It will offer a unique, small environment with a college prepatory focus which will be perfect for some children but not all. I think WSCA will fullfilll the intent of charter legislation which is to offer educational choice. The existence of WSCA should not be viewed as a threat but rather as an asset to a great community. I expect WSCA to be as successful as Rocklin Academy. Judging from the large waiting lists for the two charter schools in Rocklin (Maria Montessori and Rocklin Academy), there is definitely community support for charter schools and choice. WSCA will be an excellent choice. I eagerly await approval of WSCA.
Rocklin already has schools that are much better than average. We do not need another elitist charter school that only takes resources away from existing students. I believe this is just a political activist that wants to give the rich paretnts of spoiled children a place that they can go to avoid mingling with the less advantaged students that are not accepted into the existing charter school.