Our School

That children are unique in that they have their own inherent style of learning that is not necessarily goal oriented, but is driven by their need to feel competent as they manipulate the world around them. By building on this need, we can educate them best by placing them in a carefully prepared environment that directs them to use the tools of learning (reading, writing, and mathematics) to solve problems of interest to them.

Challenging thinking, innovation, and disciplined inquiry constitute the foundations of informed thought. Daily successes and mistakes are seen as a natural part of an active learning process.

Social Responsibility and the ability to positively interact with others is a primary skill needed for success in life. The development of informed thought and lifelong learning abilities are best supported in an environment that encourages consideration of others, compassion, empathy, responsibility and self-discipline.

School is a place where the entire staff works together to create opportunities for active and engaged learning in a safe, nurturing and family friendly environment. Education of our children is the shared responsibility of families, schools, and the community.

To see each child experience at least a year’s growth in their core subjects and continuing growth in social skills each year.

To see children become skilled independent thinkers and problem solvers throughout the elementary years.

To see children become active and caring citizens within their school community, neighborhood community and families.

Each member of our school community will work to the best of their ability to meet the challenges of learning, to facilitate learning and to support the vision of Marion Charter School. Each child, parent, and staff member will be an integral part of the school and our shared mission is the success of each child at our school.

To provide each child with timely and effective assistance and, to help the school best serve each child, individual and ongoing assessments are integral to our school. Each child will be formally assessed at the beginning of the year and will continue to be assessed both formally throughout the year. Special learning needs will be diagnosed and Individual Education Plans created to help teachers, parents, and students share how to best assist the child in meeting success in school.

Hands on, teacher guided, student centered learning activities will be widely used.

Activities and projects will be multi-disciplinary and focus on several learning outcomes. In our school, mastery is fixed and time varies. We support the need for students to achieve mastery of the needed skills, and realize that mastery takes varying amounts of time in each individual.

To facilitate social interaction and provide for needs to facilitate student success. Our developmental curriculum acknowledges that young children learn at different rates.

Our curriculum is not driven by the need to finish the chapter, but rather to insure mastery of the basic skills. It acknowledges and facilitates both the child ready for enrichment and the child needing additional time and help to master the foundational skills.

The mission statement and planned curriculum have at their core the concept of a developmental approach to education. This form of curriculum is highly responsive to individual learning abilities and modalities. It maintains a focus on a challenging curriculum and facilities it with a flexible time structure and instructional approach. Yes, all students can learn, but we know, and research shows us, that they learn at different paces and in different ways. By establishing a schoolwide respect for that fact and structuring a curriculum that responds to what we know, students have the opportunity to experience ongoing success at a pace that matches their abilities. The philosophy of Marion Charter School, and the methods we will use to facilitate it, enhance student learning for all children.

In July of 2000, two educators, Gina Evers and Becky Wolf, officially opened Marion County’s first charter school – Marion Charter School. After 18 months preparing, Marion Charter School opened in August of 2000 with 150 students in K-3rd grade. They were temporarily housed in classrooms at the Druid Hills United Methodist Church.

The following year, they moved to portables on the College Park Elementary campus while they waited for their own school to be completed out in Silver Springs Shores. Over spring break of the 2001-02 school year, dedicated staff and parents moved the entire school and set it up, ready to go, in one week. In the following year, they added a second building to house a cafeteria, 4th and 5th grades, media center, art room and therapy rooms. Marion Charter School was home!

In our years of operation, we have provided a family atmosphere for our students and staff members. Our enrollment stays under 230 students to allow for a personal attention for all children.