This document provides an annual report on Albemarle County Public Schools' charter schools, known as lab schools. It discusses the original intent of charter schools to allow innovation and experimentation. The two ACPS charter schools, Murray High School and Community Public Charter School, aim to foster student-centered learning through creativity, experiential learning, and mastery. Murray High School plans to deepen its focus on creative arts, media, and design. Community Public Charter School implements a redesigned middle school model focused on interdisciplinary learning, relationships, and standards-based reporting. Both schools serve as laboratories to inform practices across ACPS.

1. 2018-19 ACPS Charter
Schools Annual Report
Lab Schools for Student-Centered Learning

2. Mission
The core purpose of Albemarle County Public Schools is to establish a community of learners and
learning, through relationships, relevance and rigor, one student at a time.
Vision
All learners believe in their power to embrace learning, to excel, and to own their future.
Student-Centered Goal
All Albemarle County Public Schools students will graduate having actively mastered the lifelong-learning
skills they need to succeed as 21st century learners, workers and citizens.
Strategic Priorities
● Create a culture of high expectations for all.
● Identify and remove practices that perpetuate the achievement gap.
● Ensure that students identify and develop personal interests.
Albemarle County Public Schools

3. The Original Intent of Charter Schools
In 1988, education reformer Albert Shanker proposed the concept of a
“charter school”— a school model which would allow teachers to
experiment with innovative approaches and be empowered to draw on
their expertise to create educational laboratories from which the
traditional public schools would learn. https://www.aft.org/ae/winter2014-2015/kahlenberg_potter

4. Code of Virginia § 22.1-212.5
(i) encourage the development of innovative programs;
(ii) provide opportunities for innovative instruction and student assessment;
(iii) provide parents and students more choices;
(iv) provide innovative scheduling, structure, and management;
(v) encourage performance-based educational programs;
(vi) establish high standards for teachers and administrators; and
(vii) develop models for replication in other public schools
ACPS School Board Policy LC
“The primary objective of charter schools within ACPS is to serve as “labs” to improve educational opportunities
and enhance student achievement for all schools…. to inform the Division through the research, development,
and implementation of programs that align with Division mission, vision, and goals.”
With a Secondary Function.

5. A 6-12 Lifelong Learning Community
Murray High School and Community Public Charter School (Community
Middle) are co-located and aim to foster creativity and intellectual
curiosity through art and design, experiential learning, mastery, and
student agency. As lab schools, we also exist to design and pilot
nontraditional approaches to learning that align to ACPS mission, vision,
and goals with intent to inform practices more broadly.

6. Rising 6th Grade
● 13 of 15 Elementary Schools
○ BBES, WES
● 2 Independent Schools
Rising 9th Grade
● 5 of 6 Middle Schools
○ WMS
● 3 Independent Schools
Enrollment Growth Trend at Entry Points

7. What’s Next For Murray?
Deepening our commitment to a
strong liberal arts curriculum with an
emphasis on creative arts, media, and
design.

8. Creative Arts, Media, and Design
Studio Art
Design Technology
Music Production
Photography
Creative Writing
Filmmaking
Dance

9. Comp Schools and Programs
Creative Arts, Media, and Design (CAMAD)
Career Academy in Pasadena, CA
High School of Arts and Design
CTE School in NYC
Galileo Magnet School
Danville, VA
HB Woodlawn
Arlington, VA

10. Post-Secondary Pathways Research

11. Visual Art & Design
^Architect
^Designer
^ Entrepreneur
Arts Management
^Arts Directors
^Program Manager
^Communications
Museum & Gallery
^Museum Directors
^Exhibit Designers
^Historic Preservanists
CAREERS IN CREATIVE ARTS, MEDIA, AND DESIGN
Entertainment
^Musician/Actor
^Producer
^Film and TV
Director
Media & Communications
^Correspondents
^Photojournalists
^Public Relations
Advertising & Marketing
^Creative Director
^Graphic Designer

12. Rethinking 9th Grade: Arts-Infused, Interdisciplinary
# Subject Area Course Sample Focus Infusion
1 Math Algebra I or II Design
2 Science ES or Physics Design
3 English English 9 Studio Art
4 Social Studies World Geography Music
5 Health/PE Health 9 / PE 9 Dance
6 Freshman Seminar Freshman Seminar Philosophy
7 World Language Spanish Photography
8 Extended Learning Period ELP Passions and Support
+ Design Thinking Embedded Across Curriculum

13. Community Public Charter School
A Middle Years Experience
Designed Around the Science of
Early Adolescent Development and
Quality Learning.

14. Community Public Charter School
● Implemented redesigned model in 2018-19
● Scalable practices identified in consult with
Comprehensive MS Principals
○ Interdisciplinary Approach
○ Flexible Scheduling
○ Standards Based Reporting
● Building on Partnerships with MIT, UVA

15. What’s next for CPCS?
● Partnering with UVA Curry School of
Education for implementation evaluation:
○ Promote a positive school culture and
climate that enhances relationships and
strengthens sense of belonging
○ Utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to
develop students meaning-making and
system-thinking capacities
● Designing for 2019-20

16. Thank You For Your Support
Questions?