Mid-City Charter Schools
Note: the application to charter a school was turned down by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers in February of 2007.
Mid-City Charter Schools, a non-profit corporation formed as a sister group to MCNO, is attempting to charter two schools in Mid-City which would open in the Fall of 2007. We would like to open Dibert Elementary as a pre-K through 5th grade school and Thurgood Marshall as a 6th-8th grade school. Our charter application is due December 8th, 2006, and we hope to have the schools for the Fall of 2007. Each school would serve approximately 300 students. Students who previously attended Dibert and Thurgood Marshall would be given first priority for enrollment, then students who live in the 70119 zip code, and then students in the surrounding zip codes, and finally by lottery.
Mission Statement for Mid-City Charter Schools
The mission of Mid-City Charter Schools is to provide an academically excellent, healthy, and safe learning environment where students grow to become engaged citizens and ambassadors of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Mid-City, New Orleans, and Louisiana. Through hands on learning with a focus on the arts and the environment, students will experience superior scholastic preparation and achievement in all academic areas.
Vision
The unique features of Mid-City Charter Schools are integrated to our program to create a “Living School.” The Living School concept is a holistic education philosophy which strives to address multiple needs for students and the community, while building long-term professional workforce development for Louisiana in areas where expertise is needed. By studying in an education program built around student, community, and environmental health and the arts, students will develop academic, personal health, creative, and job skills.
We are preparing our students for careers in professional arenas where we will have substantial, sustained demand for expertise in these areas in Louisiana beyond the foreseeable future. We want to educate our children in ways that they can enjoy their professional careers and earn a competitive income, while staying in Louisiana. As we continue to be affected by environmental conditions, and our community�s health determines our city’s viability, students will be engaged in real-world problem solving with the active backing of local, national, and international experts. At the same time, students will be participating in a broad spectrum of arts programs to be conducted in an especially culturally rich and diverse neighborhood of New Orleans, which is itself an especially culturally rich and diverse city in the culturally rich and diverse state of Louisiana. We will have the community more involved in our schools, and our schools more involved in our community. Students will be exposed to many career paths, which can engage their passionate, lifelong interest, and provide income and stability while they also contribute to community health and well being, including: biosciences, medicine, health, agriculture, agribusiness, environmental cleanup, wetlands restoration, engineering, architecture, research, green building product manufacture, business administration, entrepreneurship, arts and music performance/education/promotion, arts administration, graphic arts, craftsmanship, film making, cultural tourism, and community leadership.
Goals
1. Students will perform better than the state average on standardized academic tests such as LEAP and GEE LEAP within three years (2010). Students will perform better than the national average on standardized tests within seven years (2014).
2. Parents of students will be involved and take stock in the neighborhood school.
3. Students will be more involved in the community, and the community will be more involved in the school.
4. Students will be knowledgeable and proud of the rich and diverse cultural history of Mid-City, New Orleans, and Louisiana.
5. Students will become good stewards of the environment.
6. Students will be introduced to the arts and will learn how to make them a part of their lives.
7. Students will be well prepared to excel at Warren Easton High School or other schools.