MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to create a child-centered community of active learners where each child can and will succeed in ways that reflect his or her own unique aptitudes and interests. The Village Charter School affirms that every child has a right to a quality education and that high academic standards must be set. At The Village Charter School, children will develop critical thinking skills, learn to communicate effectively, feel a sense of well-being and live responsibly in an atmosphere that promotes tolerance and empathy for others. In this endeavor, we seek to unite parents, teachers and the community in the common pursuit of excellence.

HISTORY

The Village Charter School began through the efforts of volunteers and staff of Mercer Street Friends, Trenton's most comprehensive human-services organization. These founders began to develop the school‚s charter application soon after the passage of the New Jersey Charter School Act of 1995. After winning approval from the Commissioner of Education, Mercer Street Friends purchased 10-acres of State surplus property in the Trenton's West Ward and built a $5.1 million state-of-the-art schoolhouse - the first new public school built in Trenton in decades. The Village Charter School opened with 153 kindergarten to second grade students on September 9th, 1999. One grade will be added each year to reach an enrollment of 350 K-8 students by 2005. Although The Village Charter School operates independently, service linkages with Mercer Street Friends allow students and their families to access a comprehensive range of direct social services beyond those available in most public schools.

DEMOGRAPHICS

The Village Charter School is an urban public school. Admissions policies and practices are non-discriminatory, although preference is given to pupils residing in Trenton, the municipality in which The Village Charter School is located. The 2001-2002 school year began with 216 students in grades K-4. The majority of students are African-American. Eighty three percent qualify for the free or reduced price lunch program.

During the 2000-2001 school year, the student attendance rate was 94% and the faculty attendance rate was 98%. The school is committed to maintaining a maximum student-teacher ratio of 1:17 which is further reduced by teacher assistants. Last year's average class size was 15. Thirty-one percent of students participated in after-school programs offered by or arranged through the school.

One of the goals of The Village Charter School is to ensure that the needs of all students, including those of diverse learners, are met, and the school's philosophy embraces inclusion where possible. About ten percent of the students have been classified with educational disabilities.

FUNDING

We are a charter public school and are therefore funded through tax dollars. As in any other public school, tuition follows the child to the school he or she attends. However, we actually receive about two thirds of what our local school district receives in aid per student. Charter school students are the only public school students in New Jersey who receive neither facilities aid nor the supplemental funding that is directed to the poorest districts.

Since our mission requires us to pursue excellence in education, additional funding must be raised from private sources. It is only through donations that we are able to offer a 200 day school year, a longer school day and a state-of-the-art facility.

Beginning with our first year of operation, nearly 20% of our total budget revenue came from private, corporate and foundation gifts, with over $245,000 required to balance the budget. Capital costs associated with equipping the school as our students advance grades, continue to be our largest unfunded need.

Village Charter School is a Charter School organization
Enrollment: 350
No. of Schools: 1

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