Columbus — Columbus Charter School students ranked as top performers among local public schools according to the End-of-Grade testing results for the 2018-2019 school year. The test results were recently released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and measure achievement on the state’s Common Core curriculum which is mandated for all state-run schools.
Columbus Charter School is one of a family of tuition-free charter schools managed by The Roger Bacon Academy. As charter schools, they are permitted to teach their own classical curriculum with topics such as grammar, spelling, cursive, literature, history, traditional math, Latin, and other fundamental topics that have been largely abandoned in Common Core schools. However, the schools are required to administer the state’s Common Core tests to all their students.
“The fact that our students score highly on Common Core tests in spite of not being taught Common Core speaks volumes for the versatility and the timeless value of classical subjects,” explains Headmaster Nikki Chaney of Douglass Academy, The Roger Bacon Academy’s Wilmington school. “Coupling the classical curriculum with our caring classroom atmosphere makes a winning combination that effectively benefits every student,” Chaney added.
“Our responsibility is to teach your Kindergarten child to read before Easter. Being able to read in Kindergarten does wonders for your child’s self-confidence and eagerness to learn,” said Teaching Coach Amanda Kelly. “With that foundation skill, your child can then be guided progressively to build skill upon skill to become a life-time independent learner,” she said.
Columbus Charter School’s elementary met growth expectations. Overall, Columbus Charter School’s performance average exceeded state, Columbus County, and Bladen County performance averages. The Bladen County district is included in this comparison, as Columbus Charter School serves significant populations of students residing in Bladen County.
The state performance average is 58.8%. The Columbus and Bladen districts’ performance averages are 51.9% and 47.5%, respectively. Columbus Charter School’s performance average is 64.4%. Columbus Charter School is a Title 1 School, which means that 40% or more of its students are economically disadvantaged. The school earned a School Performance Grade of “C” and met overall growth in all subgroups.
Melody Callihan, a parent of a student at Columbus Charter School, shared: “Columbus Charter School provides a safe, engaging, and structured educational environment. The curriculum does a great job of meeting students at their academic level and helping them excel to reach their full potential. The positive reinforcement methods encourage students to do their best. I have had children at Columbus Charter School for five years and each year has been wonderful!”
Columbus Charter School is one of four charter schools managed by The Roger Bacon Academy, Inc. founded in 1999 by education pioneer Baker Mitchell. The other schools include Charter Day School in Leland, Douglass Academy in Wilmington, and South Brunswick Charter School in Southport with a combined enrollment of over 2,100 students in K-8. All four are tuition-free, charter schools that welcome all students, regardless of income, ability, or address. To learn more or enroll online, please visit EnrollRBA.com
