ArtSpace Charter School is
a tuition-free public school offering a creative, arts-integrated approach
to a complete education.
The school offers a complete
education through integrated curricula based on the visual and performing
arts, utilizing an experiential approach. We believe in a family oriented,
cooperative approach to education that encourages parental involvement
and community relationships to nurture responsive citizenship.
FAQ's
Where
is the school located?
ArtSpace Charter School is nestled in the Swannanoa Valley just east of
Asheville, NC, at 2030 US Highway 70 in Swannanoa, NC, 28778. School Office
is 828-298-2787, fax is 828-298-6221.
What makes ArtSpace a "charter" school?
A charter school is like a mix between a public school and a private school.
While charter schools are considered public schools they are required
to meet many but not all of the same requirements as traditional schools.
For instance, a charter school can pick its focus (for us it's arts-integration),
it can set its own enrollment and class sizes. Charters are granted by
the State Board of Education once an extensive application process has
been successfully completed. Each charter school has its own Board of
Directors that act as the local school board for that particular school.
All charter schools undergo an independent audit of their finances and
record keeping each year.
Is a charter school a "real" school?
Very much so. In fact, some students may find that the rigors of the charter
school environment far exceed their friends' experiences in traditional
schools. Also, charter schools are monitored at a much higher level than
traditional schools. Some ineffective charter schools have already been
closed due to poor performance. Charter schools must also adhere to all
federal and state policies concerning Special Education, attendance, and
testing. ACS administers the 3rd grade pretest, 4th and 7th grade writing
tests and the EOG exams in 3rd through 8th grades.
How does ArtSpace compare to other charter schools in the state?
ArtSpace is a very "young" school, having opened in 2001. Yet,
in this short time ACS has achieved two School of Distinction accommodations
from the State Board of Education and its faculty and administration conduct
training and seminars for other schools in the state and across the country.
Financially, ACS is a highly efficient organization with outstanding audit
results.
Who can attend ArtSpace?
Students at charter schools are not restricted by the typical zoning ordinances
that govern attendance at traditional public schools. Like a private school,
we receive students from several areas of our region including other counties.
Basically, if parents can make the drive they're free to attend provided
there are openings.
What are the students like at ArtSpace?
The students who attend ArtSpace are like any other students you'll encounter
at other schools with one difference. Unlike other school environments,
ACS students are held to a higher standard when it comes to performance
and behavior. Each student is appreciated for his or her unique gifts
and talents, yet each student is also expected to rise to a new level
of performance in behavior and effort. Our students range in ability from
learning disabled to academically advanced, and each has their own place
and unique contribution to make at ACS.
Does the school use textbooks?
ArtSpace uses a variety of media to deliver instruction including a number
of printed materials such as magazines, paperbacks, and classroom collections
of books. Traditional textbooks are used in the upper grades (6-8) largely
to help students learn how to retrieve information in a textbook format
as they prepare to graduate on to a local high school which will be a
textbook-heavy learning environment.
What are the teachers' qualifications?
Each classroom teacher has a degree in education or in the field they
are teaching.
What are the teachers like?
All of our staff, including our faculty, are committed to the student
body rather than a body of knowledge. Like the students, each staff member
brings a unique set of gifts, interests and talents to ArtSpace. Many
of them are artists and all have a deep appreciation for the inestimable
value that the arts bring to our studies and our lives.
What
are the advantages of ArtSpace over other schools?
What makes ArtSpace distinctive is its arts-integration approach to instruction.
This research-based approach is documented as a highly effective method
of teaching material to students who desire to retain their new found
knowledge beyond the upcoming test or quiz. And not only retain knowledge
but reapply that knowledge at ever-increasing levels of complexity.
How
do I contact someone at the school?
The school office phone is 828-298-2787, the fax is 828-298-6221 and the
email address is <office@artspacecharter.org> . Depending on the
type of inquiry, a representative will reply as quickly as possible.
How can I donate materials or money to ACS?
Those wishing to share in this exciting endeavor are free to stop by the
school office (2030 US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778), call, fax, email
or write to us. Depending on the type of donation, a school representative
will contact you. Donations are tax deductible.
How
do I go about offering my artistic/musical services to the school?
Contact us at the listed numbers. We love involving our local artists
in the life of the school and do so on a regular basis.
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