What is a Charter School?

Charter Schools are new, innovative public schools that are accountable for student results. They are designed to deliver programs tailored to educational excellence and the needs of the communities they serve. Charter Schools have a governance council that makes policy decisions.

Why has Columbus School District Opened a Charter School?

Columbus School District is pleased to offer families a choice of quality schools, enabling them to choose a program that best matches their child’s interests and learning style.

What makes Discovery Charter School Unique?

Discovery Charter School provides an experience-filled opportunity for children in grades K-3 who have a natural interest (affinity) in science and nature.

Engaging science topics pull all of the curricular areas together, helping children make sense of what they are learning. The excitement of learning and exploring inside engaging, technology-filled classrooms, tending the school gardens and greenhouse, getting out to explore the backyard, area farms, woodlands, prairies, and streams provides experiences that children will remember for a lifetime.

Discovery Charter School involves students in inquiry science opportunities.  Students learn about the natural environment by interacting with it and observing how it changes over time.  Experiments are conducted to help answer questions that students have about their surroundings.

What will children study in Discovery Charter?
Science is the theme that connects all curricular areas. A rigorous reading and math program, technology, art and music are integrated into the major science focus areas. The science focus areas include the following:

• Living/Nonliving
• Plant systems
• Animal systems
• Seasons
• Environmental Awareness
• Mechanical

These science content areas are applied through the exploration and study of the following areas:

• Backyard/city
• Agriculture
• Water – streams, ponds, lakes
• Prairie
• Woodland
• School Gardens
• Greenhouse

Parent Involvement:

Parent Involvement is an expectation of Discovery Charter School. There are various options available to accommodate busy schedules. Some examples include:

• Serving on the Governance Council
• Committee Work
• Parent Learning Workshops
• Assisting in the Classroom
• Field Trips chaperones