Who We Are
The 21st Century Preparatory School, a 4K-8th grade independent public charter school, opened in fall 2002 through authorization from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. The charter is held by Racine Charter One, Inc., a Wisconsin 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation whose nine-member board of directors, including an ex-officio representative of the UW-Parkside Chancellor, oversees school operation. The school is administered by a three-member leadership team led by the school’s Executive Director.
What is a Public Charter School?
Charter schools are public schools that offer innovative programming in exchange for flexibility with regard to state laws regulating schools. A charter school is created through a contract between an independent charter governance board and an authorizer. Charter schools are held accountable by their authorizer for the performance goals and other programmatic, operational, and financial provisions in the charter contract. The charter school’s governing board is autonomous and controls staffing, programming, budgeting, and all other aspects of the charter school’s operation.
Under current law, the state’s public school districts, the City of Milwaukee, the Waukesha County executive, the College of Menominee Nation, the Lac Courte Orielles Ojibwa Community College, the University of Wisconsin System Office of Educational Opportunity, the chancellor of any University of Wisconsin System institution, and each technical college district board in Wisconsin can authorize a charter school. (source https://dpi.wi.gov/)
Who We Serve
We serve students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, aligning the curriculum with Common Core State Standards, Wisconsin Academic Model Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Through varied instructional methodologies and resources, we address individual student learning styles, emphasizing authentic, hands-on learning and classroom discussion. Assessments reflect the instructional goals and content taught. While the school does not discriminate in admission, many of our students are from economically disadvantaged families and are at the highest risk of early disengagement from schooling, facing obstacles to a successful future. The 21st Century Preparatory School works to equip students with the strong academic, personal, and social skills they need to pursue their talents and gifts.
