FAQs – Enroll – Horizon Science Academy of Lorain South

What exactly is a charter school?

Charter schools are independently-operated public schools. There is no charge to parents because funding comes from state tax dollars, just like a traditional public school. In addition to adhering to all of the same state and local rules and regulations, and meeting the same academic requirements as traditional public schools, charter schools have additional accountabilities. They are overseen by their charter authorizer or sponsor, as well as their school board, and are also held accountable by their parents, who can choose another school if they are not satisfied. In addition, charter schools must be non-sectarian and adhere to all state and federal educational, health and safety regulations.

Is there any tuition charged to parents in your school?

Where are all schools in the Concept network located?

Concept Schools manages schools in six different states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan Minnesota, and Missouri. Concept manages schools in the following cities:

Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Lorain, Euclid, Springfield, Youngstown, and Toledo in Ohio.

Indianapolis in Indiana.

Chicago, and Belmont, McKinley Park in Illinois.

Lorraine and Dequindre in Michigan, and St. Louis in Missouri.

St. Paul and Twin Cities in Minnesota.

How do I apply to your school?

Is my child guaranteed a seat if I submit an enrollment application?

As with all charter schools, we are a public school open to everyone. If there are enough seats available to accommodate all of the applications we receive, then your child is guaranteed a spot. In the event we receive more applications than available seats, we hold a public lottery to randomly select students to fill the seats. The rest of the students are placed on a waiting list, as it is likely that seats will become available.

Are students required to wear uniforms?

All Concept managed schools have a dress code or uniform policy, although individual school policies may vary. In all cases, the dress code requires clothing to be neat, modest and non-distracting to others. Most dress codes include dark or navy blue pants, skirts, skorts, jumpers or shorts; white collared tops; white or navy socks or tights; and loafer-style shoes. Please contact us for specific information about their dress code or uniform policy.

Do you provide bus transportation?

What is your curriculum like?

We are proud to offer a rigorous and challenging curriculum that has been uniquely designed to prepare our students for high academic achievement in successive schooling environments. Our goal is to graduate students who have not only had the opportunity to achieve academic excellence, but who have also acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in high school, college and beyond.

We implement Concept Schools design and educational model in our school. Our goal of preparing all students for college success has led us to take a unique approach in the development of our curriculum. Our curriculum has been developed to support any state’s standards, with a unique college-bound approach that articulates the specific knowledge and skills students are expected to master, in each content area at each grade level.

Although we focus on math, science, and technology, we teach all other subjects. We educate our students as a whole. We provide our students many opportunities beyond academics to increase their engagement in the school.

Are your teachers fully certified?

The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires that all classroom teachers must be highly qualified. We attempt, in all cases, to employ highly qualified teachers who meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. However, state law does permit a small percentage of teaching staff to be hired who are not fully certified, but are otherwise exceptionally qualified to teach specific subjects based on education, experience or content knowledge. In most cases, these teachers are working toward certification. We conduct an extensive interview and background check process with all of our teachers to ensure that they meet or exceed state requirements. We believe that teachers are the most important component of a school and select our teachers through a comprehensive selection process.

I’ve heard that charter school students don’t perform as well academically as their traditional public school peers. Is that the case at your school?

What type of extracurricular programs do you offer?

I’ve heard that charter schools take the “best students” from public schools?

What is your discipline policy?

Our goal is to address the needs of students through a quality education program. To be effective and to fulfill this goal, we believe that students need a positive, safe, and orderly school environment in which learning can take place without disruption. It is our belief that students who do not obey the rules of good conduct are interfering with the learning process and safety of others, as well as minimizing their own opportunities to learn.

We implement a school wide discipline policy that is communicated to parents and students before the school starts. Our Deans of Students handle the discipline issues along with the Principal. The school wide discipline policy is included in the student handbook.