About
Henderson Collegiate Introduction Video from Eric Sanchez on Vimeo.
Open to All
Henderson Collegiate is a public charter school open to all students. Race, income, and prior academic success are not considered or asked about when enrolling at Henderson Collegiate. Our school opened in the Summer of 2010 with just a 4th grade and will add a grade level every year thereafter. Transportation is available to all students that live further than 1 ½ miles from the school and within Henderson’s city limits. A breakfast and lunch program is provided and eligible students receive free and reduced meals. Enrollment and Open House dates are available here and advertised through the local media.
The Model
Henderson Collegiate replicates a model that its founders have already immersed themselves in and implemented through their experience with Teach For America and the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP). Beginning with the belief that all students can learn and the explicit expectation of college success, the model is rooted in an ethic of hard work and extensive time on task. The school day runs from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm and the year includes a mandatory summer school program. Every year, our students benefit from 45 extra school days, or about 312 hours. Over the course of grades four through eight, that translates to 1,560 hours, or an extra 1.25 years!
The Curriculum
More time only matters if used meaningfully and purposefully towards the goal of college success. Rather than tracking students and keeping with a false choice between standards-based instruction and intervention, Henderson Collegiate fully utilizes its extended time through a dual curriculum. The model provides rigorous, college-prep core courses and support for students needing remediation. A Reading Intervention Block, Math Intervention Block, and Tutorial Program are integrated into the daily schedule. To ensure independent reading practice, time is also blocked off for silent reading. For English Language Learners, the English Language Proficiency SCOS is integrated into the curriculum for each course, with a professional development focus on second language acquisition.
The Learning Environment
At Henderson Collegiate, the academic expectations are exceeded only by our expectations for student behavior and decision making. Instruction matters greatly, but it is only truly maximized when students feel an empowered sense of purpose and desire to learn. This kind of value of, and curiosity for, knowledge must be developed within an atmosphere of safety, order, and respect. We foster an environment focused on learning by explicitly teaching and constantly reinforcing listening skills. Students wear uniforms to eliminate distractions and clearly emphasize our educational purpose. Most importantly, we build a collective identity amongst each class and between all students to build positive peer pressure and individual leadership. The value of such a safe and supportive environment cannot be overstated.
The Community
Henderson Collegiate also embraces the reality that student success relies on strong relationships with parents and community members. Schools are often roped off from the resources that reside in the community and in the home, creating miscommunication and counterproductive conflicts. The Henderson Collegiate experience begins with a home visit, which establishes honest dialogue about the school’s expectations for students, parents, and teachers. The Commitment to Excellence provides a clear set of responsibilities for each party, improving future communication and enabling greater cooperation. This home-school contact is maintained as parents sign student planners nightly to stay informed about their child’s homework. Students also take home a weekly “paycheck” which explains their academic and character habits for the week and must also be signed by parents. Henderson Collegiate also seeks to bring families and communities into the school through structured social gatherings, learning opportunities, and resources that directly benefit them.
