Our Values
The central focus of our educational program is college preparation. All children should be expected to achieve success in school and be prepared to achieve success in college.
Our mission requires that we develop in all students the foundational skills, core content knowledge, critical-thinking ability, and personal characteristics necessary to succeed in demanding high schools on their way to college. Our educational philosophy and program are built on four core values.
Core Value 1: All students have the ability to achieve academic excellence.
We understand that many students will enter Columbus Collegiate two to three grade levels behind. It is our duty to provide the expectations, structures, and supports that will allow them to efficiently and effectively strengthen any academic weaknesses and advance forward.
The expectations we provide: all students are college bound - every one. We expect students to behave well and work hard. All members of the school community will sign a contract of commitment, a pledge to do all in their power and whatever is necessary to achieve academic success.
The structures we provide: all students participate in a highly disciplined school environment based upon respect and accountability for one’s actions, participate in an extended school day, an extended school year, Saturday classes and college trips, and complete challenging homework every night.
The supports we provide: all students receive 120 minutes of literacy and 120 minutes of math instruction, tutoring sessions, and Homework Club daily, and Saturday Academy support multiple weeks through the year.
Core Value 2: All students thrive in a highly disciplined school environment.
A highly disciplined school environment will allow students to learn and teachers to teach. It is our responsibility to implement a culture of discipline, respect, and hard work every minute of every day. School staff will explicitly teach values like respect, citizenship, and hard work. The school culture will make it “cool” to do well – and to help others.
Core Value 3: All students must be prepared to excel in demanding high schools on their way to selective colleges.
A school can encourage, cajole, and prepare a student academically, but ultimately success relies on a student’s internal belief in and commitment to his or her own success. To place our students firmly on the long climb to college, we will explicitly and pro-actively instill perseverance and courage in each of our students. In order to fulfill our long-term goal of having students enter and succeed in demanding high schools and colleges, we will inculcate commitments to enthusiasm, hard work, and achievement with no excuses. Students who attend Columbus Collegiate will have many opportunities to visit and experience demanding high schools and colleges first hand. Each month students will visit top high schools and colleges during which they will observe and experience these environments.
Core Value 4: All students deserve outstanding teachers that produce outstanding results.
Experience with educating students in urban environments and a track record of successful, measurable results in the classroom will be key characteristics our teachers must possess. A belief that every student can learn, and that standards-driven lessons and assessments are supportive of learning are also key. The ideal candidate will be willing to work hard to give students discipline, boundaries, and challenges, and to work as a member of a mission-driven team relentless about academic results.
