High Point Academy 2009-10 Annual Report

2009 - 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

W W W . H I G H P O I N T A C A D E M Y. N E T

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Message from Board President 4 Message from Head of School 5 Guiding Principles 6 Students 7 Staff 8 Student Achievement 9 Accomplishments 11 Satisfaction Surveys 12 Goals 13 Financial Accountability High Point Academy

MISSION High Point Academy’s mission is to provide a strong foundation of academic excellence in partnership with family and community in which each individual is challenged to achieve his/her highest potential academically, socially, and personally.

HISTORY High Point Academy was founded in 2006 by a group of parents and local business, civic and educational leaders. The founders sought to create a school focused not only on high academic standards, but also on character education, community involvement, technology, language, and wellness.

2009 - 2010 GOVERNING BOARD Brandon Wyszynski President

Korey Buchanek Secretary

Ryan Frazier Vice President

Barbara Johnson Director

Joni Johnson-Powe Treasurer

Quanda Singleton Director

Message From

Brandon Wyszynski

GOVERNING BOARD PRESIDENT

Now that the 2010-11 school year is upon us, we look back at the accomplishments during the 2009-10 school year in this first Annual Report.

We celebrate many successes, including the sale of revenue bonds that funded the construction of our permanent home, the continued growth of our student population, and the unrelenting focus of our mission.

It is important to thank everyone for their continual patience during the four years that we educated our students on a temporary campus. As a result of the strength of the students’ academic achievements, solid financial performance, growth in student population, community relationships and unwavering leadership, High Point Academy successfully sold tax exempt bonds that have funded the construction of a new school facility, which will be ready for operation in January 2011. With a cutting edge design that offers an abundance of natural daylighting, the new building will allow our school to strengthen its programs and expand its reach to more students in Pre-K through 8th grades.

High Point Academy now enters into its next phase of growth, and we must all continue to focus on the mission “to provide a strong foundation of educational excellence.” As the dedicated staff and leadership team continue to innovate and provide the most effective instruction, the ongoing support and involvement of families and community members alike is also critical for success – from volunteering time with the PTO to becoming involved in the Governing Board or the newly formed Advisory Board. Please visit our website to learn more details.

As we look forward to this exciting next phase, we remain committed to what brought us to this point – a constant dedication to student achievement.

Although many things will change with the move into our permanent facility, our commitment to academic success will never waver.

High Point Academy

Message From

Dr. Terry Croy Lewis HEAD OF SCHOOL

As we reflect on the 2009-10 school year, we are thrilled by our successes. We began the year with the remarkable achievement of receiving the Commissioner’s Choice Award for Wellness. This prestigious award was given to only two schools in Colorado. At the end of the school year, we accomplished the long-awaited goal of breaking ground on our new facility.

An overarching theme during High Point Academy’s (HPA’s) fourth year was establishing the foundation for significant changes throughout all aspects of the school. To better meet the needs of our students, we initiated new academic programs such as Thinking Maps, AVID, and Reading Plus. Our preschool became Qualistar rated. We enjoyed the inaugural year of our middle school sports program, which gave our talented student athletes the opportunity to play basketball and soccer.

As for our staff, HPA implemented a new staff leadership structure that enabled key teachers to serve as Team Leads and Coordinators throughout the school.

This leadership structure gave staff members the chance to develop their own leadership skills and encouraged more collaboration and accountability for all teachers.

One of the most outstanding achievements of the 2009-10 school year is attributed to the hard work of our HPA parents and families, who increased their volunteer hours by over 30% compared to the previous year. The partnership between our staff and families was evident in numerous extended learning opportunities, which included: monthly parent education training on Love and Logic, Family Wellness Nights, Family Literacy Nights, and many other events.

As we look to the future, our school will continue to grow, particularly in the number of students we serve. Furthermore, it is notable that each year our student population has become much more diverse in culture, ethnicity and language. Given this fact, HPA staff believes that it is essential that we maintain our commitment to valuing the diversity of our community. In the end, we are grateful for the exceptional dedication of our families and we are extremely proud of our students’ success.

2009/2010 Annual Report

GUIDING PRINCIPLES We foster a family-centered learning environment, including active and substantial parental involvement at all levels.

Our primary focus is always on achieving the highest academic standards.

We encourage and facilitate parental and community review of measurable school results in all areas of focus (academics, social, environmental, etc.)

We maintain extended school hours to ensure students receive the student/teacher interaction and instruction they need to succeed.

We employ the Core Knowledge Sequence to provide students with a rigorous, yet well-rounded education based on proven methodology and curriculum. Through Core Knowledge, we emphasize language arts (including classic literature), history and geography, visual arts, music, math, and science.

All students participate in service learning programs to increase confidence and self-esteem and to raise students’ community awareness and sense of civic responsibility.

We provide proven character education programs and implement strict enforcement of our school policies to ensure a safe and secure environment at all times.

We offer a diverse range of language, wellness, fitness, technology, and social programs and activities to ensure development of well-rounded students.

We utilize school uniforms to minimize parents’ costs and to ensure that students focus less on outward appearances and more on character.

We ensure that students develop life management skills and that they demonstrate personal responsibility in order to prepare them for success in future academic endeavors in high school and beyond.

High Point Academy

STUDENTS High Point Academy is proud to serve a culturally diverse student population from preschool through eighth grade.

6% Asian

1% Native American

382

K-8 Student Count

78

Preschool Student Count 33% African American

27% Hispanic

Free and Reduced Lunch Rate:

41% 33% Caucasian

21% of our students are English-Language-

Our students come from: 4% Brighton27J

Learners. They represent

14 different languages.

1% Other 59% Denver Public Schools

We serve

25 students

in our special education 36% Aurora Public Schools

program and

13 students

in our gifted and talented program.

2009/2010 Annual Report

STAFF Executive Director/Principal:

Preschool Director:

Dr. Terry Croy Lewis

Evie Kight

CFO/Financial Consultant:

Rick Boos Business Manager:

Alejandra Kemp Office Manager:

Jacqui Carter Enrollment Coordinator:

Wendy Kimball

Primary Team Lead:

Candace Beasley Intermediate Team Lead:

Kelle Bongard Middle School Team Lead:

Angela Cummins Specials Team Lead:

Erica Konieczny

16 K-8 Classroom Teachers 6 Specials Teachers 1 Special Education Teacher 7 Instructional Assistants 7 Preschool Staff 6 Support Staff 3.5 Office Staff High Point Academy

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 2009 - 2010 CSAP Median Growth Percentile: High Point Academy Compared to Brighton 27-J School District

Brighton 27-J Reading

High Point

Writing

Math 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

*Although HPA is not part of Brighton 27-J school district, we are physically located within their boundaries.

2009 - 2010 CSAP scores:

High Point Academy Compared to Neighboring Schools Elementary Schools

Math

Reading

Writing

Archuleta

64%

48%

43%

Clyde Miller

53%

45%

39%

Florida Pitt Waller

42%

44%

33%

Green Valley

38%

38%

25%

High Point Academy

67%

64%

51%

Marrama

44%

44%

30%

Omar D. Blair

70%

66%

55%

Second Creek

61%

63%

47%

Middle Schools

Math

Reading

Writing

Florida Pitt Waller

41%

56%

37%

High Point Academy

29%

58%

49%

Martin Luther King

21%

37%

23%

Omar D. Blair

46%

63%

52%

*The numbers above refer to the percentage of students who scored proficient or advanced.

2009/2010 Annual Report

ACCOMPLISHMENTS PRESCHOOL

WELLNESS

This was the first year our

In November 2009, we were

REVOLUTION FOODS

preschool program was rated by

one of two schools in the

Thanks to our partnership with

Qualistar, a non-profit organization

state selected to receive

Revolution Foods, we began

dedicated to improving the quality

a Commissioner’s Choice

serving healthy school lunches in

of early learning education in

Award at the Colorado Legacy

October 2009. We were glad to

Colorado. Our program received

Foundation’s “Healthy Kids Learn

add this key component to our

3 out of 4 stars – high marks for

Better!” conference. This is the

wellness-oriented school culture.

a first-time rating. We also applied

second award our wellness

for and received 35 spots in the

program has received.

Colorado Preschool Program, which allows us to offer free preschool to qualifying families.

TITLE 1

THINKING MAPS

We applied for and were approved

We began to implement Thinking

SERVICE LEARNING

to become a Title I School Wide

Maps, a tool that provides a

Our students helped local and

School. This designation provides

common visual language for

national organizations, including

us with additional flexibility and

learning within and across

the Denver Dumb Friends League,

allows us to use Title I funds to

disciplines. In 2010 – 2011, this

the Colfax Community Network,

serve all of our students.

program will be used in every K-8

The Gathering Place, the Denver

classroom.

Rescue Mission, the American Red Cross, and the military.

High Point Academy

DATA TEAMS

READING PLUS

In spring 2009, the Colorado

Thanks to a generous grant from

League of Charter Schools

the Morgridge Family Foundation,

selected HPA as a Title I Model

our middle school began using

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID):

Data Team School. After two

the Reading Plus system in

We successfully implemented this

years of training and practice,

April 2010, which has been

college-readiness program in 4th

we will serve as a model for

proven to produce substantial

and 5th grades. We use AVID to

other schools to learn how to use

gains in fluency, silent reading,

ensure that our students develop

data teams to increase student

comprehension, vocabulary, and

successful study and organizational

achievement.

overall reading proficiency.

habits. We’re expanding this program to 6th grade in 2010 – 2011.

INCREASED PARENT INVOLVEMENT

HIGH SCHOOL Many of our 8th grade graduates

SUMMER SCHOOL

went on to attend highly regarded

We successfully implemented

Parent involvement is an essential

high schools, such as Denver

a three-week summer school

part of our school mission. We’re

School of the Arts and the Denver

program focused on math

happy to report that during the

School of Science and Technology.

achievement.

2009 – 2010 school year, 30% more families met their volunteer commitment than in the previous year. We credit this increase to our Parent-Teacher Organization, which gained significant momentum this year.

2009/2010 Annual Report

SATISFACTION SURVEYS According to our K-8 FAMILY SATISFACTION SURVEY:

97% of parents believe that HPA provides a strong foundation of academic excellence.

96% of parents believe that HPA helps students achieve their highest potential.

96% of parents would recommend HPA to their friends.

According to our PRESCHOOL FAMILY SATISFACTION SURVEY

95% of parents would recommend HPA to their friends.

97% of parents believe that HPA respects the different cultures that are represented in the community.

AND ON THE STAFF SIDE:

96% of staff would recommend HPA to their colleagues and friends.

High Point Academy

We recognize that we must continually work to make our program the best it can be. Our School Accountability Plan and our Strategic Plan outline our annual goals.

School Accountability Plan: 2010-2011 Reading & Math Goal To reach the following academic achievement targets, demonstrating the percentage of third through eighth grade students who are proficient or advanced in reading and math, as measured by CSAP. The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment will be used to measure academic achievement for second grade math.

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Reading

n/a

80%

68%

72%

70%

60%

67%

Math

93%

68%

70%

70%

56%

50%

43%

Strategic Plan Our strategic plan outlines goals related to the refinement of our educational program, board strengthening and development, long term financial planning, facility development and funding, and communications and marketing, including the following:

Seventh Eighth

• Align school-wide educational goals • E nhance student achievement through improvements to staff training, development, and evaluation.

• E nsure that the annual operating budget reflects the priorities established in our guiding principles • S trengthen the school’s image in the community

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 2009 - 2010 ACTUAL BUDGET $329,509.69

Beginning Balance Revenues

$2,512,595.62

Per Pupil Revenue

$142,111.66

Preschool Revenue

$36,600.00

Full-Day Kindergarten Tuition

$161,879.48

Other Revenues Total Revenues

$2,853,186.76

Beginning Fund Balance and Revenues

$3,182,696.45

EXPENDITURES Salaries and Benefits Salaries

$1,471,921.52

Benefits

$377,533.95

Instructional Purchased Services

$64,877.86

Supplies and Materials

$85,283.16

Property-Related Services

$88,207.59

Administration Purchased Services Supplies and Materials Property-Related Services Total Expenditures

$160,841.75 $35,794.16 $402,940.21 $2,740,651.96

*Our key financial successes were the diversification of revenue sources, growth in the fund balance, and the sale of tax exempt bonds that are funding the construction of a new facility.

High Point Academy

GRANTS Federal/State Grants Title I

$40,886.00

Title I - ARRA Funds

$28,934.00

Title III - ELL

$5,365.00

Gifted and Talented

$2,724.00

IDEA - ARRA Funds

$23,650.00 $4,000.00

Title IIA

$831.14

IDEA - Preschool

20,384.00

ELPA Foundations Buell Foundation- Qualistar

$3,714.01

Morgridge Family Foundation

$3,125.00

High Point Educational and Community Foundation

$20,000.00 $153,613.35

Total Grant Revenue The above grant revenue helped to fund our: • Teacher salaries and benefits • Instructional aide salaries and benefits • Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program • Supplies, materials, and equipment • Staff development • Speech language services • Preschool • Reading Plus program • Performance pay program • Summer School

Total Revenues with Grants $3,006,800.11 Beginning Fund Balance and Revenues $3,336,309.80 Total Expenditures with Grants $2,894,265.31 Ending Fund Balance $442,044.49

We’re forever grateful for the generosity of our supporters.

Our community partnerships make it possible for us to achieve our mission.

Supporters Buell Foundation High Point Educational and Community Foundation Morgridge Family Foundation

Partnerships A1 Organics Charter School Institute Chipotle Colorado League of Charter Schools Denver Dumb Friends League Far Northeast Principals’ Leadership Council Grades of Green HPA Parent-Teacher Organization Hope Valley Church Revolution Foods Slow Food Denver Sporting News Grill The Wellness Initiative YMCA Before and After School Program

6192 N. Genoa St Aurora, CO 80019 (303) 217 – 5152 www.highpointacademy.net