New charter school expanding to serve high school students
As school is ending, one newly accredited charter school is gearing up for next year. American Heritage Charter School officials say they plan to bring higher standards and individualized education to more students.
Ground for the new high school was broken Thursday evening.
For the past two years, American Heritage has been teaching elementary and junior high students what it means to be patriotic and educated.
“We just think we have a great program all rolled together with some cowboy ethics and things that actually pertain to our part of the state, and it’s unique and innovative,” said Deby Infanger of the school’s board.
And soon high school students will be in on this as well.
The board plans to implement a blended learning curriculum where online learning and personal instruction come together.
“We know that as educators that ever student learns in a different way, and some students would like to concentrate on one some like to have a whole plethora of things to work on at the same time, and this gives us that flexibility to do that,” Infanger said.
Flexibility isn’t the only perk.
Working with an individualized curriculum also allows the school to disprove the idea that charter schools fail to service minorities, non-native speakers and students with special needs.
“The American experiment is that you should educate everyone,” said Infanger. “This blended program really helps slower learners too or maybe someone that is struggling with the English language.”
The school board also received a waver from the Idaho State Board of Education for students that do exceedingly well.
They can move through their required subjects quickly and then start dual credit.
Many students could graduate with more than 30 college credits.
American Heritage Charter says to prevent overcrowding, the school will never have more that 364 students. It is now accepting registration for the high school and officials hope to have the new facility complete by October.
The school is on New Sweden School Road west of Interstate 15.
