St Vrain Valley School District

Twin Peaks Charter Academy

Grades: Kindergarten - 8th
Student Enrollment: 707
School Times/Schedule
School Colors: Green, Gold, and Blue
Mascot: Timberwolf
CSAP Scores - (grades 1-5)
CSAP Scores - (grades 6-8)

Mr. BJ Buchmann, Principal

340 South Sunset Street
Longmont, CO 80501
(303) 772 - 7286

http://www.twinpeakscharter.org

School Website

Twin Peaks Charter Academy maintains a separate school web site [http://www.twinpeakscharter.org]. The school's web site makes it easier to communicate news and information to parents. Please visit the web site for more detailed information and events concerning Twin Peaks Charter Academy.

In addition to the separate school web site, an overview of Twin Peaks Charter Academy is provided [below]. A similar summary is provided for each school within the District to make it easier to find the same information for each of the District's schools.

History

Founded in 1997 by a group of parents whose vision was to provide a school that gave parents and students a choice in education, Twin Peaks (TPCA) was the first charter school in the St. Vrain Valley School District. As an independent public school, there is no tuition. However, space is limited and a child�s acceptance is determined through a lottery process with enrollment preference given to students living in the St. Vrain Valley School District. School governance is provided by a seven-parent Twin Peaks Charter Academy Board of Directors.

School Focus

Recognized as a School of Excellence by the Colorado Department of Education, TCPA focuses on the Core Knowledge curriculum (www.coreknowledge.org) based on E. D. Hirsch�s work. A content rich, sequenced curriculum with connectivity between core areas provides the structure for the school. Achievement goals center around literacy and mathematics with social studies and science curriculum that support those goals.

The team approach (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) provides support for students, vertical articulation of the curriculum, and allows the staff to focus on the school improvement goals within their classrooms. Additionally, teachers work together to share ideas, resources, and lesson plans.

Achieving Academic Success

Achieving academic success for all students at TPCA is a partnership between teachers, parents, and students. Specific programs, tools, and strategies in place to achieve academic success for all students include:

A specials program for all students in first through eighth grade that includes music, art, computers, guided study, physical education, and Spanish.
Gifted and talented instruction on a daily basis in English for identified students in grades 4-8.
Literacy support provided by a full-time staff member for students requiring extra attention in reading to bring them to the proficient level.
Math instruction focusing on math facts as well as problem-solving and critical thinking skills and advanced placement options in math for identified students in grades 4-8.
Writing instruction utilizing Six-Traits and Step-Up to Writing.
Specific and sequenced instruction in science and social studies for grades K-8.
Response to Intervention (RtI) program offers academic partnership support to individual students as needed.

What Makes Twin Peaks Unique

An inclusive, encouraging environment providing a tradition of academic excellence with a focus on individual student gains.

A unique curriculum, including rich Core Knowledge content, quality fine arts and specials classes, that allows students to develop critical thinking skills.

A uniform dress code, developed by parents to be affordable and easy to follow, supports an academic focus.

School-wide Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program teaches students �Six Pillars of Character� citizenship behaviors and rewards self-monitoring. The Principal leads frequent K-5th assemblies to reinforce character education.

TPCA offers a full day and a half day morning or afternoon, Monday-Friday kindergarten program. The full day program is tuition-based.

Before/After School Activities

Optional activities typically offered at different times throughout the school year include:

Note: The YMCA operates an after-school day care program on our site.