The Redmond Proficiency Academy is a new public charter school located in Redmond, Oregon. It was created by parents, educators and community members to increase learning opportunities for students and to better meet individual student academic interests. RPA will offer a college preparatory curriculum to prepare students to succeed in the global community through innovative programs, positive relationships, and community partnerships.
RPA serves high school students (grades 9th-12th) and offers a unique approach that measures student ability through proficiency, or the ability to demonstrate skill level.
Unlike traditional school environments, RPA provides a flexible, individualized learning environment allowing students to follow their own interests, create their own learning, meet State and college readiness standards, and graduate ready for college success.
Each student will create a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) with help from teachers, assistants, parents and community contacts. The PLP helps the student align personal, academic, career and social goals with graduation requirements.
Students can register for the 2010-2011 school year online beginning in April 2010. Open registration for the 2010-2011 school year is now closed. We are accepting applications via the online registration link for the waiting list. If additional space is available after the registration period; students will be enrolled on a first come first serve basis. For more information, go to the registration page.
RPA is a public charter school. It is free of charge to those who are selected to attend. Selection is based on a lottery and is chosen randomly.
Students will work closely with a licensed teacher to design their own learning opportunities with a myriad of options. They may choose to take courses created by RPA teachers that are aligned to state and college readiness standards.They may choose to enroll in a traditional online course or work with a teacher to create individualized projects aligned to State standards demonstrating their proficiency. Students may choose to complete an interest-based internship with one of our community partners or create a learning portfolio that demonstrates competency. They can also attend college courses or participate in one of several hands-on learning experiences planned by teachers and administrators.
RPA is not an "alternative" school or a place for those who have not succeeded in a traditional school environment because of lack of interest in their own education. A successful fit for RPA would be students who:
Evaluation will be based on the Oregon standards and other appropriate standards-based criteria such as CollegeBoard Standards for College Success and the Proficiency-based Admission Standards System (PASS). Assessments for all courses are conducted using currciulum-based measures and project-based assessment practices.
The classroom structure will be a flexible learning environment that welcomes students to attend class and work independently, in cooperative groups, or obtain assistance from the teachers or educational assistants. Since the learning objectives will be student-driven, students may choose to work in another location and report to class at specified intervals for progress checks. The school building will be staffed from:
Monday -Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The building hours may be adjusted to reflect student use and needs, please check the home page for changes.
Wireless computer access is available in the building for students to use personal or school laptop computers.
The only difference between RPA and a traditional high school is the short interactions that occur in the hallways between classes. RPA students will actually spend more time interacting with each other than in a traditional academic setting. Students will have input into who they participate with for each course they enroll in, allowing peer groups to work together or new friendships to form. In addition to regular courses, students will have the option of participating in various learning institutes in which students will engage in high level, intensive learning seminars requiring a great deal of teamwork and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, students who reside in the Redmond School District will be able to attend RHS dances if they obtain an ASB card, which will be available for purchase at RPA.
Students will be allowed to participate in athletics and other extra-curricular programs at their residing School Districts thereby maintaining relationships with coaches, fellow athletes, band members, or other clubs.
RPA students will successfully complete a rigorous diploma program that gives them access to college or post-secondary training. An RPA High School diploma will be the official recognition that a student has met the state graduation requirements and has demonstrated the necessary proficiency in each required area to graduate.
Students and teachers will align all 9th and 10th grade course-learning objectives to State Standards. Courses for 11th and 12th grade students will be aligned to State Standards, CollegeBoard Standards for College Success, and the Proficiency-based Admission Standards System.
The school’s success will be measured by:
Proficiency-based learning allows a student to earn credit toward a diploma by demonstrating "proficiency" or the ability to master a required course skill through alternative options other than the traditional course exam. Using these methods, the artificial barriers to student learning are removed and students are asked to demonstrate understanding rather than complete teacher-assigned work that may or may not reflect a student’s competency or be directly aligned to state standards.
In January 2007, the Oregon State School Board of Education approved the ability to earn a diploma through a "wider use of proficiency" in Oregon schools. With adoption of this policy, credit for courses can now be earned if a student can "demonstrate proficiency inside or outside the classroom, through documentation of prior learning, by examination, or by any combination thereof."
Success in proficiency-based learning is well documented and is supported by the Oregon Department of Education. In pilot proficiency-based learning programs, success rates have been significant. In one case reported in the Oregon Department of Education Credit for Proficiency in Oregon Policy (Jan. 2009), 93% of Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 students passed to a level Algebra 2. Another reported program found dropout rates plummeted to zero and discipline issues dropped nearly nine percent.
The RPA governing board will hold ultimate decision-making authority for the charter school. The board consists of nine members of a variety of backgrounds. Board terms will be for three years on a rotating basis. The school employs a full-time director to manage the day-to-day operations of the school.
Open enrollment for the 2010-2011 is closed. If you would like to register for the waiting list, complete the application above.
Parents will have two options for registration.
Redmond Proficiency Academy
631 W. Antler Avenue
Redmond, OR 97756
The enrollment cap for the 2010-2011 school year will be 250 students, set by the Redmond School District Board of Directors. If during the registration period the enrollment cap has not been reached, all students who have registered will be admitted and subsequent students will be admitted on a first come, first served basis following all state guidelines related to Charter school enrollment. If more than the enrollment cap register a random lottery will be held to determine the students who will be admitted. The remaining students will placed on a waiting list based on order drawn. While enrollment to RPA is open to students outside the district boundaries, the law requires priority to be given to students living within the boundaries of the Redmond School District, with non-resident students being enrolled as space allows.
Once a student is admitted, the student and parents will receive a letter of acceptance with a date and time to go through the enrollment process. At the enrollment meeting a mentor teacher will meet with the student and parents to formally enroll the student and create a personalized education plan. If the student has attended a prior high school he or she will need to bring in an updated copy of his or her high school transcript to assist with the planning process.
Redmond Proficiency Academy - 657 SW Glacier Avenue, Redmond, Oregon 97756 | p. 541.526.0882 | f. 541.516.1160