Nearly a thousand students fill the halls at the Academy of Classical Education at Covington.
Separate from the St. Tammany Parish School System, the new St. Tammany K-8 charter school just opened its doors in the middle of August, but it’s already gearing up to open its doors for more students next year.
“We are very excited to announce, for the 27-28 school year, we have gotten the green light from BESE, we have broken grounds on our high school.” Principal Dr. Missie Howe said.
ACE is a level two charter school, which means families from neighboring parishes are welcome to apply.
Currently, students from St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and Jefferson parishes all attend the charter school.
2,500 students applied to attend ACE for the 26-27 school year; 700 remain on the waiting list.
Students are selected by a lottery system. Camille Kent tells WDSU she waited anxiously to see if both of her children would be selected.
“We found out our son got pulled first, and then our daughter was in kindergarten, which we knew there was a big or big demand for that grade.” Kent said, “So when we found out Sophie got in, I was just, I cried, I was so excited.”
Like traditional public-school students still learn core curriculum; however, Dr. Howe explains students use less technology, and the teachers take a more classical approach to education.
“So, it’s teaching our scholars how to think, not what to think.” Dr. Howe said, “so having them do so through Socratic methods, Socratic conversations, small group instruction, very differentiated cursive handwriting, the great works, the beacons of virtue, the transcendental which are truth, goodness and beauty seen in everything.”
“They learn justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude, and we incorporate that into every expectation that we have in every lesson that we teach, so that they can really take not just the education, but also the character formation from everything that we do here.” Third grade teacher Melinda Domingue said.
Domingue led a hands-on science activity about force Tuesday morning.
“We are very data-driven. We are collecting so many grades and so much evidence from these kids about what they’re learning, so that we as teachers can then take our plans and our teaching, find out what they learned and respond to that, and plan and do it again better next time” Domingue said “or expand upon what they’ve learned, so it’s really that ED model that really sets us apart.”
Students and parents alike say the school has exceeded their expectations.
“My son actually comes home, and he tells me it’s the best day ever.” Kent said, “Every single day, he’s not exhausted. He wants to go back.”
“It’s a really good school, like everyone’s really friendly and it’s really hands-on.” 8th grade student Guiliana Brigham said.
She tells WDSU she is really excited to take Latin, which is offered to all students in the school.
Students also have access to extracurricular activities like clubs and sports.
The high school is expected to open by the 27-28 school year. Open enrollment for all students begins in October.
Dr. Howe encourages parents of students on the waiting list to reapply once open enrollment begins.
READ MORE:New St. Tammany Charter School is gearing up for expansion
