Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School opening?
How many students will the school have?
What if you have higher demand than 270 students?
How and when can people apply?
When will you finalize registration?
How are you raising private funds?
Who are your teachers and administration?
How can I apply to work at CHCS?
Who is behind this initiative?
What will the buildings look like?
Do you provide transportation?
What is the mission of the school?
When is the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School opening?
August, 2013! [top]
Who does the school serve?
A five county attendance zone area, commonly called "Chattahoochee Hills" (the southwest corridor of Atlanta, including the cities of Chattahoochee Hills, Palmetto, Fairburn and unincorporated portions of Fulton, Fayette, Carroll, Douglas, and Coweta counties. This plan is currently under changes). [top]
Where is CHCS located?
In the City of Chattahoochee Hills, at the corner of Atlanta-Newnan Road and Selborne Way. [top]
What grades does CHCS serve?
K - 5; we will add one grade per year every year and finally be a K- 8 school by 2016 [top]
How many students will the school have?
270 max the first year; adding 45 per year, for a total of 405 by 2016 [top]
What will the class sizes be?
15 students per class, with 3 classes per grade (for a total of 45 students per grade) [top]
What if you have higher demand than 270 students?
What a great problem to have! We’re committed to serving the needs of students in the area and will do everything we can to accommodate everyone, but we also have to be smart about not getting too big too fast. [top]
Who gets in and who doesn't?
Anyone in the proper age range and living in our five county attendance zone can apply -- if we have more applications that spaces, we will have a lottery drawing (per federal law) to determine admissions. [top]
How and when can people apply?
You can apply online here. We will also be hosting a series of community meetings, where people can pick up an application and learn about the process. [top]
When will you finalize registration?
Registration will be February 2013. At that time, if we have more applications than spaces, we will have a lottery (as required by law). [top]
What are the demographics?
The demographics will be reflective of the five county attendance zone – we are a very diverse area, racially and economically. [top]
How are you raising private funds?
We are currently in an aggressive capital campaign -- we are seeking donations of all levels, plus in-kind donations of building materials. Let us know if you’d like to help! [top]
Who are your teachers and administration?
Now that we're approved, we're taking applications. [top]
How can I apply to work at CHCS?
You can apply here or send your resume to jobs@chatthillscharter.org. [top]
Who operates the school?
The legal entity that will organize and operate the school is Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, Inc., a Georgia not-for-profit corporation. [top]
Who is behind this initiative?
There was a grassroots demand for more quality education in this region. In 2009, area residents came together to address the growing education needs in their community. Through a dozen community meetings, they formed a consensus and the commitment to create Chattahoochee Hills’ first charter school based on a model that reinforced the community values of the arts, agriculture, and the environment. [top]
Do you have a building?
Not yet – we are raising funds and in-kind donations and hope to start building soon. We could use your help! [top]
What will the buildings look like?
We are figuring out facilities now -- our goal is to have cutting edge facilities that meet LEED and EarthCraft standards. We are beginning an aggressive capital campaign and hope to raise enough private funds and in-kind donations to begin building by February 2013. [top]
Do you provide transportation?
Charter schools aren't funded at the same level as public schools, and most don't provide transportation. Once we're up and running, we'll form a PTA and take a look at transportation -- if it is a need, we'll address it. [top]
What is the mission of the school?
To inspire all our children to the highest levels of academic achievement through a rigorous curriculum that integrates the wonders of the natural world. Our goal is for our students to cultivate the capacity to achieve a meaningful, healthy, flourishing life that embodies responsibility, stewardship, and experiential engagement with the arts, agriculture, and the environment in informed, imaginative, and rigorous ways. [top]
What is the curriculum?
CHCS will feature a hands-on, thematic instructional approach that uses the school’s unique surroundings as a framework in which students learn, and positions agricultural, environmental, and artistic themes as lenses through which the Georgia Performance Standards can be achieved. This approach will promote critical thinking and create a more engaging curriculum where the connection between class work and real life is readily apparent. [top]
