Rhythms of the Village Charter High School prepares urban high school students, for success in college and/or career by providing a supportive school culture, a challenging performance-based approach to education, and meaningful connections with real-world experiences.

Rhythms of the Village Charter High School is committed to its role as a fully accredited college preparatory school making students aware of the unlimited opportunities available to them for future training at colleges or universities, advanced art institutes and conservatories. The school recognizes and values student individuality; it nurtures values of individual accomplishments and independence.

"Learning best occurs in a small school with a ratio of 15 to 1 in classes where teachers put learning first"

Rhythms of the Village Charter High School will use a project-based program to deliver a rigorous, relevant curriculum aligned with the California content standards and the University of California's a-g requirements. Rhythms of the Village Charter High School designed the curriculum around the Diploma Plus (DP) alternative high school model. Diploma Plus, is founded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and supports innovative schools that strive to meet the needs of students not achieving in traditional high school settings. With the support of its DP partners, Rhythms of the Village Charter High School developed a challenging, performance-based curriculum that prepares its students to graduate college and be career ready. Rhythms of the Village Charter High School integrates academic content with performing, visual and cultural arts.

The Diploma Plus model identifies three levels, or phases for students to master. Foundation, Presentation, and Plus. Upon enrollment, a student's academic skills and content knowledge are evaluated and the student is placed into the appropriate academic level for each course. While each phase identifies different grade-level content to be

mastered, all the phases are focused on developing the higher order thinking skills and critical habits of mind that enhance deep understanding and foster life long learning.

Rhythms of the Village Charter High School

A performing, visual and cultural arts college preparatory school, accommodates the flexibility that the Diploma Plus Model offers. Rhythms of the Village Charter High School has a small school design and a creative approach to learning.

COMPETENCY AND

PERFORMANCE-BASED INSTRUCTION:

The teacher-led instruction at Rhythms of the Village Charter High School will be based on curriculum built from the competencies set forth in the Diploma Plus Model, state and local curriculum frameworks, California Academic Standards and the California Career Technical Education Standards. The teacher will use a narrative "grading" system. Essential components of the Rhythms of the Village Charter High School program include:

* A curriculum mapped to the explicit state standards and competencies

* Targeted competencies for each assignment

* Curriculum designed to reach all learning styles

* Regional Occupational Program