New high school offers an exciting opportunity

Dear community,

Since I feel strongly that we all need to be informed about educational opportunities available in Sandpoint, I have chosen to write this letter.

We now have two excellent public high school choices for Fall of '09. These are our existing Sandpoint High, and our new Sandpoint Charter High. The Charter High school will offer 9th and 10th grade in its first year, then 10 and 11th grade.

Both schools offer the opportunity for all high school students to receive an excellent education and preparation for the next level. 

The biggest difference between the schools will be the primary method of instruction and size of  the student community.

Sandpoint High offers diverse classes taught in a traditional classroom setting. Sandpoint Charter High will offer project-based teaching in a non-traditional classroom setting which fosters integration and collaboration across traditional subject boundaries. Both schools meet or exceed Idaho State Standards, and both offer the motivated student  access to college and university admissions.

The Charter High School will be significantly smaller, with approximately 50 students per grade level.

 I am delighted by the choice now available to the high school students of Sandpoint, and am grateful to the LPOSD board for making this possible. It is now left to the parents and the students themselves to examine the finer points of each school and determine which is best for them.

 Parents and students can investigate further at www.sandpointcharter.org. Early enrollment ends Dec. 12. Students and parents are invited to an informational meeting at the school, located at 614 S Madison, on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. 

 My best to the community of Sandpoint,

LYNN LAWRENCE

Sandpoint