CHICO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
WASC/CDS STUDENT/COMMMUNITY PROFILE GUIDE
1. Community Profile-
Chico is located in Northern California, midway between Sacramento to the south and Redding to the north. The urban area of Chico has a population of approximately 104,800 with a significant variation from rural to suburban to small town urban. Butte County has a population of 218,312 with a growth rate of 2.9%. The ethnic make-up of Chico is primarily white with a significant Hispanic population and to a lesser extent an Asian population. A very small percentage of the population is African-American and Native American.
The median sale price of a single family home in Chico from January through July 2008 was $285,000. The following graph depicts the residential monthly rental range in Chico.
The cost of living in Chico is significantly lower than it is in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Rosa or San Francisco. Over the past 18 months home prices in Chico have lost approximately 20% of their value. The housing market is declining, but subsequent foreclosures have not been as significant in the greater Chico area as other areas of the state have experienced. As of the end of 2009, housing prices are on the rebound and listings, as well as purchases have been increasing.
Chico’s diverse cultural landscape is enhanced by several performing arts organizations, a variety of art galleries, and many public art exhibits. From community theatre to nationally acclaimed touring artists performing in Chico State’s historic Laxson Auditorium, Chico offers year round entertainment unparalleled in the Northern Sacramento Valley.
There are 61 churches, two libraries, two newspapers, eight network television stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX/UPN/Univision & Telemundo), one cable TV system with community access and a large theater complex.
Chico is home to Bidwell Park, one of the largest Municipal Parks in the United States. Spanning more than 3,700 acres, the park offers something for everyone to enjoy.
An important part of Chico’s economic growth has been the availability of reasonably priced industrial and commercial property. Some of the area’s major industrial parks and commercial ventures include: Chico Municipal Airport Industrial, Hegan Lane Business Park, Skypark Plaza, Pheasant Run/Target Center, Downtown/ Crossroads Center, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Chico Mall, Southgate and Meyers Street Industrial Park.
In addition to the availability of land and buildings, the City has an aggressive redevelopment program which has been active since 1980. For over a quarter of a century, the Agency has been providing public improvements, economic development activities, manufacturing and industrial development, and affordable housing. The Chico Redevelopment Agency has financed over $69 million in capital improvement projects and over $30 million in housing projects to assist more than 1,600 households. The Redevelopment Agency has adopted a $51,270,129 million Capital Improvement Program for 2006-2007.
This is an exciting time for business in Chico, with good opportunities for business relocation or expansion. Chico’s strong manufacturing base includes Sierra Nevada Brewery, Aero Union Corporation, Smucker Quality Beverages and Sungard BiTech Software, among others. Over the last several years, Chico has seen a growth in mid-size businesses.
During the 2001–2005 period, Butte County industry employment experienced a cumulative growth of 2.4 percent or 1,800 new jobs. Three industries posted the largest gains over these years: natural resources, mining, and construction; educational and health services; and trade, transportation, and utilities. In educational and health services, growth concentrated in the health care and social assistance component. Retail trade employment, specifically miscellaneous store retailers, accounted for the bulk of employment growth in trade, transportation, and utilities.
Chico is known as a center for sustainability due to the significant efforts occurring in business, education and government. FAFCO, which recently relocated to Chico, is the oldest and largest solar panel manufacturer in the US. Sierra Nevada Brewery, Smuckers Quality Beverages, California State University, Chico, Butte College, and the City of Chico are all continuing to work toward their commitment to stewardship through sustainability.
The B-Line (Butte Regional Transit) serves the Chico Urban area and CSU, Chico students during the academic year. The B-Line Para transit serves the Chico urban area providing transportation for the elderly and the mobility impaired.
Recognized as one of the finest law enforcement agencies in Northern California, the Chico Police Department’s 102 sworn officers and 55 non-sworn employees provide quality law enforcement and community-based problem solving services to the City and its guests. The Chico Fire Department is independently rated as the best in the Sacramento Valley holding the only Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 2 fire rating, which can save money for both businesses and homeowner’s in their property insurance.
Butte Community College lies midway between Chico and Oroville, and 10 miles from the foothill town of Paradise. The college offers more that 50 career education programs. CSU, Chico was founded in 1887 and is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the California State University System. The campus has grown form 90 students in 1997 to more that 16,000 today, offering more that 120 majors and concentrations, 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and 55 certificate and professional education programs. The Chico Unified School District is comprised of 16 elementary schools, three middle schools, two senior high schools, one independent study school and a continuation school. Current enrollment in the district stands at 13,633 for grades K-12. In addition to the public schools, Chico has nine private schools and six charter schools, three authorized by Chico Unified School District and three by the Butte County Office of Education. In the past year there has been new charter applications submitted to the Chico Unified School District, including two high school applications, a distance learning for-profit organization, and a Montessori Charter School petition.
Enloe Medical Center, a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer community board of directors, provides advanced hospital and health care service to Chico and the surrounding North Valley communities. To continue to meet the needs of the growing North Valley community, Enloe has initiated a $110 million expansion plan for its Esplanade facility.
For more information see: - cochamber.com/documents/2007-8Final.pdf
State/federal program mandates: Chico Country Day School (CCDS) is an independent LEA (Local Educational Agency) within the Butte County SELPA, and as such operates its own special education program. Through the SELPA policies, CCDS complies with all IDEA and ADA Section 504 requirements. CCDS participates in Class Size Reduction (CSR) and complies with all reporting and training requirements of that legislation. CCDS contracts with Chico Unified School District for nutrition services and offers breakfast and lunch daily to students. Through CUSD, CCDS participates in the federal free and reduced price lunch program (FRLP). CCDS participates in the federal (NCLB) and State accountability systems, administering approved standardized achievement tests to students in grades 2-8 once per year. CCDS has a long history of meeting all API and AYP participation and student achievement targets. All CCDS teachers are Highly Qualified per NCLB and are appropriately credentialed for the classes they are teaching. CCDS has CLAD authorized teachers at each grade level to meet the needs of English Language Learners.
Parent and community organizations include: Chico Country Day Parent Teacher Partnership, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and the Boys and Girls Club, Chico Area Recreation and Park District, and Downtown Chico Business Association. These organizations frequently collaborate with CCDS. The PTP is the CCDS parent organization that functions in the same manner as a PTA or PTO at district schools. This group was formed as a conduit for assisting teachers and administration in the organization of our parent force for the overall good of our school community. The North Valley Community Foundation’s mission is to promote and support philanthropy within Chico. Two years ago the Foundation implemented the “Annie B’s Campaign”, which is an annual giving campaign for non-profits that has a match from the Foundation. CCDS participated in this campaign and has been in the top 10 non-profits in the Chico area in terms of contributions.
School/business relationships: Chico Country Day School has strong relationships with local business organizations. The school is a member of the Rotary Club of Chico and the Executive Director attends Rotary meetings regularly. There is a strong local business presence on the CCDS Board of Directors, with approximately 1/3 of the Board members classified as non-parent or “community” business members in Chico. CCDS is located at the southern end of downtown Chico, and therefore has many business and residential neighbors.
Over the years at our current location, CCDS has reached out to these local neighbors to develop strong, mutually supportive relationships. CCDS is a member, and attends the local neighborhood association, the Barber Yard Neighborhood Association meetings and hosts the meetings of this group and has “open house” specifically for this group of neighborhood activists. CCDS has worked together with businesses on projects, such as the Chico Volkswagen expansion project. Chico Volkswagon is the next door neighbor to the school. CCDS also maintains a close relationship with local Chico city government. Our Art Teacher has bid several art projects with the City Arts Commission, and CCDS students have competed and earned some of those bids. Our art students completed community art projects which are currently on display in downtown Chico.
Each year for the last three years, CCDS has hosted the University of California at Berkeley Marching Band as they travel to the annual Cal vs. Oregon football game. This event has taken place on campus and at the downtown City Plaza, with the mayor of Chico as the Master of Ceremonies.
Over the years, the school has partnered with the North Valley Symphony Association. Our Orchestra has performed during intermission at many concerts and has participated in the Mozart Mile community music performances. CCDS has a partnership with 1078 Art Gallery in which after-school students have the opportunity to participate in studio art classes at the gallery and have their work displayed at gallery showings. The North Valley Community Foundation and CCDS have. worked together on the Annie B’s campaign to raise money for our school and community. The parent and family organizations above, frequently work together to improve the school and clean-up the surrounding neighborhoods.
2. Chico Country Day’s initial visit application was submitted during the 2006-07 school year. We are currently involving all stakeholders for our accreditation through the Western Association of School and Colleges.
3. School purpose (beliefs, philosophy, and mission ) and expected school - wide learning results
Mission
The mission of Chico Country Day Charter School (CCDS) is to provide a safe, joyful community where all learners are inspired to achieve their personal best.
In order for every child to reach his or her fullest potential, we prioritize the following tenets:
1. Every child must be held to clearly articulated, high expectations for achievement;
2. The school, families, and community must collaborate to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of every child;
3. Teachers and administrators must be engaged in a reflective and collaborative environment of ongoing professional development that is focused on student achievement.
Chico Country Day prepares its students for the future by creating exceptional opportunities for them to learn. We equip our children with strong academic skills. Concurrently, we help them begin the lifelong process of learning and enable them to find paths that make their lives and the lives of others sustainable, productive and enjoyable.
An education from CCDS is differentiated from traditional schools in two ways: by the foundation of skills its students will have developed to cope with change, diversity, and a rapidly increasing body of knowledge; and by the breadth of the exposure its students will have to the larger world.
While striving for the highest standards throughout the curriculum, CCDS develops distinctive programs in social studies, science, technology and the arts - social studies because of the need to understand the way others in the world think and communicate; science and technology because of their increasing role in improving the effectiveness of group and individual learning; and the arts because of the critical role they play in fostering creative thinking and problem solving.
An essential characteristic of the school’s educational program is its continued emphasis on the balance of intellectual, physical and the social and emotional development of its students. CCDS offers a broad and balanced rigorous curriculum that is carefully planned and regularly reviewed. To promote physical development, the school maintains an outdoor program focuses on student “wellness” (health and nutrition) that will prepare students to care for their physical and emotional well-being. Our academic program is based upon what we know to be best teaching practices providing students with curriculum that is thematic and hands-on. Study trips are an integral part of our program, as is music, drama, environmental education, and art. Assessment drives our instruction, and we provide an environment where all learners have access to student support services. Our approach to educating our students is based on offering a broad and enriched education, aligned with the California State Content Standards.
CCDS concentrates on character education through Lifeskills and Lifelong Guidelines, promoting good citizenship and a healthy lifestyle. We get to know each student and family well, we provide leadership opportunities, especially for our older students, we embrace cooperative learning for students and teachers, and focus on creating an engaging curriculum that emphasizes depth and understanding of essential topics.
In addition to this highly successful program, the vision of CCDS is:
? High Expectations: Students are expected to adhere to high standards of student behavior and academic achievement. Life skills and Life Long Guidelines are directly taught and modeled by staff. Students are expected to demonstrate these values in their schoolwork as well as their interactions with peers and adults.
? Significant Support: Small class sizes that are 20:1 grades K-3 and 30:1 grades 4-8, and strong academic, social, and intervention support programs through the Response to Intervention (RTI) program.
? Talented Staff Sustained by Extensive Professional Development: Our School staff improves their performance with weekly collaboration and staff development time, and 12 staff development days, all focused on teaching and learning. Teaching contracts require all teachers to complete 21 hours of staff development over the course of an academic year. The school has made a commitment to provide at least the minimum of 21 hours of staff development opportunities on site. Teachers have the option to seek out their own workshops and trainings upon approval of CCDS administration.