Admissions FAQ's

What is a Charter School?
A charter school is a public school which is founded by a group of parents or teachers. This is why it is a "school of choice." The founders of a charter school sign a contract with the School Board of their district and receive funds to operate in the same way as other schools of that district receive funds. The philosophy and operation of the charter school are independent of the school district, reflecting the beliefs of the founders. The educational program is non-religious and non-sectarian.

Who Can Attend?
Charter schools are public schools. The Vanguard School are open to students who wish to enroll regardless of the district in which they reside. The Vanguard School does not discriminate against any student on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability or need for special education services.

Does my family need to live in a certain district?
The Vanguard School is chartered under Cheyenne Mountain District 12 (D-12). Therefore, District 12 residents have priority for available slots in grades K-12. Our school serves students from 15 different school districts with approximately 20% of our student population residing in District 12.

Do You Have to Pay Tuition?
No. Since a charter school is a public school, the money to educate the students is from state funding.

Who Governs the Charter School?
The Vanguard School is governed by parents whose children attend the school. There are annual elections for the Board of Directors. The governance of the school increases the involvement of parents in their children's education. The Vanguard School openly encourages parental involvement in virtually every aspect of the school.

Why Do People Form Charter Schools?
The Vanguard School founders believe that public education must focus on academics and that each student must be challenged to produce the best work of which he or she is capable. The curriculum emphasizes the basic disciplines of reading, writing and arithmetic, history, geography, science and the fine arts. The founders reject Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) and all attempts to invade the privacy of students, engage in social engineering, indoctrinate or undermine their moral foundation. The parents of The Vanguard School can be certain that the values they teach their children at home will not be compromised by the curriculum of the school. The Vanguard School will provide a safe passage through public education for their children.

What are the Unique Features of The Vanguard School?

Curriculum: The E. D. Hirsch Core Knowledge® Series provides the scope and sequence in the basic disciplines. The Core Knowledge approach to American history is inclusive, teaching that while Americans have many different national and racial origins, we have a common culture and common values which bind us as a nation. It affirms the characteristics of American government and society that are admirable while not ignoring the darker aspects of American history. The Core Knowledge Curriculum is complemented by Direct Instruction Reading, Math and Spelling.

Discipline: A discipline code contract is signed at the beginning of each school year by the student, parent and teacher. This code spells out standards of conduct that will assure safety, civility and an optimum learning environment. The Vanguard School employs the "CHAMPs" model for classroom management. 

Character Development: The values taught at The Vanguard School will help each student develop strong moral character. Moral behavior will be emphasized within the curriculum and outside it. Examples from literature and history will serve as models of virtue in action, while they will be constantly reinforced by emphasis on the child's own conduct and interaction with others.

Small Class Sizes:  The Vanguard School uses achievement level grouping for Reading and Math in Grades K-3, limiting group size to no more than 10 to ensure students are receiving the individual attention they need to succeed.

Teacher's Aides: There is an aide in each K-3 classroom to help the teacher in all aspects of education delivery. This, along with class size restrictions, will maximize the attention available for the individual learning needs of each student.

Annual Student Testing: Upon enrolling at The Vanguard School, each student takes a standardized test to establish an achievement baseline. Each spring thereafter, the student takes another standardized test to monitor his or her academic progress.

Teacher Accessibility: At the end of the 1st quarter of every school year, teachers meet with each student's parents. Conferences will help inform the teacher of any special needs the student may have or areas that need extra work. This school challenges all children to perform up to the limits of their abilities, regardless of their gifts or talents. Teachers also welcome parent communication whether it be conferences or via email.

Length of the School Year: The school year of the Academy is two weeks longer than the calendar published by Cheyenne Mountain School District 12. The Vanguard School's central mission is to maximize the academic achievement of each student. This extra class time will further this goal. Click here to access our Calendar page, which includes a printable calendar for the current school year.

After-School Activities: The students are offered a variety of after-school activities throughout the school year to complement their academic studies as resources and interest dictate. These activities will be offered by parents, teachers and members of the community willing to share special skills and expertise.

School Grades Offered: The Vanguard School offers grades K-12. The Vanguard School has been the top school in Colorado since its existence based on assestment scores.

College Preparation: We want all of our students to attend college and we prepare them accordingly. Starting at ninth grade, our students are learning about colleges and the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. We also help our students complete scholarship applications. Our first graduating class received over $3 million dollars in scholarships. Click here to learn more about college preparation at The Vanguard School.

School Location: The Vanguard School is conveniently and centrally-located. The K-3 campus is behind the Southern Cross Shopping Center off S. Nevada Avenue near downtown Colorado Springs at 1832 S. Wahsatch Avenue. The Vanguard School campus (Grades 4-12) address is 1605 S. Corona Avenue. Our phone number is 719.471.1999.