FAQ
FAQ
- What is the Lefferts Gardens Charter School?
- What is a charter school?
- How are charter schools different from conventional NYC public schools?
- How large will class sizes be?
- Will you offer art and music? Physical education?
- Where is the school located?
- How many students are admitted?
- How do I apply to the Lefferts Gardens Charter School? How are admissions determined?
- Will you have a Gifted and Talented Program?
- Will the school serve children with special needs?
- How can people support the Lefferts Gardens Charter School?
What is the Lefferts Gardens Charter School?
The Lefferts Gardens Charter School (LGCS) is a New York City public charter school. Founded in September, 2010, LGCS will serve grades K-5 when fully operational in 2014. In 2011-12, the school serves students in grades K-2, with one grade added each year. The school is located in Brooklyn's Community School District #17, which comprises Prospect Lefferts Gardens and parts of Crown Heights and Flatbush. The school uses an environmental science program to develop academically motivated and civic-minded students to succeed in competitive high school and college programs. We draw heavily on local resources including the wonderful fields and trees, water and wildlife of Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo to create on-site learning opportunities.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently according to the terms of a five-year performance contract or “charter.” Charter schools commit to meet specific goals for academic performance and their charter can be revoked if agreed-upon results are not attained. The school is publically funded through the NYC Department of Education.
Like all publicly funded schools, charter schools must meet Regents requirements and state laws for health, safety, civil rights and student assessment. In addition, charter schools must accept all students and cannot discriminate in their admission policy.
How are charter schools different from conventional NYC public schools?
Charter schools can be started by educators, parents, community leaders and not-for profit organizations. They operate outside the direction of the New York City Department of Education, and are governed by a not-for-profit board of trustees. Charter schools operate outside the NYC Department of Education curriculum guidelines, which provides the freedom to create their own courses of study. Nevertheless, they must meet or exceed the goals they have set for their academic programs.
How large will class sizes be?
Each class will have a maximum of 27 students. In kindergarten, and grades 1 and 2, there are two teachers per class, with a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1. We currently have one general education and one special education teacher per classroom.
In grades 3 to 5, there is one teacher and one assistant teacher per class.
Additionally, there are two floating support staff for each grade.
Will you offer art and music? Physical education?
Every child has physical education every day. Our school day is a half-hour longer than the traditional public school day, which provides an additional period for physical education each day. We will also offer art a total of two hours a week at each grade level.
Where is the school located?
Lefferts Gardens Charter School is located in PS 92, which is located at 601 Parkside Ave, between Bedford Ave and Rogers Ave in the Lefferts Gardens area of Brooklyn. Our address is:
LGCS, 601 Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
How many students are admitted?
Each year, 78 kindergarten students are admitted. Students are admitted to all other grades based on the number of seats that become available. Each year following, a new group of 78 kindergarten students will be added.
How do I apply to the Lefferts Gardens Charter School? How are admissions determined?
Lefferts Gardens Charter School is a free, public school. All children living in New York City may apply and will be admitted unless we receive more applications than we have seats. In that case, applications will be selected by lottery. Neither race, religion, disability, nor language proficiency will be a factor in admissions.
Preference in our admissions process goes first to the siblings of our current students. Preferences also go to students residing in Community School District 17.
If mailed in, applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2012. Application deadline for hand delivery is April 2, 2012 by the end of the school day for the 2012-13 school year. All applications must be received by this date.
Like all charter schools, Lefferts Gardens Charter School determines admissions by lottery. No preferences are given to children whose parents volunteer, make donations, or work for the school.
Will you have a Gifted and Talented Program?
No. Charter schools in New York City don't have gifted and talent programs.
Will the school serve children with special needs?
LGCS will serve all children in our community, including children with special needs.
How can people support the Lefferts Gardens Charter School?
There are several things you can do to help. Join our Parent Association, which organizes our parent volunteers.
Make a donation. Our school needs support to supplement our per-pupil allotment from the Department of Education.
Volunteer
Parent volunteers play an important role at LGCS.
The main vehicle for volunteering is the LGCS Parent Association, which organizes the school's book fair, and events for students. Each classroom has at least one class parent who helps arrange for parents to volunteer in the classroom, reading to students, or assisting teachers and aides. Parents with a particular expertise can talk with students about their specialties. They can also serve as chaperones on the weekly field-study trips to educational sites in Brooklyn.
© Copyright 2011, Lefferts Gardens Charters School. All rights reserved.
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