Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy is a school of choice serving students in grades K-12 from across the Pikes Peak region. Founded in 1995 by several parents interested in a more rigorous academic curriculum, CMCA continues to provide excellence in education in a safe, structured environment by adhering to its mission statement.

 

All of our teachers are highly qualified and committed to excellence in education. Teachers utilize Direct Instruction coupled with a Core Knowledge curriculum to achieve student mastery. Teachers use a classroom management approach based on the CHAMP’s model to encourage positive, respectful, on-task behavior from all students.

 

The K-6 program is chartered with Cheyenne Mountain School District 12, and the Junior High and The Vanguard School (9-12) is chartered with the Charter School Institute. As a District 12 school, residents of Cheyenne Mountain District 12 have priority to attend CMCA in kindergarten through sixth grade. District 12 students account for approximately 20% of CMCA’s student population. The remaining students are from 17 other school districts in the Pikes Peak region. Enrollment is determined by a lottery system which occurs annually on February 1st.

 

Currently, 28% of the CMCA student population qualifies for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. This is in contrast to 10% in our chartering district. According to the most recent Student Count Day statistics for school year 2010-2011, the ethnicity of CMCA students is as follows:

                            

   

More than 1000 students in kindergarten through 12^th grade represent a broad spectrum of the surrounding Pikes Peak region. The Vanguard School location is a 21-acre site four blocks from the existing elementary school. The high school offers a rigorous, classically based college preparatory curriculum. High School honors and AP classes are the only tracks available to enrolled students.

 

CMCA is led by the executive director. The elementary program is headed by a building principal, and two assistant principals conduct daily operations of the programs 7-8 and 9-12. A five-member governing board sets policy and vision for the school and oversees school operations. The board is comprised of at least four parents and up to one community member.