Sponsored by the El Dorado County Office of Education

10400 Fricot City Rd., San Andreas, CA 95249

 

The El Dorado County Board of Education serves as the Authorizer and Governing Board for the Rite of Passage Charter High School. The Rite of Passage Charter received charter number 55 from the California State Board of Education in 1994. The El Dorado County Office of Education provides all administrative, instructional, and financial support for the educational and vocational training programs. The Charter focuses on core academics and career/college pathways.

 

The Rite of Passage year-round residential treatment programs have enabled thousands of at-risk youth to move beyond their troubled home lives and negative former school experiences. Providing dramatic behavioral and lifestyle changes, the Rite of Passage treatment programs provide a unique, proactive setting for education.

 

Rite of Passage Charter High School (ROPCHS), sponsored by El Dorado County Office of Education, offers a 250-day school year for students. This extended school year provides students with multiple opportunities to obtain credits toward a high school diploma and complete a variety of certification programs to support students as they pursue a career and/or college. Students, who are most often placed at R.O.P. through juvenile court adjudication or social service agencies, discover a focused, personalized learning environment. EDCOE teaching staff and students benefit from the presence of R.O.P. "coaches" in each classroom, reinforcing structures in the classroom that support accelerated learning. As a result, graduation from high school becomes a real prospect for students who have traditionally failed in mainstream public education.

Rite of Passage High School is WASC accredited and has earned distinction in several areas of education and vocational training. Staff at ROPCHS meet the needs of students with a diverse ethnic and cultural background as well as a broad range of aptitudes and disparate educational experiences. Academic proficiency and career/college readiness remain priorities, with a focus on the Common Core State Standards. The following curricular areas are emphasized in the program:

 

Students enter ROPCHS with various levels of written and verbal skills. Many students come from bilingual homes and communities. Addressing the needs of each student requires skillful teaching methods.

 

MAP (Measure of Academic Progress from NWEA) serves as a primary assessment tool to measure student reading levels when they enter the program and at regular intervals during their stay at R.O.P. With the average length of stay being approximately 6 months, it is critical that teachers have accurate assessment information to determine the needs of each student and make the best use of the time that they have in the program.

The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is also used to motivate students to read a variety of texts and to improve reading comprehension. The AR reading program addresses Special Education and non-Special Education students, preparing low-level readers for our high school curriculum courses in all subject areas.

 

Students also focus on writing in all classes through our "Writing Across the Curriculum" program in order to maintain a focus on written expression in all core classes and assist our students to become more familiar with the characteristics of good written communication. 

 

Recognizing the number of students with gaps in their educational experience, the Mathematics program at ROPCHS campuses offer a variety of levels of math that cover basic math concepts through Algebra 2. Using MAP as a guide, teachers are able to identify student strengths and weaknesses so that they can be provided the most appropriate curriculum for their needs. 

 

For students needing to focus on basic skills, Odysseyware Math offers an individualized platform to develop math skills and provides a self-paced means for achieving math proficiency. Because the program accurately determines a student's needs and provides immediate feedback, most students experience rapid progress with this non-threatening, interactive curriculum. 

 

Students who are prepared for high school level courses such as Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2, are provided with small-group direct instruction combined with an online curriculum that supports their learning.

Note: The flexibility of our learning environment also allows for students to work independently as needed in Mathematics, Economics, History, U.S. Government and other subject areas.

 

It is frequently the case that students are interested in learning more about science as they interact with so much of it in our world. Our capable and creative science instructors address a spectrum of student needs and abilities within the science courses. Small class sizes ensure that those students who formerly struggled with science in a public school setting receive the kind of attention necessary for success. Using small-group and individualized teaching methods, students have the opportunity to excel, and successful graduates meet pre-college levels of competency.

 

Our emphasis on scientific inquiry encourages student engagement in the scientific process. Within our science programs, students also have the opportunity to explore related careers, including landscape design, culinary, and health studies.

 

High school level World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Economics serve as an optimal opportunity for ROPCHS students to expand their social and cultural awareness while improving life skills. The multi-ethnic and multi-cultural attributes of our student population provide a rich environment for students to become more aware of the cultural diversity---and similarities---found in American communities today.

 

Emphasis on physical training has been a key element in the Rite of Passage programs. P.E. classes and organized sports include coaching by both school and ROP program staff. 

 

Sports such as soccer, basketball, cross-country, bicycling, wrestling, and skiing (alpine and cross-country) form the roster of organized outlets that students can enjoy. Teamwork, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and self-esteem are all areas of focus for the program. 

 

Art and elective credit requirements are met in a variety of ways. ROPCHS offers independent study courses in art as well as courses in computer media, and other areas of interest to students.

 

As part of the Rite of Passage treatment program, students attend life skills classes, including Anger Management, Gang Affiliation, Drug and Alcohol Dependency, Victim Empathy, Family Reunification, and Teen Parenting. Students also participate in a career-focused program as they explore their interests for the future. Additionally, through a Positive Peer Culture behavioral modification strategy, students regularly attend Guided Group Meetings that further promote sensible conflict resolution and constructive peer influence.

 

Life Skills, OSHA training, Culinary, and Vocational Orientation classes complement the students' vocational training and transition into adult life. We offer elective credits for these subjects while promoting a higher likelihood of employment and successful, independent living.

 

In addition to our success in the core academic arena, ROPCHS offers independent study classes for. variety of CTE pathways. The skill set and work ethic that results from each of these intensive training programs leads students to be more likely to obtain jobs that will support them in the future.

 

For over 10 years, teachers at both ROPCHS campuses have been participating in training related to Project Based Learning. Students will be meeting standards following a multi-disciplinary model and ultimately presenting a project at the end of each unit of study. Projects not only allow for guided student choice, they also require that each student present their final product. As a result, students gain skills in the areas of research and communication—two areas of need as students enter careers and/or college.