Learning Targets - Our Definition of Achievement

At River Springs Charter School, student achievement means more than just the grade on a transcript or the score on a test.  We believe student achievement is a complex process of moving, in an intentional and satisfying way, toward a collection of goals. River Springs Charter School believes the core of achievement is each student’s will and ability to take on a challenge, find and use resources to successfully tackle that challenge and work diligently to accomplish each goal, even in the face of obstacles.  For this reason, River Springs believes that not only must each student take responsibility for his or her own achievement, but the school must ensure that students are taught to take charge of their own learning in an incremental way at each grade level until graduation. 

At River Springs Charter School, we identify an educated person in the twenty-first century to mean a person who is literate, can understand and function sufficiently in the world around him or her, has an overview of the history of mankind in all its diversity, has an understanding of the political processes, has an ability to solve mathematical problems and to think scientifically, and has the values necessary to enhance the world in which he or she lives. This person is one who has realized his or her own special interests, talents, or abilities, whether it is in the arts, sciences, or other areas. It is the goal of RSCS to help students become educated individuals who are intrinsically motivated to learn, and who have diverse yet well-developed interests. 

Achievement Measurements 

River Springs Charter School will gauge the success of the educational programs through a variety of measures, including:

1. Students will have experience and skills interacting and learning within the community.
2. Upon graduation, students will demonstrate the ability to set goals, evaluate and progress towards them, exhibiting engagement in the learning process, initiative, and curiosity.
3. Individual "value added" growth of each student meets or exceeds expected year-end target, as measured by the current “in house” assessment.  Proficiency at each grade level is the eventual goal for all students, and significant gains are the targets.
4. Meet or exceed achievement goal for charter renewal of obtaining a similar school’s rank of 4 or better
5. Meet or exceed API Growth Target

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.
Denis Watley

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.
Stephen A. Brennan

Charles C. Noble