Patrick Henry accepting applications for 2012-13

Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA), a Richmond Public School, has begun accepting elementary student applications for the upcoming 2012-13 school year.

Interested families are welcome to pick up an application at any Richmond Public Library location or at PHSSA, located at 3411 Semmes Avenue. Families can also download the application off the website at www.patrickhenrycharter.org. The school will host an open house on Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the school.

“Like all public charter schools in Virginia, there is no tuition and there are no tests to qualify for Patrick Henry School,” said Sharon Burton, PHSSA Board President. “We look forward to receiving applications from families located all over the city of Richmond.”

The school recently moved from its temporary location at Woodland Heights Baptist Church – Education Center to its permanent location on Semmes Avenue. The $500,000 renovation included ADA and life safety upgrades to half of the building. The remainder of the building will be renovated in phases over the next two years.

The location of PHSSA is instrumental in the mission of the school to provide an academically rigorous STEM-based curriculum integrated with the hands-on learning provided by access to Forest Hill Park.

Applications must by postmarked by February 14th or dropped off by 4:30 p.m. that day to be considered for enrollment. No preference will be given to families who get their applications in early. If applications exceed space, a lottery will be performed.

In its first year of operation, the school reported passing scores for all of the State Standard of Learning (SOL) test results. PHSSA students scored 97 percent in Mathematics, outscoring the state by 10 points. Students also scored 92 in English, again outscoring the state. Additionally, PHSSA students scored 83 percent in both History and Science.

Patrick Henry School is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The school’s charter was approved in October 2008. The school welcomed its inaugural class of children in kindergarten through fifth grade from all over the city of Richmond in August 2010.