About SDCCS

SDCCS was founded by a group of parents and educators from a variety of professions and backgrounds, who initially came together through a parent cooperative preschool. This community desired a higher standard and quality education that would not only prepare their students for academic success, but also mold them to be well rounded, empathetic, and passionate learners. The experience of being a significant part of our children’s education led us to feel that a school that emphasized parent involvement and respect for each child’s learning style was an ideal educational option for all children. After three years of hard work, our vision was realized and our school was opened on September 3, 2002.

SDCCS is a tuition-free charter school that accepts children from anywhere in San Diego County. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, that works in conjunction with the Parent Staff Association to set school policy.

We are distinctive for our small class size, the growing diversity of faculty and students, the high quality of our teachers, and the strength of our curriculum. We believe that a spirited, hands-on education gives students the space to grow, challenge themselves, and become inspired. The school’ s goal for each student is always the same: to provide significant experiences that will start students on a lifelong process of curiosity and discovery leading to a richly rewarding and happy life.

Our principal heads a staff of 18 classroom teachers, five specialists and the supervisor of the Extended Day Program. To learn more about their teaching styles, visit their Classroom pages or our Curriculum web page.

San Diego Cooperative Charter School (SDCCS) is a tuition-free TK-8 public school. As a charter school, we are a school of choice. SDCCS does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, political belief or activity, or status as a veteran. We encourage a diverse student base and, since we are a charter school, can accept children from anywhere in San Diego County. However, as we are a part of San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), students who live within SDUSD’ s boundaries receive priority.

To check the district boundaries, visit SDUSD’s School Finder.

We receive funding through the State of California based on how many children we serve (called Average Daily Attendance or ADA). We are part of the California Charter School Association and must comply with the State of California curriculum standards, but we are given leeway in how we


Mission

San Diego Cooperative Charter School supports progressive, developmentally based, child-centered communities for active and collaborative student learning where shared values of family, diversity, relationship, creativity and academic excellence flourish.


Vision

We respect that which makes each child unique and promote the cognitive, imaginative, creative, social, emotional, and physical development of all students. In order to provide high quality educational services, we have built a supportive, empathetic community—a true collaboration where students, parents, and educators take the time to embrace and understand one another. We embrace diversity and honor the unique contributions of each individual. This environment is intended to enhance the joy of learning for all and to inspire discovery, creativity, and a commitment to lifelong education. At SDCCS, all members of the school community work together to promote the success of each student.

Our vision is to cultivate academic greatness through immersive curriculum and educational methods that meet each child’ s needs, enable the student to participate collaboratively in their own learning, and make connections between the curriculum and the outside world. We provide students with the academic, social and emotional tools to discover their own paths through today’ s challenges with compassion, collaborative, creativity, and critical thinking.

Knowledge of brain development, multiple intelligence, learning styles, and strategies for differentiation inform instruction in all classes. Service and environmental stewardship are integrated into the curriculum in order to promote a socially conscious student population. Our students are encouraged to explore the world around them with a lens of justice and equality, engaging their whole selves in the challenges and questions of today for a more compassionate and just future.

Our staff is highly skilled and supported in their endeavors to refine their craft. We continuously monitor our progress toward achieving our goals in order to ensure that we are effectively utilizing all available resources to maximize student growth and performance while exceeding district and statewide standards. We know that the best foundation for inspired learning and academic excellence is cultivating meaningful relationships and introducing alternative ways of schooling.