HIGH STANDARDS
DUAL-LANGUAGE
UNIQUE INSTRUCTION
Why Choose Athenian?
Frequently Asked Questions
Charter schools are public schools that operate under a performance contract — or a “charter” — which frees them from many regulations created for traditional public schools, while holding them accountable for academic and financial results. The charter contract between the charter school governing board and the sponsor details the school’s mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment and ways to measure success. The length of time for which charters are granted varies but most are granted for five years.
The Florida Legislature, in authorizing the creation of public charter schools, established the following guiding principles: high standards of student achievement while increasing parental choice, the alignment of responsibility with accountability and ensuring parents receive information on reading levels and learning gains of their children. Charter schools are intended to improve student learning, increase learning opportunities with special emphasis on low performing students and reading and measure learning outcomes. Charter schools may create innovative measurement tools, provide competition to stimulate improvement in traditional schools, expand capacity of the public school system and mitigate the educational impact created by the development of new residential units.
Charter schools are open to all students residing within the district; however, charter schools are allowed to target students within specific age groups or grade levels, students considered at-risk of dropping out or failing, students wishing to enroll in a charter school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality, students residing within a reasonable distance of the school, students who meet reasonable academic, artistic or other eligibility standards established by the charter school, or students articulating from one charter school to another. Additionally, a charter school may give enrollment preference to the following student populations:
- Siblings of current charter school students'
- Children of a charter school governing board member or employee
- Children of employees of the business partner of a charter school-in-the-workplace or resident of the municipality in which such a charter is located
- Children of residents of a municipality that operates a charter school-in-a-municipality
- Students who have successfully completed a voluntary prekindergarten program provided by the charter school during the previous year
- Children of an active-duty member of any branch of the US Armed Forces.
- Students who attended or are assigned to failing schools
A charter school must be organized as, or be operated by, a nonprofit organization. The charter school may serve at-risk students, or offer a specialized curriculum or core academic program, provide early intervention programs, or serve exceptional education students.
Contact information for the representative must be provided in writing to parents each year, and must be posted prominently on the charter schools web site if a web site is maintained by the charter school.
Also, each charter school’s governing board must hold at least two public meetings per school year in the school district. The meetings must be noticed, open, and accessible to the public. Attendees must be provided an opportunity to offer input regarding the schools operations and receive information about the school. The representative appointed by the governing board must be physically present at the two required meetings.
- Authorized/Logo school uniform polo shirts in royal blue, red, yellow or green may be worn by all students K-8.
- Black may be worn by the 8th grade class only.
- Uniform-style twill shorts, pants and skirts in colors of navy blue, black and khakis (with sewn in pockets).
- Royal blue or white zip-up or pullover sweatshirts can be worn in the building. Navy blue and white solid sweaters are also acceptable. A school appropriate uniform shirt must be worn underneath. This is the only outerwear allowed inside the building.
- Royal blue, Parthenon Spirit or house t-shirts may be worn on Friday Spirit Days only.
- Solid color leggings or tights in colors of royal blue, white, navy or black may be worn under school uniform.
- Closed toe shoes MUST be worn at all times.
- Proper undergarments are to be worn at all times.
- Hats and other outerwear may be worn outside during P.E. and/or recess only
In addition:
- Uniforms are to be clean and free from rips or holes.
- Uniforms are to be the proper size for your child. They should not be too big or too small.
- Uniform shorts for both girls and boys are to be fingertip length at a minimum
- Uniform shirts or spirit shirts must be worn under the approved school logo sweatshirts or plain white or royal blue sweatshirts.
Foreign Dual-Language Focus
Athenian academy, established in the year 2000, was the first Greek charter school in the United States. Today Athenian Academy’s curriculum has evolved into dual foreign languages including both Greek and Spanish. Athenian is the only school that teaches two foreign languages daily to all K-8 students.
Traditional public schools offer foreign language classes, often popular options like Spanish and French. But overall, children in the United States are behind their counterparts elsewhere in the world who learn multiple languages while growing up. Students at Athenian along with core academics receive daily instruction in English, Greek and Spanish giving them a tri-lingual, tri-cultural global advantage.
The Athenian Academy has a strong partnership with the Greek Embassy Department of Education. Our Greek teachers participate in a 3-5 year teacher exchange program and are all highly qualified, veteran, native speaking, educators from Greece.
The Athenian Academy employs State of Florida certified Spanish teachers. With multiple Spanish teachers on site, each brings the advantage of their home country dialect to the Spanish curriculum.
Join Over 400 Students at the Tuition-Free Athenian Academy
Enjoy the perks of a private school (including dual language curriculum) at no cost!
