FAQ

Administrative

• What is a charter school?

  Charter schools are public schools that parents choose to send their children to in place of their district-assigned school. They operate under an agreement (the “Charter”) between the charter school and the sponsoring local school board (or state board in the case of “Cyber” charter schools).

  Charter schools have the flexibility, authority, and responsibility to innovate in exchange for greater accountability for results–student learning. The “charter” establishing each school is a legal agreement detailing the school’s mission, programs, method of assessment, finances, and measures of success.

  Like other public schools, charter schools are governed by academic standards and students are required to take state standardized tests to help assess the students’ progress and be measured by No Child Left Behind legislation.

  Charter schools may not discriminate in admission and all students are selected by lottery.

  For more information about Pennsylvania Charter Schools, please visit pacharters.org. 

  Charter School Fact Sheet

• How does your school perform academically?

  We are consistently one of the top performing charter schools in the Philadelphia. 

  Please visit our Annual School Reports page for specific information.

• What is your class size?

  Our classrooms average 22 students per classroom.  In our upper grades, our students operate on unique rosters and class size varies. 

• Are your teachers certified?

  All of our core subject teachers are Pennsylvania certified and many hold dual certifications Master’s degrees. We meet all of the requirements of a Highly Qualified Staff.

Schedules & Enrollment

• Who can attend Northwood Academy?

  The lottery process is open to all Pennsylvania students in grades K-8, with priority given to students who reside in Philadelphia. Like other public schools, we are nonsectarian and nondiscriminatory in our admissions policies.
  
  We can enroll up to 788 students under our current charter agreement.  Our student body is ethnically and culturally diverse.
  
  Students who have submitted Intent to Enroll documentation, are entered into a lottery in March of the previous year they wish to attend.  Siblings are given preference when slots are available.  We also extend lottery preference to incoming kindergartners who reside in the attendance zone which includes Laura Carnell and H.R. Edmunds.    

• Is there a dress code?

  Northwood students dress for success every day. Sneakers only, khaki bottoms and Northwood polo shirts are the standard uniform. Gym uniforms consist of sneakers, sweatpants and Northwood gym shirts.

  All Northwood shirts are made available through Flynn and O’Hara Uniform stores.

  Visit flynnohara.com for times and locations.

• What is the length of the school day?

  Our normal school day is 7:45 AM- 3:00 PM. We do have a noon dismissal every third Friday of the month for teacher professional development.

• How do you apply for the enrollment lottery?

  Intent to Enroll applications (lottery applications) and current timelines are available through applyphillycharter.org.

  Please check out our Enrollment page for more information.

Programs & Services

• What activities do you offer students?

  Academics are at the core of our program and our staff is extensively trained in meeting the academic needs of our students. We utilize the Responsive Classroom Model to support the emotional needs of our students. In addition, we offer extensive field trips, arts and music opportunities, physical education programming, numerous extra-curricular clubs, sports teams, high tech equipment and opportunities, ballroom dancing, overnight camping and service learning opportunities. Our programs are continually growing!

• Is there a lunch program?

  We have a full-service school cafeteria, and in partnership with Linton's Food Services, we serve a healthy breakfast and freshly prepared lunch daily as per federal guidelines. 

  We are a CEP school, which means all students can receive free breakfast and lunch. 

• Is there bus service available?

  Transportation service is offered free to all students in first grade and above who live more than 1.5 miles from the school. The School District of Philadelphia provides us with yellow bus service and Septa transpasses based on individual circumstances.

• Do you have Special Education Services?

  Yes, as a public school we are regulated by state and federal policy regarding Special Education services and policies. Please review our Child Find Notice below and on our Public Notices page.

• Northwood Academy Charter School Child Find Policy (Annual Notice)

  Policy and Procedures for Students with Disabilities

  Northwood Academy Charter School will ensure that all students with disabilities who are eligible to enroll in the school will have available to them free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. The rights of children with disabilities, and those of their parents, will be protected in accordance with federal laws.

  As part of this child find responsibility, Northwood seeks to ensure that all students with disabilities who are eligible to enroll in the school are identified, located and evaluated. This child find responsibility shall be accomplished through a process which, while not a definitive or final judgment of a student's capabilities or disability, is a possible indicator of special education needs.

  The child find process shall include obtaining data on each student, through direct assessment of, or by indirect means of, the student's academic performance, gross and fine motor skills, receptive and expressive language skills, vision, hearing and cognitive skills.

  School staff, parents or agency representatives may refer students to the multi-disciplinary team if they believe that the student, because of a disability, may be in need of special education and supportive services in order to benefit from regular education. Northwood shall ensure that an appropriately certified school psychologist participates in the initial evaluation and all subsequent re-evaluations of the student.

  Final identification of students with disabilities and programming for such students occurs only after an appropriate evaluation and a determination by the multi-disciplinary team. If it is determined that the child requires special education and supportive services in order to benefit from regular education, an Individual Education Plan shall be developed for the student in accordance with federal law.

  If you know someone or have a child with a disability who may be in need of special education and related services, you can initiate a referral through the school by contacting Kate Crossett, Director of Special Education at 215-289-5606 or by emailing to kcrossett@northwoodcs.org.