RiverBend Academy Charter School
Encyclopedia
RiverBend Academy is a charter school
in Mankato, Minnesota
. The school opened in September 2000 and is part of the EdVisions Schools
co-op. The school is in its own independent school district, ISD #4066.
department, Title I staff, and other educational and support staff.
Education at RiverBend centers on project-based learning. With the help of their advisors, students create projects that cover the Minnesota Graduation Standards. There are also regular field trips to organizations around the community and experts are brought in to teach students about particular topics.
As of the 2009-10 school year (the most recent year for which data is available as of August 2011), RiverBend Academy served 69 students in grades 6-12. The majority of students (60) were in grades 9-12, with just 9 students in grades 6-8, according to the National Center for Education Statistics
.
In 2010, RiverBend Academy celebrated its tenth anniversary, succeeding in a state where 37 of 200 charter schools have closed their doors since Minnesota first allowed charter schools in 1992.
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
in Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
. The school opened in September 2000 and is part of the EdVisions Schools
EdVisions Schools
EdVisions Schools is a nonprofit organization that works with charter schools, school districts and community groups to create and sustain small schools using self-directed project-based learning, small learning communities and authentic assessment. The EdVisions Schools headquarters is located...
co-op. The school is in its own independent school district, ISD #4066.
Structure
The school has around 70 students from grades 6-12 and five general education teachers (called advisors), plus art and music instructors, a special educationSpecial education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
department, Title I staff, and other educational and support staff.
Education at RiverBend centers on project-based learning. With the help of their advisors, students create projects that cover the Minnesota Graduation Standards. There are also regular field trips to organizations around the community and experts are brought in to teach students about particular topics.
History
In 1995, the Mankato Area Public Schools (ISD #77) formed a group to look at alternatives for public education in the area. Two years of discussion resulted in the founding of Bridges Community School, which was run by ISD #77 and initially served children in grades 5-6 (and later expanded to cover grades K-6). Recognizing the need for alternative educational opportunities for older students, work continued and a model was developed for a secondary-level charter school. In September 2000, RiverBend Academy opened its doors to more than 150 students.As of the 2009-10 school year (the most recent year for which data is available as of August 2011), RiverBend Academy served 69 students in grades 6-12. The majority of students (60) were in grades 9-12, with just 9 students in grades 6-8, according to the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
.
In 2010, RiverBend Academy celebrated its tenth anniversary, succeeding in a state where 37 of 200 charter schools have closed their doors since Minnesota first allowed charter schools in 1992.