A highly effective school results from a rigorous academic program in a culture of trust and high expectations, led by a visionary instructional leadership team and implemented by talented, dedicated teachers. At Imagine Schools we monitor and evaluate our school performance based on six Measures of Excellence:
Shared Values
Imagine Schools’ Shared Values of Justice, Integrity and Fun form the foundation of our educational mission. Imagine educators aspire to live by these values daily and teach them to our students.
• JUSTICE gives to each person what he or she deserves and what is appropriate. Justice requires doing all in our power to ensure that every Imagine person has access to a safe, caring, and outstanding learning environment. We align goals for each student and adult in our schools with what they need and deserve. Driven by the unique abilities and needs of each individual, Imagine Schools strives to provide a culture and climate that equips all members of the school community with the tools they need for success.
• INTEGRITY means wholeness, or how things fit together. Integrity drives us to live and model consistent ethics inside and outside the school. Integrity requires responsibility and accountability. It means every aspect of what and how we teach is done with rigor and fidelity, and how we treat others is done with dignity and respect. We hold ourselves individually and collectively accountable for strong academic and character outcomes, with each individual fulfilling his or her responsibility so that all adults and students can be successful parts of the whole school community.
• FUN means cultivating a Joy at Work environment in every school we operate. In our schools, every voice matters, and each person has the freedom and opportunity to use his or her unique talents, experiences, and abilities to make important decisions contributing to the success of the school. Joy at Work blends integrity and justice with accountability in decision-making to achieve outstanding results for students and families.
Academic Growth
Academic Growth reflects our strong belief that growth, alongside achievement, is the most accurate measure of academic success. By analyzing growth data, we make informed decisions that foster positive learning experiences and challenge our students to soar. Our holistic educational approach, guided by our Academic Excellence Framework, embodies evidence-based and effective instructional practices. Imagine educators empower each student to make significant academic progress that is both measured and celebrated, all within a collaborative culture of high expectations.
Character Development
Character Development begins with Imagine teachers and staff teaching, modeling, and integrating character core values into every aspect of the school curriculum and culture. We partner with students and their families to provide caring school communities in which students have opportunities to understand and practice these character core values to help guide their choices and actions.
Parent Choice
Parent Choice is the principle at the heart of the charter school movement. Charter schools empower families to select a learning environment that best meets their child’s unique needs. Parents choose an Imagine school because we provide the academic quality, character development, and nurturing environment they want for their children. Parents re-enroll their children because Imagine educators create an optimal learning environment and work closely with parents to support the academic and positive character growth of their children.
Economic Sustainability
Economic Sustainability means stewarding public funds to optimize our students’ educational outcomes. Imagine educators ensure, to the best of their ability, that our schools operate within their means and that all resources are used to benefit students’ education. Meeting our commitments to academic excellence, character development, and parent choice contributes to fully enrolled and economically sustainable schools.
School Development
School Development prioritizes unique and innovative solutions that expand opportunities for our students and best meet the needs of the communities they serve. We focus on continuous improvement, enhancing our educational approach and developing operational strength, by improving our facilities, programs, and outreach in order to provide safe, ethical, joyful cultures where adults’ and students’ talents and interests can thrive and grow.