Discovery Public School of Faribault has been in existence for five years, but the school redefined itself over this last summer. Formerly known as the Covenant Academy of Minnesota Charter School, the focus was working with impoverished children that were from throughout the state. The majority of the students were residing in the Covenant Academy of Minnesota Residential Program and attending the public charter school. However, the residential facility was hindered by funding and recruiting obstacles and closed in the spring of 2005. A group of determined teachers knew that there was a place for the school as an educational alternative in the Faribault community.
The Discovery Public School of Faribault is a 6th through 12th grade public school that provides a free educational alternative for parents and students. It is operated independently from the Faribault school district and governed by a board of directors made up of parents, teachers, and community members elected by the school community. School board meetings and elections are open to the public. School board meetings are held the third Thursday of each month and elections are held during the month of April. For more information regarding meeting times or dates and or regarding school board vacancies or voting information, please contact the school at 507-331-5423.
The Discovery Public School of Faribault is authorized by Audubon Center of the Northwoods. For more information, you may visit their web site at http://www.audubon-center.org/. An authorizer and a charter school sign a charter or contract that represents an agreement between the school and the state of Minnesota. Charter schools are typically authorized by a school district, an institution of higher learning, a non-profit organization, or a foundation. The authorizer reports to the Minnesota Department of Education, and makes recommendations to the state in regards to the progress of the school.
As a charter school, Discovery Public School of Faribault is open to all students that apply. The school’s current enrollment is about 55 students. The largest class is approximately ten students, with a 1 to 6 teacher to student ratio. Current enrollment is diverse in terms of race and/or ethnicity.
All students can be successful, but many need the smaller class sizes and more one to one attention to achieve their potential. According to No Child Left Behind Laws, Discovery Public School students are making adequate yearly progress in the areas of Math, Reading, Writing, and Graduation Rate. A main area of concentration for the school is raising student attendance rates, and thus, increasing the overall achievement of the school. A low attendance rate for a school correlates to the school being labeled as ‘under-performing’ by the government.
It is the goal of the administration and staff to create a school atmosphere that is safe for all, and a learning environment that can cater to the individual needs of each student. We are proud of the services that we offer. The school has overcome many obstacles over the past year, and it shows the dedication and determination of the staff, parents, and students, in making the Discovery Public School a model charter school.
