What is Exalt Education?

Exalt Education was founded in 2009, by a small but determined group of educator founders who realized the growth in low-income children was drastically outpacing the growth in high-quality schools able to prepare them and prepare them for the future. The group focused their energy on opening a new public charter school that could pioneer a breakthrough way of educating low-income children. In just three years’ time, the Exalt network has grown from serving 240 students in grades K-5 to serving 840 students in grades K-8 with plans in the works to serve over 5,000 students.

How do I become a teacher at an Exalt Education network school?

We are currently in the process expanding our network of schools. Our growth will open up many opportunities to join our team. We're looking for the best and brightest teachers with varying degrees of experience, including those straight out of Credential and Master’s programs as well as those with proven classroom experience. We offer a flexible work schedule, professional development training and a team-oriented approach to school management. To apply for a position with Exalt Education, please see our careers page.

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How do I enroll my child in an Exalt Education network school?

Exalt Education serves children from underserved communities – communities where other educational options available to families are frequently of low quality. We currently have campuses in some of the most under-resourced communities in the Pacific Northwest and the Mid-South. Our schools are tuition-free and open to everyone. Students are accepted regardless of background or academic record on a first-come, first-served basis. If more students apply than spaces are available, students are put onto a wait list and allocated a spot as available. To enroll your child in an Exalt Academy, please contact the school in your community directly.

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How is student performance mearsured?

Exalt assesses students three to four times a year to determine how they stack up against their peers both statewide and nationally. We use the test results to enhance individualized instruction in order to assure that students are learning exactly what they need to know to be successful.

Our approach is yielding results. From 2012 to 2013, 25 percent of returning students at our Mid-South network schools gained a proficiency level on the Arkansas state tests. From 2012 to 2013, 27 percent of returning students at our Pacific Northwest network schools gained a proficiency level on the Oregon state tests. And, 88 percent of our 2013 graduating class gained admission into a college-prep program.

What is a Public Charter School?

Charter schools are independently operated public schools that are allowed the freedom to be more innovative while being held accountable for advancing student achievement. Because they are public schools, they are:

Open to all children;

• Tuition free;

• Without special entrance requirements; and

• Accountable for state and federal academic standards.

Charter schools were created over two decades ago to offer parents another public school option to better meet their child’s specific needs. A key premise of the charter school model is the belief that public schools should be held accountable for student learning. In exchange for this accountability, school leaders should be given freedom to do whatever it takes to help students achieve and should share what works with the broader public school system so that all students can benefit. *

As public schools, charter schools are tuition-free. They are funded according to enrollment levels and receive public funds on a per pupil basis. In some states, they receive less than 100 percent of the funds allocated to their traditional counterparts for school operations. In most states, charters do not receive capital funds to support facility expenses. Last year, Exalt-managed schools received over 40 percent less than the average per pupil expenditure nationally yet provided over 35 percent more learning time.

What will my child get at Exalt Education network school that he or she will not get at other schools?

 Exalt Education network schools enable students to realize their greatest potential, prepare for competitive colleges and advanced careers, and emerge as tomorrow’s leaders. To accomplish these goals, we have implemented a “Greatest Hits” academic design that offers a proven formula for serving students in high-need communities across the country. A few unique characteristics of our design principles are:

• More learning time: Exalt offers a 200-day school year, which is more than two weeks longer than the average public school year. We also extend each school day by 20-30 percent. Students arrive at 7:00 a.m. and are picked up at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. The longer day allows for deeper, higher-quality student learning.

• Embed standards and assessment: Exalt assesses students three to four times a year to determine how they stack up against their peers both statewide and nationally. We use the test results to enhance individualized instruction in order to assure that students are learning exactly what they need to know to be successful.

• Structured leadership development: Exalt schools develop our students into leaders through a positive behavior system. In addition to teaching character values to our students, we teach appropriate behaviors in a systemic method, the same way traditional schools would teach math. Students leave Exalt schools knowing what they need to know to be leaders.

For more specifics on our curriculum, visit our Academic Design Principles and Research Validated Curricula pages.