School Profile 2008-2009

School Profile 2008-2009

Monte del Sol Charter School is an independent public school of choice serving grades 7 through 12.  The charter was granted in December 1999 and doors opened in August 2000 with grades 7 and 8.    The Class of 2008 was the school's fourth graduating class.

CEEB/ACT Code: 320-609
PHONE: 505-982-5225
FAX: 505-982-5321
www.montedelsol.org

Anne Salzmann, Interim Head Learner
asalzmann@montedelsol.org

Seth Biderman, Dean of Students
sbiderman@montedelsol.org

Lisa Otero, Assistant Dean of Students lotero@montedelsol.org

Deborah Casillas, College Counselor
dcasillas@montedelsol.org

Monte del Sol Charter School is accredited by the New Mexico Public Education Department.  It's charter was granted in 1999 by the Santa Fe Public School District. 

MISSION, HISTORY and PHILOSOPHY
The mission of the Monte del Sol School is to:
  • challenge each member of its community, youth and adult, to be a life-long learner and responsible community member or leader;
  • support the education necessary for each individual to realize his or her potential.

To accomplish this, Monte del Sol School will:
  • provide a small school so each individual is known;
  • acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of its members;
  • connect students with adult community members, including parents, through a dynamic mentorship program;
  • foster awareness of the world with international exchange and communication programs;
  • embrace the arts, cultural activities, and technology as a means of learning and expression.

We will promote high academic expectations and foster individual achievement in a caring environment.

The school was birthed with an idea and a dream to reform public education by bringing the best practices of independent education to public schools. Creating a small school environment where every student is known well was and is a core value of the school. In addition to establishing high academic expectations the school focuses on the importance of the arts, the importance of participation in the community through a self-directed mentorship program, and the importance of inculcating a global perspective. Monte del Sol has a diverse student body, values a caring environment and has made a significant impact on the Santa Fe Public Schools. Ted Sizer's Coalition of Essential Schools model serves as a guide in the development of the school.

Monte del Sol has had a waiting list for every grade since its opening and in the most recent lottery, had a 9 to 1 ratio of applicants to places available.

SCHOOL DATA
  • Total Enrollment: 368
    • 124 MS students (grades 7 & 8)
    244 HS students (grades 9-12)
    59 students in class of 2008

  • Students are
    • 199 Caucasian
    143 Hispanic
    14 Pacific Islander/Asian
    7 Native American
    5 African American
     
    185 young men, 183 young women
     
    60 gifted students
    118 NM Special Education Services
     
    68 students qualify for free lunch
    36 students qualify for reduced lunch
  • Student/teacher ratio in classes: approximately 20:1
  • Average of 90% annual retention of student body since opening eight years ago.
  • Average 9 : 1 ratio of applicants to positions available
SAT / ACT Ave / GRADING / COLLEGE DATA
SAT I: Verbal Math Writing ACT
Class of 05-06 555 526 554 22
Class of 06-07 579 502 536 26*
*(8 students)

GPA: These marks represent cumulative grades of the class of '06 and '07 through their junior years. (AP classes receive .5 extra).
# of '06 seniors # of '07 seniors
4.0-4.2 2 1
3.75-3.99 6 4
3.50-3.74 7 9
3.25-3.49 7 6
3.00-3.24 6 8
2.75-2.99 8 10
2.50-2.74 9 8
2.25-2.49 6 7
2.00-2.24 4 3
< 2.00 1 5

OF 53 STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED
  • 70% (37) went to four year colleges
  • 28% (15) went to two year colleges
  • 2% (1) exchange student
FACULTY
  • 66% of the faculty hold advanced degrees
  • Of the 52 full and part-time faculty, 16 speak a second language, 11 speak Spanish as a second language.
  • All teachers are certified in the content areas of instruction
  • 7 Faculty members are ex-Peace Corps volunteers
GRADING SYSTEM AND POLICY ON RANKING
Monte del Sol does not rank its students. We believe there are many kinds of intelligences, some not accurately showcased by GPA, and comparing students thusly does not create an environment where learning occurs for its own sake.

We believe the arts and second language learning are as important as the other core academic subjects of history, English, science and mathematics; hence all carry the same weight in terms of grading. Advanced Placement classes receive an additional .5 points.

Our Scale Most Traditional Scales
4 - Goes beyond MdS's expectations of good work. Excellence means students have achieved at a higher level than expected. Though "A" was intended to signify "excellent" work, we feel that over the years it has lost its rigor and now has come to signify "good".
3 - Meets MdS's expectations. We consider this good work as defined by individual teachers. We expect all students to achieve at this level. Though "B" was intended to signify "good" work, we feel that over the years it has lost its rigor and now has come to signify "average".
2 - Meets the minimum expectations for academic work. A "2" indicates that a student's work is adequate but is less than "good" work. Though "C" was intended to signify "average" work, we feel that over the years it has lost its meaning and now has come to signify "poor".
1 - Meets some of the minimum expectations for academic work. Students receiving this grade are urged to repeat the course the following year or in the summer. Though "D" was intended to signify "poor" work, we feel that over the years it has lost its meaning and now has come to signify "barely passing".
0 - Does not merit consideration for passing and cannot receive credit. Students receiving this grade are required to repeat the course. This means an "F" in most systems.

  • Teachers use decimal gradients in between the whole numbers, which more accurately detail the level of quality of students' work.

  • Monte del Sol is on a quarter/semester system. Assessment reports are provided to students and their parents at the end of each quarter.

  • 95% of the school's parents attend the thrice annual parent/advisor conferences.
CURRICULUM
As an independent public school of choice, Monte del Sol sets its own graduation requirements of 27 credits, four more than the State of New Mexico. Those credits are distributed in the following manner:
Humanities........................................8 credits
(to include 4 yrs of English and 4 yrs of history)
Mathematics......................................3 credits
Science..............................................3 credits
World Language...............................2 credits (of same language)
The Arts............................................3 credits
Mentorship........................................2 credits
Physical Ed........................................1 credit
Health...............................................1/2 credit
Communication..................................1/2 credit
(can be satisfied by taking other language)
Electives............................................4 credits
(These electives may include additional academic, arts, or mentorship electives.)
Total ..................................................27 credits

For the minimum accumulation of credits, a student could do the following:
  • 9th grader takes 7 credits
  • 10th grader takes 7 credits
  • 11th grader takes 7 credits
  • 12th grader takes 6 credits

27 credits are the minimum only; we recommend more.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
In school year 08-09 AP courses are offered in English Literature, US History, US Government, 2-D Studio Art, and Calculus.
ATHLETICS
The school offers a full array of varsity sports, including boys' and girls' soccer, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track, and baseball. This is admirable in that the school has no athletic facilities of its own--practices and/or home games take place at the Genoveva Chavez Center, Fort Marcy Fields and the Municipal Recreation Complex.
CLUBS
Clubs include: Yearbook, Newspaper, Chess, Gay-Straight Alliance, Spoken Word, Improvisation, Philosophy, National Honor Society, Environment, African Drumming, Hip Hop/Graffiti Art, Academic Support.
MENTORSHIP
The mentorship program plays a leading role in connecting our students with the community through a stimulating, structured and project-oriented experience. All Monte del Sol students are required to participate in a mentorship for as many years as possible; there is a two-year mentorship requirement for high school students. The mentorship program creates an alternative educational model by using the community as a laboratory for learning and providing a transformative educational experience for students.

Each year over 150 students are fully engaged in the program. Students choose a field of special interest to them, and the school matches them with an adult mentor who has expertise and experience in this area. They meet with their mentor for a minimum of three hours a week during the school year to obtain an in-depth understanding of this particular field or endeavor. At the end of the academic year, the school hosts a multi-day celebration for public presentations by students and their mentors. Students are evaluated on a Pass, No Pass, Pass with Distinction basis.

Examples of mentorship include: Global Sustainability with a scientist at The Santa Fe Institute, dance with Santa Fe Dance Arts; string theory with the former President of the National Science Foundation, Guitar with The Santa Fe Symphony, the building of a classical guitar, designing polymer chemistry models, building robots, designing costumes, directing plays, choreographing a five person ensemble; fire-dancing and many more. Many students have participated in a mentorship for all four years of high school, many in the same field.

In February 2005, Monte del Sol received the National Civic Star award from the American Association of School Administrators for this unique model.
 
SENIOR LEADERSHIP PROJECTS
All seniors are encouraged to design a leadership project that benefits the community, based on their years of mentorship. These projects are specifically aimed to benefit the community and have included the following; mural painting in public places; designing and implementing water catchment for the school; extending the school's Gay-Straight Alliance to outreach elsewhere; organizing the school yearbook, starting a school newspaper; creating a Big Brother / Big Sister program, creating an organic garden, starting a thespian club, and many more.
OTHER UNIQUE PROGRAMS / AWARDS
  • COLLEGE COUNSELING: Beginning in the 9th grade at MdS, students begin to plan their four year pathway through our school. Ms. Debby Casillas begins working in earnest with students in the 11th and 12th grade to help them pursue further education beyond high school.

  • ARTS: Beginning in 7th grade, Monte del Sol students choose from one of seven art forms: Visual Art, Photography, Moving Images, Music, Drama, New Mexico Arts, Choir. Beginning in 9th grade students are required to take three years of the arts. Most MdS students Spend four years studying arts.

  • PEACE/SUSTAINABILITY: Students partake in an annual two-day statewide YOUTH SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE and an annual PEACE conference in conjunction with the United World College. Students also have attended the annual BIONEERS conference in California.

  • SISTER SCHOOLS: Monte del Sol School students travel annually to Oaxaca, Mexico; Tsuyama, Japan; France, and Spain and visit their sister school in those cities. A sister school also exists in Holguin, Cuba. Visits to that country are eagerly anticipated.

  • GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON visited the school in September 2005, touting Monte del Sol as a model charter school in the state. The school received $750,000 in capital outlay money for its gymnasium, the highest award ever to a charter school.

  • In '05 - '06, THE RONALD M. SIMON FAMILY FOUNDATION awarded four high school and college scholarships totaling $80,000 to needy MdS students. This gift followed scholarships given in '04-'05 totaling $100,000.

  • Notable visitors to Monte del Sol include:
    • Lech Walesa, 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Poland,
    • Peter Senge, ED, of the Sloan School at Management at MIT; Director of Society for Organizational Learning; and author of The Fifth Discipline,
    • Howard Zinn, author of the People's History of the United States and The Voices of the People's History
    • Huston Smith, author of The World's Great Religions, (textbook used in our senior elective), and many other works.

MONTE del SOL's first two graduating classes have received acceptances from the following institutions of higher learning; (*) represents colleges our students attend.
Antioch College*
Arizona Animation Institute
Arizona State University
Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale
Bard College
Blue Monkey School of Cosmetology, Santa Fe*
Berklee School of Music*
Boston University
College of Santa Fe*
Colorado College
Colorado Mountain College*
Columbia College of Art, Chicago*
Cornish School of Arts, Seattle*
Culinary Institute of America*
DePaul University
Dickinson College
Drew University*
Eckerd College*
Emerson College*
Emily Carr Institute of Fine Arts, Vancouver, BC.*
Evergreen State College
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising*
Fordham University
Ft. Lewis College*
Johnson & Wales University
Laguna College of Art and Design*
Lewis & Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University of New Orleans
Mills College
New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico State University*
New Mexico Technology Institute*
Naropa University
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona UniversityOccidental College*
Otis School of Art and Design*
Pitzer College
Portland State University
Pyramid School for Recording Arts, SF, Calif.*
Rhode Island School of Design
Rollins College
San Antonio Community College
Santa Fe Community College*
Sarah Lawrence College*
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Ma.*
Seattle University
Sheere School of Massage Therapy, NM*
St. John's College, MD*
St. John's College, NM
Skidmore College
Tufts University*
United World College, NM*
University of Arizona
UCLA
University of Colorado*
University of Denver
University of Hawaii*
University of Massachusetts, Amherst*
University of New Mexico*
University of Oregon
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound*
University of San Francisco
University of Victoria, BC.
University of Texas
University of Washington
Western Washington University*
Whitman College
Whittier College
Willamette University*

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