We are a tuition-free public charter school sponsored by the Mayor’s Office. Vision Academy is open to any and all children, kindergarten through eighth grade, within a brand new facility which opened in August 2014.
MISSION
At Vision Academy @ Riverside, we provide a college-preparatory education through a rigorous, literacy-based academic program that ensures our scholars are prepared to succeed on the path to college with a vision for the future.
We are a K-8 grade tuition-free public charter school founded on the educational model of Avondale Meadows Academy. We are currently enrolling grades K-8. Established in January 2013, Vision Academy @ Riverside is open to all students in Indiana. Nestled in the Riverside neighborhood at the corner of 16th Street and Riverside Drive, we will serve families across Indianapolis with a college-preparatory education for grades K-8.
OUR CULTURE
At Vision Academy, we believe that every child deserves to learn in a safe, positive environment. Scholars cannot learn, and teachers cannot teach in chaos. Therefore, in our structured environment, adults are consistently positive, yet firm so that scholars are learning in a calm and focused school setting. This positive and firm approach nurtures a culture within our school and within each classroom where scholars have the confidence to take academic risks and learn from their mistakes. Utilizing the Culture Rubric developed by our sister school, we plan to build and maintain this culture that reinforces positive behaviors and focuses on academics.
In order to establish and maintain a strong school culture, we must also have shared partnership with families. We will encourage family involvement through strong communication and will offer multiple opportunities for families to be engaged in their child’s education. All of these factors represent our collective efforts to build the overall environment conducive to preparing our scholars to attain their vision for their future.
POSITIVE
We assume the best when working with our scholars. Our staff ensures that children get to learn in an environment where the adults in the building believe each scholar can achieve. We praise kids for their effort as much as their achievement, and we approach our work with an outlook of “how can we support this scholar?” rather than “what’s wrong with this scholar?”
CONSISTENT
Kids can trust what they know will happen. Our school culture is consistent and predictable so that scholars know what to expect from adults and their peers in the classroom, hallway, and cafeteria. This allows scholars to trust their surroundings and spend their mental focus on challenging their own thoughts and ideas.
CALM
Our school is a place that recognizes individual children and their own passions. We set high expectations for every scholar but recognize their individual personalities. We want our building to be a calm place where scholars feel supported and pushed, and we want our adults to feel the same way. We promote smiles and laughter alongside hard work.
COLLEGE-PREPARATION STARTS NOW
Vision Academy will provide every scholar in its school a college-preparatory education. We believe college-preparation starts in kindergarten.
Vision Academy couples a literacy-based, content-rich academic program with a unique Vision Curriculum, focused on goal setting and individual passions. We also offer every scholar ample after-school and extra-curricular opportunities as well as a rich array of family involvement opportunities, designed to ensure every scholar has the skills and support to succeed in college and in life.
A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE
Over the past eleven years, our sister school in the Meadows, Avondale Meadows Academy (AMA), has emerged as one of the strongest, most highly regarded elementary schools in Indianapolis. In July 2012, our Board and Education Leaders, seeking to serve more students, agreed to start Vision Academy. Replicating what had AMA uniquely successful, Vision has combined a rigorous, engaging academic program with a highly positive, supportive culture and a rich variety of family supports in ways that ensure its scholars exceed academic goals. Now in our fourth year of serving the community and our families, Vision Academy has earned an A rating for the 2016-2017 school year. We will continue to grow and develop upon the many accomplishments we have experienced in a short amount of time.
OPEN TO ALL
Any elementary, intermediate or middle school child may apply to Vision Academy @ Riverside. Our school is open to all and we do not discriminate against any prospective scholar for any reason. We will welcome every child while we have space. Should the number of applications exceed openings by March 1, we will conduct a lottery and all others will be placed on a waitlist. Siblings of enrolled scholars are given preference for open seats in our school.
WHY ENROLL IN VISION ACADEMY @ RIVERSIDE:
Parents across Indianapolis want the very best for their children. At Vision Academy, we believe, as much as parents do, in the rich talents and potential of every child. At Vision, we have built a school where every child is supported and succeeds. If you are looking for an elementary or middle school that:
- is safe, clean, positive and orderly
- employs a challenging and supportive, college-preparatory academic program
- is always open to parents, committed to daily communication and eager to build partnerships with every family
- through ample family involvement opportunities
- offers an engaging array of after-school activities, enhance the school day
- is committed to results and has a proven track record of success in serving every child and partnering with every family for success.
Then Vision Academy @ Riverside is the school for you. We are certain your child will excel with us, just as other scholars have succeeded with us over the past three years.
THE VISION ACADEMY PROGRAM
Our lower and upper elementary the Benchmark literacy program, which is aligned to Indiana’s College and Career Readiness Standards. Scholars will engage in high level reading, writing, and discussion that gives them the skills and independent thinking needed to succeed at the secondary and collegiate level. Our middle school scholars will engage in a rigorous curriculum aligned to help prepare students for the Core 40 as well as a post secondary education
VISION: A CRITICAL TOOL IN EVERY SCHOLAR’S SUCCESS
At Vision, we believe that every child, with the right balance of challenge and support, can succeed on a college track. In addition to rigorous academics, we also we also believe a critical element to our scholars’ success is an ability to establish goals and actively think through their future.
A CONVENIENT, WEST-SIDE LOCATION
We are located at 1751 E. Riverside Drive. We serve families on the west side of Indianapolis and have a particular interest in serving residents of Riverside and Haughville, communities with an especially rich history and keys to our city’s resurgence. Located in Riverside allows us to serve families nearby but also the diversity of west-side families for whom our school provides a convenient, high quality educational opportunity.
A PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD
Charter schools are independent public schools, open to all students. They are funded through public funds and governed by a Board of Directors. Charter schools generally identify an educational emphasis and design their own unique academic approach while committing to achieving specific academic standards, identified by their authorizer. A state chartering authority must approve each charter school. Vision Academy is a Mayor’s-sponsored charter school, building primarily on the successful educational program that Vision’s leaders developed at our sister school in the Meadows.
