Santa Barbara Charter School nurtures lifelong learners by cultivating the interest and building the skills of both students and their families in the arts, academics, and relationships.
This school is a place where children know their voices will be heard, and parents know their children will be respected.
In 1993, a small group of parents and teachers came together to create Santa Barbara Charter School. It is an alternative public school for children in grade K-8, serving Santa Barbara and adjacent counties. This founding group conceived a school that placed equal emphasis on art, academics, and relationships.
The word “arts” was carefully placed first in the mission statement, because at SBCS, art is NOT extra. Not only are the fine arts explored and cultivated, but children may demonstrate what they have learned through a painting or other art form; a mathematical concept may be expressed through a fiber arts weaving. We feel that true learning takes place when children construct meaning through their own experience. Rather than just testing on the traditional 3R’s, we go beyond that to encourage creative and constructive thinking skills. Our assessments are also designed to support the individual child’s next step forward. To nurture relationship skills, students learn peaceful conflict resolution skills early on, and incorporate these problem solving skills into their everyday classroom experience. This is done through class meetings, Peacemaker training in the 5th grade, and through Councils used in the Middle School.
Children are respected for their work, creativity, and as human beings. Students grow and develop artistically, intellectually, and socially as members of the Santa Barbara Charter School learning community.
