75 North Walnut Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44902

Phone: (419) 522-8224

Community Schools

Richland Academy of the Arts Community Schools Program

We believe every child deserves access to quality education. That’s why Richland Academy is proud to be a sponsor of community schools in Ohio.

Offering Children Excellent Growth Opportunities

We are determined to provide our community schools with their oversight, mentorship, monitoring, and technical assistance with the same passion, fervor, and creativity that we provide our arts programming.

Our Community Schools Program is committed to excellent instruction, character development, social consciousness, and artistic culture in all that we do. Our staff is committed to excellent service and oversight and creating a friendly educational experience. We strive to provide a positive, and professional environment in all of our sponsored schools. The arts and education are our passion and we strive to guide our classrooms toward a curriculum that provides creative educational experiences.

The Power of Community Schools

Community Schools are innovative free public schools designed by educators, parents, or civic leaders that are open by choice and accountable to the State of Ohio for results. Charter schools (called Community Schools in Ohio) are independently run, innovative public schools that foster partnerships between parents, teachers, and students. Today, nationally, over two million children in 45 states plus the District of Columbia are enrolled. In Ohio, 113,900 children are now enrolled in 315 charter schools. The National Association of Public Charter Schools has reported that for the past 20 years, the public charter school movement has been a leader in innovation and education reform. 

By unleashing an environment of creativity in states and communities, charter schools have demonstrated that children of all backgrounds are capable of achieving high standards and that college and career readiness is a goal attainable for all. Community schools have led efforts to narrow achievement gaps and are showing that success is possible in neighborhoods where schools have been failing for generations. For these reasons, public charter schools have been the fastest-growing sector of America’s public education system.

  • A community school is an independent public school that by law must perform well or it can be closed.
  • A community school must practice open admission policies, meet health and safety standards, and comply with civil rights laws as well as state laws.
  • A community school’s students must show satisfactory achievement equal to or better than the state average.
  • A community school will often serve children whose needs, for one reason or another, are not met by traditional public schools.
  • A community school provides freedom for educators and school founders to use curricula or programs to set up the school day in a way that meets all legal requirements and usually is a longer day and year. This freedom allows a school to address the special needs of its children directly.
  • A community school chooses to focus on an area from arts to character education to athletics and others.

Our Schools

Cesar Chavez College Preparatory School

2400 Mock Rd.
Columbus, OH 43219
Phone: (614) 294-3020

Columbus Bilingual Academy North

2100 Morse Road, Suite 4609,
Columbus, OH 43229
Phone: 614.547.4500

307 West 7th Street,
Lorain, OH 44052
Phone: (440) 434-6320

307 West 7th Street,
Lorain, OH 44052
Phone: (440) 434-6320

Northside Preparatory Academy

4750 Winton Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45232
Phone: 513-541-2276

Northside Preparatory Academy

4750 Winton Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45232
Phone: 513-541-2276

Case Preparatory Academy

107 S. Arlington St.
Akron, OH 44306
Phone: 330-394-0485

Our Mission, Vision, & Value Statements

Mission for the Community Schools Program

Richland Academy of the Arts’ authorizing mission is to provide the oversight, monitoring, technical assistance, resources and leadership needed and wanted by its sponsored community schools for them to provide their students with superior academic opportunities while maintaining sound financial viability without violating their autonomy.

Vision for the Community Schools Program

To be the sponsor of choice for community schools in Ohio. By not limiting the imagination, we will honor developmental abilities and the growth of the whole child. We will cultivate communities that believe children need to grow up experiencing the arts and contributing back to their families and communities.

Value Statements for the Community Schools Program

Commitment

The Community Schools Program will provide a commitment to excellent instruction, character development, social consciousness, and artistic culture in all that we do. Our staff is committed to excellent service and oversight and creating a friendly educational experience.

Professionalism

The Community Schools Program will ensure a professional and safe environment in all of our places of learning. Our schools will be professionally structured for top academic performance. Our instructors and staff will be held accountable to the highest of educational standards.

Creativity

The Community Schools Program will guide toward creative educational experiences for all classrooms. Our focus is the students and what they learn and create, as we strive for ingenuity and unique learning opportunities.

Inspiration

The Community Schools Program will provide an inspiring educational experience. Our instructors and staff are passionate about developing learners of character and social consciousness who will use their lifelong love of learning to contribute back to their communities, families, and friends.

Community

The Community Schools Program will provide a cooperative spirit to our sponsored schools and their communities. Our instructors, staff, and students create an internal learning community, which will serve as a solid foundation for further education and employment.

Richland Academy Sponsorship Responsibilities

We are determined to provide our charter schools with the oversight, mentorship, monitoring, and technical assistance with the same passion, fervor, and creativity that we pour into our arts programming. Below, you’ll find links to resources related to our ongoing mission to ensure every child has incredible educational opportunities available to them.

Annual Reports
Our Team
Richland Academy of the Arts Newsletter

Applications

Please contact Sheri Hughes at shughes@richlandacademy.com to request one of the following applications:

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