Pacific School teachers work collaboratively to select and integrate curricula. Text books are used in all core subjects, but teachers teach beyond the text, supplementing these basics by integrating music, art, literature, field studies and other “real world experiences” into the classroom. Since it is a converted residence, the K-8 site helps create a family atmosphere.
Pacific Community Charter High School (PCCHS) offers an alternative curriculum through a unique combination of small class, multi-grade instruction and the Passage program of six project-based student designed courses. PCCHS extends course offerings through a collaborative relationship with Point Arena High School. The Pacific Charter High School site is located on the Point Arena High School campus.
The Pacific Community Charter School provides the California coastal communities from Salt Point (Sonoma County) to Elk (Mendocino County), including Gualala and Point Arena, with a publicly funded kindergarten through 12th grade charter school. All K-12 students in these geographic areas are eligible for enrollment. No tuition is charged.
Pacific Community Charter High School requires that each student complete a minimum of eighty (80) hours of community service as a requirement for graduation.
One half of the hours (40) are met through volunteer service contributed to the Pacific School. One half of the hours (40) are met through volunteer service to non-profit organizations or service oriented for-profit organizations or community individuals in need of assistance who are not able to acquire service elsewhere.
Most students try to complete 10 hours of Community Service and 10 hours of School Community Service each year.
There are many opportunities to complete your Service hours. At school, we practice taking care of ourselves, and others, by completing simple work chores each week to keep our environment safe and clean. Students earn School Community Service for completing these chores.
In our community, many organizations thrive on volunteer help, including the Coast Community Library and the Arena Theater.
Opportunities to earn Service Hours are regularly announced in your Community Leadership and Service class.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
(PDF), from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20250-9410;Fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; orEmail: program.intake@usda.gov
What distinguishes the PCCHS program from other area high schools?
An emphasis on project-based learning through Passages based in a small community-minded environment makes PCCHS unique.
What is a Passage?
A passage is a student initiated course of learning and self-development. Students explore personal, professional and academic interests through a project which they plan, document and display when completed. Each Passage is guided and evaluated by a Passage Council made up of a faculty member, a peer, and a community mentor. Each Passage is awarded 10 credits. Passages are a way for students to personalize their high school education.
Are there any other requirements?
All PCCHS students must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) prior to graduation. Students take the CAHSEE in the spring of their 10th grade year and have the opportunity to retest in subject areas they do not pass in both their 11th and 12th grade years. The state requires that all students pass both the language arts and math portions of the test prior to graduation.
Students must complete 80 hours Community Service, half of the hours must be service to the Pacific School and half must be to anon-profit or service oriented for-profit organization. For more about Community Service, see the Community Service How To page.
Students progressing to the University of California or the California State University must successfully complete two years of a language other than English and follow other coursework requirements. See the Courses Required for Graduation and University Admission page.
High School Graduation
Requirements Comparison
|
Courses |
PCCS |
CA* |
UC** |
CSU*** |
|
Social |
30 |
30 |
20 |
20 |
|
World History |
10 |
|
|
|
|
US History |
10 |
|
|
|
|
Civics |
5 |
|
|
|
|
Economics |
5 |
|
|
|
|
English |
40 |
30 |
40 |
40 |
|
Math |
20[1] |
20 |
30[2] |
30[3] |
|
Science |
20 |
20 |
20[4] |
20 |
|
Physical Science[5] |
10 |
|
|
|
|
Life Science[6] |
10 |
|
|
|
|
Visual/Performing |
10[7] |
10[8] |
10 |
10 |
|
Foreign |
10 |
10[9] |
20[10] |
20 |
|
Physical |
20 |
20 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Electives |
30 |
10 |
10[11] |
10 |
|
Passages |
40 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
CLS |
20 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
TOTAL |
240 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
|
Community Service |
40 |
|
|
|
|
School Service |
40 |
|
|
|
Updated October 2020
*CA: Minimum high school graduation requirements as determined by the State of California.
**UC: Requirements for University of California campuses.
***CSU: Requirements for California State University campuses.
[1] Including Algebra 1.
[2] Including Algebra, Geometry, and
intermediate Algebra. Four years recommended.
[3] Including Algebra, Geometry, and
intermediate Algebra.
[4] Two years with lab required, chosen from
biology, chemistry and physics. Three years recommended.
[5] Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, STEM
Robotics, AP Computer Science
[6] Biology, AP Biology
[7] Fulfilled as visual/performing arts or
foreign language.
[8] One year of either visual and performing
arts, foreign language, or career technical education.
[9] One year of either visual and performing
arts, foreign language, or career technical education.
[10] Two years in same language required.
Three years recommended.
[11] From approved academic courses in
history/social science, English, advanced math, lab science, foreign language,
social science, or visual and performing arts.
1. What is a Charter School?
Charter schools are independent public schools with rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. Charter schools do not charge tuition.
2. Is PCCHS accredited?
Yes. PCCHS is accredited through WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges).
3. Do PCCHS college prep courses meet the UC guidelines?
Yes. You may check the list of PCCHS courses approved by the UC at https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/.
4. Will I get help to complete my Passages?
Yes. You will get help in your Community Leadership and Service (CLS) class.
5. Can I go on the Point Arena High School campus?
Yes. Students enrolled in Pacific Community Charter High School can take up to 3 classes at PAHS and students enrolled in PAHS can take up to 3 classes at PCCHS.
6. Can I participate in sports?
Yes. You may compete to play on any of the sports teams throughout the year.
7. Can I attend PAHS dances and special assemblies?
Yes. You should plan to purchase a student body card to save money.
8. Can I participate in the cafeteria’s free and reduced lunch program?
No. Unfortunately, PCCHS does not yet qualify for this program. However, you may purchase meals at the regular price.
9. Is PCCHS an open campus?
Juniors and Seniors may leave campus during lunch.
2. Career Exploration: A broad investigation of a field of employment, including an in-depth study of at least one job within that field, with particular attention to possibilities for the future.
3. Creativity: The development of a product that is an expression of one’s personal imagination, together with a detailed analysis of the process by which it was created.
4. Global Awareness/Volunteer Service*: The identification of an issue having global impact, followed by a study of how one’s own culture and at least one other culture deal with this issue, culminating in a service project designed to influence the issue on a local level.
5. Logical Inquiry*: An investigation that includes the generation of a hypothesis, the development of a systematic approach to data collection, and sufficient documentation to allow replication of the study.
6. Practical Skills: The development of proficiency in a skill or set of skills for which one was formerly dependent on others, and which has the potential for life-long usefulness.
While the development of each child’s individual potential is important to the
Pacific School, a sense of social responsibility and a reverence for all life is equally modeled and encouraged. The school has implemented Wise Words as school-wide character education curriculum which identifies and draws attention to a valuable character trait each month. Themes include:
Each monthly theme is incorporated into classroom activities,
an interactive bulletin board in the main hall, and semi-monthly all school meetings. |
The student-led conferences encourage students to examine their learning
critically and monitor their progress toward the goals that they have set for themselves. Students prepare their own conferences, in each class, reviewing what they have accomplished, what work remains for them to complete and what goals they have for the year. It is not a traditional parent conference – it is a conference led by each student to show their parents the kinds of work they do and also discuss their behavior at school. There are usually three or four families in the classroom, with each student sharing what they have prepared to show their parents. The teacher’s role is to support students if they get off track, and to support parents if there are any questions. |
pacificcharterschool.org 