FAQs

Charter schools are public, tuition free schools that are open to all students regardless of the district in which they reside. Charter schools are granted a specific amount of autonomy (determined by state law as well as the local charter) to make decisions concerning the structure, curriculum and educational emphasis of the school. This allows the school to make decisions based on the needs of their students and not be bound by one size fits all teaching. In return for this autonomy, charter schools are held accountable for the academic achievement of the students in the charter school. 

Please see the following resources for more information on the importance of having a choice in your child’s education.

https://www.publiccharters.org/

https://www.edchoice.org/parents-and-educators/

Kings Valley Charter School has students grade K-12.

Grade levels

KVCS is a state funded, public school of choice that operates with the Philomath School District. There is no cost to the families who have students attend here. The preschool is not state funded and is a fee based program.

Please see the preschool section for more information.  preschool

Due to our enrollment cap, we are limited on student admissions.  All families interested in attending KVCS need to enter our lottery process. Sometimes we have immediate openings in a grade level, and you will be offered a spot quickly. If a grade level is full, you will receive information as spots become available.  See our "Enrolling at KVCS" page. 

How does the process work?

 When a spot opens, we do a random lottery based on the following priorities.

Priority is given to:

1. Siblings of students currently attending

2. Students who reside within the Philomath School District Boundaries

3. Students who reside in other school districts.

Priority for the next school year is always given to students who are currently attending during enrollment in May.

*if your child is in Lotterease and you change your mind about attending, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you.

If a spot becomes available for your child, you will receive further information via the Lotterease software/our school office. 

Please note: Completing Lotterease does NOT guarantee a placement in a class.  Only complete this form if you are the parent or legal guardian of the child.

Kings Valley Charter School has a maximum allowable student enrollment of 217 students.

Our Kindergarten through 5th grade have no more than 22 students in each class.  There is a limit of 20 students in each grade 6-8.  High school size limits depend on how the courses/grades are blended, but we fill classrooms at 20 students in a course. 

KVCS High School is accredited under the Oregon Department of Education per the following:

A high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended diploma or an alternative certificate issued by a public charter school grants to the holder the same rights and privileges as a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended diploma or an alternative certificate issued by a non-chartered public school.

http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/338.115

This is a very personal question and can best be answered by coming for a tour.  However, here are some things to keep in mind as your family discusses this decision:

1. Because of our small size, social events and athletics are very limited.  Students do get to know each other well and often feel like they are part of a family and make lifelong friendships.

2.  Students do receive a lot of teacher time.  Because of small class sizes, students have more of a challenge in terms of classroom discussion and lab work, and more help when they are struggling with concepts.  There is personalized advising to help students be accountable for completion of work, as well as career and college planning. 

3. Our courses involve a lot of hands-on work, including extended field trips that involve getting "into" nature.  These trips can be day trips or can last up to a week. Your child will be asked to attend these curriculum-based trips and take part in these "field experiences" with a positive attitude and work ethic.  Students will also be expected to plan and take part in student-directed service projects. 

4.  Presentation is a key piece of our program.  Students will present academic work throughout the year during "Academic Presentation Nights" and will publish work to an online portfolio.  Work may also be taught by or presented to community members who work in various fields.

Special Education services are provided by the Philomath School District and are available on site.

special education information

Because we are a charter school, students from any district may attend although bus transportation is not available in some areas. We currently have students attending from six different school districts.

Kings Valley Charter School offers free bus service to children who are at least 5 years old. We have limited bus stops in the Monmouth/Independence area, Falls City, Dallas and Philomath. We do not post routes for student safety reasons; however, details can be discussed over the phone or during a tour.