◊ Learner-Centered. Activities and instruction are designed around the needs, interests, abilities, and styles of our students. Instruction and curriculum exist to support the learner's success in the world.

◊ Freedom with Responsibility. Our students participate in the design of their educational journey, both individually and with others, with appropriate support from the staff and the curriculum.

◊ Community-Based. The school works in partnership with other organizations to maximize educational opportunities for students and families.

◊ Integrated Curriculum. In the real world, challenges and issues do not fall into separate boxes. Our curriculum crosses the boundaries between separate subjects to strengthen understanding and skills, and to better prepare our students for success.

◊ Arts Integration. The arts enhance learning and enhance life. The arts are woven throughout school and throughout student experiences.

◊ The "5R's" of Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Responsiveness, and Resiliency are emphasized and modeled throughout the school and its curriculum.

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School Overview

The Garden City Community School is a charter school in Garden City. Charter schools are public schools – funded by the State of Idaho and providing an education free of charge – that are created by groups of educators and parents to provide an alternative to traditional schools.

The Garden City Community School is the first public school established within the boundaries of Garden City. The school opened in the fall of 2006. We currently serve grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. Future plans include expansion to high school.

The school is located at 9165 Chinden Boulevard, Ste. 101. This location is on the southern side of Chinden, west of Glenwood and near the intersection of Garrett St.

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Educational Program

The educational program for the Garden City Community School has been designed from the ground up by a team of educators and parents to provide the greatest possible support for learning and development. It is also tailored for the realities of Garden City.

The program has the following three key features:

◊ Learner-Centered.

◊ Freedom with Responsibility

◊ Community-Based

Learner-Centered means that the activities and methods of instruction are designed around the needs, interests, abilities, and styles of the learner. The learner is at the center of the system; instruction and curriculum exist to support the learner’s success in the world.

Freedom with Responsibility means that the learner will participate in the design of their own educational path within the school Learners will take responsibility for their learning, with full support from the staff, the curriculum, and the facility.

Community-Based means that the school will work in partnership and coordination with other organizations to maximize educational opportunities for students’ families and for people of all ages. The school will serve as a community center, open extended hours and providing extended services.

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Innovative Features

Collaborative Learning Design: Students will participate in the design of their own learning program both individually and with others, so that their educational experience fits their actual abilities, their learning style, and their interests and initiatives, as well as state requirements.

Integrated Curriculum: In the real world, challenges and issues do not fall into separate boxes. Our curriculum crosses the boundaries between separate subjects to strengthen understand and skills, and to better prepare learners for success in the world.

A continuously-accessible authentic assessment system which, combined with work sampling and portfolios, will provide students, staff, and parents with a clear picture of what students are capable of, beyond what tests alone can show.

Multiage classrooms that take advantage of the natural mix of abilities and helpfulness that learners of different ages provide to each other.

Arts Integration: The arts enhance learning and the arts enhance life. The arts will be woven throughout the school and throughout student experiences.

The “Individual Education” or “5R's” approach to discipline and counseling are:

Respect: A student is treated with respect and thus learns to respect self and others. We learn to be respectful to others by being treated with respect ourselves.

Resourcefulness: A student develops an awareness and greater ability to become a successful problem solver. We become resourceful when permitted to solve our own problems.

Responsibility: A student must take an active role in his educational process. We learn responsibility by being given responsibility.

Responsiveness: A student is provided with opportunities that assist him in learning how to develop strong, effective interpersonal relationships. We become responsive when treated with love, care, and responsiveness.

Resiliency: A student learns the ability to recover from unexpected outcomes.

Along with the 5R’s goes a simple, clear, and effective system of discipline that fully respects the student and empowers them to make choices for themselves.

Language instruction at the primary level in Spanish.

Extended Services to members of the community. Options being explored include adult and continuing education, educational opportunities for refugees, a multilingual library, and a preschool branch.

For more information on the background of the educational design, visit the Design Documentation and the Knowledge Base Support System pages on this web site.

All residents and people involved with the Garden City community are invited to participate in the continuous design of the Garden City Community School.

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About Us

Key Features

School Overview

Educational Program

Innovative Features

Revised: 07/10/10