Academic Programs
College/Career Readiness
Research shows that a college degree can make all the difference. Our schools provide various resources to prepare students for ACT/SAT, college applications, scholarships, and career readiness programs.
Features:
- Individualized attention - College counselors provide one-on-one college and career guidance customized for the students’ needs and ambitions with a variety of tools and activities
- Concept College Readiness Program (CCRP) that focuses on student preparedness for college throughout high school years
- Assistance with FAFSA and scholarship applications
- Annual college/career fair
- College application tracking system
- College visits
- Internships and apprenticeship programs
Career Preparation
As a college preparatory school, the CS ensures that students gain the necessary skills not only for a successful college education, but also for a successful career. Therefore, several components in the design integrate career education and exploration within the curriculum such as life skills curriculum, job shadowing, summer internships, senior thesis, career and college fairs, college path courses, and other elective courses.
College Credit Plus
Ohio’s new College Credit Plus can help you earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from colleges and/or universities. The purpose of this program is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wide variety of options to college-ready students. Taking a College Credit Plus course from a public college or university is free, which means no cost for tuition, books, or fees. If you choose to attend a private college or university, you may have limited costs.
Curriculum
The CS is dedicated to providing a diverse population of students with an outstanding education focused on math, science and technology. The curriculum is designed to ensure 100% student proficiency on state standards in math, science and English Language Arts as well as a 100% graduation rate and acceptance into college.
CS implements a standards-based, college-preparatory curriculum giving the staff flexibility to adapt instructional strategies in order to meet the needs of the students. All parts of the CS curriculum is fully aligned with State Learning Standards.
Curriculum maps and unit plans provide the framework for the detailed weekly lesson plans that the teachers will complete with their grade-level partners. A shared drive will make plans accessible for reference by students and staff. These plans will specify the daily activities and assessments that teachers will use to teach and measure progress and to ensure that all homework and class work are aligned to standards.
Elementary School Curriculum
Below is the elementary school sequence with total weekly instructional time:
| Subject | Minutes of Instruction |
| Mathematics | 450 minutes a week (90 minutes a day) |
| English Language Arts | 450 minutes a week (90 minutes a day) |
| Science | 225 minutes a week (45 minutes a day) |
| Social Studies | 225 minutes a week (45 minutes a day) |
| Art | 90 minutes a week (2 times a week of 45 minutes) |
| Computer | 135 minutes a week (3 times a week of 45 minutes) |
| Physical Education/Health | 90 minutes a week (2 times a week of 45 minutes) |
| Life Skills | 45 minutes a week |
| Foreign Language | 90 minutes a week ( 2 times a week of 45 minutes) |
| Total | 1800 minutes a week |
High School Curriculum ( http://www.horizoncleveland.org/)
High school graduation requirements exceed traditional public schools and include service learning and a senior thesis. In order to earn a diploma, each high school student must meet all of the following requirements. Only students earning a diploma are permitted to participate in graduation activities. The high school curriculum will continue to undergo design refinements prior to the first ninth grade class entering CS so that the minimum high school course requirements provide students with the opportunity to meet the entrance requirements for top-tiered colleges and universities.
Assessment
Concept Schools use a combination of diagnostic, authentic, state-mandated standardized tests, and nationally recognized norm-referenced assessments to compare students’ progress over time with the school’s goals. These assessments include:
- Northwest Education Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic progress (MAP)
- ACT’s Explore and Plan
- State Standardized Tests
In addition, Concept Schools have designed and use interim assessments that are aligned with the Illinois standards and mirror the state tests. Within a few days of the test, data from the interim assessments will be analyzed and uploaded to the online database created by Concept Schools. Teams of CS teachers will review the analysis from the interim assessments and develop specific strategies to address the students’ learning deficiencies.