2010-2011 School Profile

The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy represents the effort of a group of dedicated educators, citizens, and parents to provide our local children with a first-class college preparatory education, in an atmosphere where students know that their chief duty is to learn.  Direct instruction by highly qualified and dedicated teachers is traditional and rigorous within the framework of a six-period day.  Instructional time is highly valued and is not interrupted.  Students are expected to conduct themselves as serious scholars, to respect themselves and each other, and abide by a clear, firm, and fair code of conduct.  Responsibility and integrity are the marks of an Academy student.  Specific measures implemented to fulfill our mission include:  increased instructional time, uniforms, a behavior code, and the expectation of substantial work outside the classroom.

Academic Program

Graduation requirements for the class of 2011 include:

English	4 years
History	4 years
Math	3 years
Science	3 years
Foreign Language	2 years

Classes in health, economics, communication, and the fine and performing arts are also required, as well as other academic and general electives to total a minimum of 46 credits.  The Academy operates on a traditional semester calendar (1 year = 2 credits).  For 2008-2009 school year only, the Academy operated under a trimester grade structure. (1 year = 2 credits; 1 trimester = 2/3 credit).

Advanced classes include Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, Honors Biology, AP Biology, Honors Chemistry, AP Physics B, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, Honors American Literature, Honors European Literature, Honors Ancient Literature, AP Government, AP US History, AP European History, AP Economics, Honors Ancient History, Honors Latin 3, AP Latin, AP Spanish,  and Honors Spanish 3 and 4.

Grading

Course work is intended to be unusually intense; standard courses are more demanding than many designated “honors” at other schools.  Grades are not given away, nor are they inflated.  Students and staff are held accountable for professional-quality work.  Grading is very conservative:  a “C” represents an average level of work, which is the minimum requirement for advancing to the next level of sequential classes.  The Academy does not rank students; because of our purposeful decision to prevent grade inflation, the rigor of our coursework, and the high achievement level of our students, ranking them could provide an inaccurate perception of their achievement.   Therefore, only the valedictorian and salutatorian are ranked.  Grade point averages are calculated on a weighted 4.0 grading scale to encourage students to take Honors and Advanced Placement courses and recognize their additional accomplishment in doing so.  Grades are determined as follows: 

Enrollment*

The 2010-2011 student body includes 49 seniors, 47 juniors, 74 sophomores, and 99 freshmen.  In addition, we have 135 sixth graders, 128 seventh graders and 100 eighth graders.

*The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy does not discriminate on the basis of disability in our admission policy, or in providing access to programs or activities to students who, with or without special education or related aids and services, are able to meet the essential standards of the Academy.

Accreditation

The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

Test Scores

PSAT (2009-2010 - All students take the PSAT as juniors)

	Critical Reading	Math	Writing
Charter Academy	58.9	57.9	56.9
Nation	46.9	48.2	45.8

>>Four students in the class of 2011 qualified as National Merit Semi-Finalists.<<

SAT (class of 2010 - 48% took the SAT Reasoning test)

	Critical Reading	Math	Writing	Total
Charter Academy	622	623	618	1862
Idaho	543	541	517	1601
Nation	501	516	492	1509

ACT (class of 2010 - 60% took the ACT test)

	English	Math	Reading	Science	Comp
Charter Academy	28.5	27.8	29.2	27.5	28.4
Idaho	20.9	21.3	22.3	21.4	21.6
Nation	20.5	21.0	21.3	20.9	21.0

Special Recognition

The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy was named a “Gold Medal” high school by US News and World Report as one of the nation’s “100 Best High Schools” in 2010.  The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy ranked 79th out of 18,743 U.S. high schools.

Newsweek designated the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy as one of the top high schools in the nation in 2009,  ranking it 266 out of the top 1500 U.S. high schools.

Business Week recognized the Coeur Charter Academy for the “Best Overall Academic Performance” among the high schools in the state of Idaho in 2009.

The Center for Education Reform awarded The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy “Charter School of the Year” recognition, placing it in the top one percent of charter schools in the nation.

College Attendance

On average, about 70% of our alumni attend 4-year colleges and 30% attend 2-year colleges after graduation. 

The following list is a sample of the colleges attended by graduates over the past ten years:

Allegheny College
Arizona State University
Brigham Young University
Boston University
Carroll College
College of Idaho
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Emory University
Evergreen State University
Gonzaga University
Harvard University
Hendrix College
Idaho State University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Kenyon College
Montana State University
Northern Arizona University
North Idaho College
Pacific Lutheran University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Santa Clara University
Seattle University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy
University of Arizona
University of Idaho
University of Montana
University of Notre Dame
University of Oregon
University of Puget Sound
Walla Walla College
Washington and Lee University
Washington University, St. Louis
Washington State University
Westmont College
Whitworth College

Contact Information

Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy
4904 N. Duncan Drive
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
www.cdacharter.org
Phone:  208-676-1667
Fax:  208-676-8667
CEEB Code:  130-115

Principal:  Daniel Nicklay, M.Ed. dnicklay@cdacharter.org

Counselor:  Jim Schaffer, Ph.D.jschaffer@cdacharter.org