NOW ENROLLING for 2021/2022!
We are located at 2030 Old Hickory Tree Rd. on the corner of Old Hickory Tree Rd. and 192 (E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy).
Click on the question below to view the answer.
Do I have to pay tuition to attend CIJS?
No, CIJS is a tuition FREE public charter school, therefore you do not need to pay tuition during the regular school day. Any child attending the before or after school k-6 program or the wrap around pre-k program need to pay tuition for that portion of the day ONLY. CIJS enrolls students via a lottery drawing. Click Here to View Lottery Policies
Will you accept students who do not reside in Osceola County?
Yes, students are permitted to turn in an application if they do not live in Osceola County. Click here to get more details regarding the lottery policies.
What grades do you offer?
CIJS accepts application for students in pre-k through sixth grade. We base the number of classes per grade offered contingent upon the applications received. The initial lottery will take place in March. Subsequent lottery drawings occur weekly until all vacancies are filled.
CIJS plans on adding 7th grade for the 2022/2023 school year and 8th grade for the 2023/2024 school year.
When will you begin accepting applications for the 2022/2023 school year??
We began accepting applications on Jan. 3 for 2022/2023 for pre-k through 7th grade. However, we are STILL enrolling for next year NOW. CIJS always has an influx of new students each year, therefore we encourage families to enroll even if there is not a spot open so that you can be put on the waitlist.
How old does my kindergartener have to be to enroll at CIJS?
We follow state requirements which means your child must be 5 before Sept. 1.
Are uniforms required?
Yes, CIJS requires students to wear particular attire. Click on the link below to view our uniform and dress code policies. Click Here to View Dress Code Policies
Will you provide extended day care (Before/After School)?
Yes, CIJS provides before care for K-6th grade students from 6:30-8:30 A.M. and after care from 4:00- 6:00 P.M. VPK wrap for our preschool program is also provided through CIJS. Click on the link below for more information. Click here to View Extended Day Care Information
Will you provide camps?
Sometimes we provide camps for students during the break, but not always. We typically provide summer camp though for most weeks the students are off of school.
What is Reggio?
Is CIJS primarily an agriculturally based school?
No, Agriculture is just one component offered. CIJS has a blended curriculum where we implement standards using a ground-breaking approach in an organized manner, through interdisciplinary learning. We integrate a project-based method of teaching with the Reggio inspired philosophy along with an agriculture based component. Due to our uniquely blended approach to curricular material, we are able to meet the needs of diverse students, and are able to differentiate instruction for each child regardless of his or her learning style.
Are the students required to take the state tests?
Yes, CIJS is required by law to administer the state assessments, however, our unique approach to learning allows our students to understand and apply their knowledge to the tests and real world vs memorizing content and regurgitating it which is why we have such a success rate in our Winter Springs sister school location with our VPK state assessments.
CIJS participated in state assessments for the FSA during the 2020/2021 school year. While we were not required to accept the scores due to COVID, therefore we do not have a school grade, CIJS outperformed the district schools on the tests.
Kindergarten students are required to take the FLKRS state tests upon entry to school. Those results for our returning VPK students showed that 87% met or exceeded the state expectations which was amazing during the COVID pandemic year.
Below are sister school scores in Winter Springs VPK State Assessment Scores (CIJS of Winter Springs):
2015/2016 State Scores: FIRST YEAR OFFERING VPK CIJS BOASTED 100% PASSAGE RATE WITH A 91.74% AVERAGE (WITH MANY OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CATEGORY OF EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS).
2016/2017 State Scores: SECOND YEAR OFFERING VPK BOASTED 100% PASSAGE RATE WITH A 90.9% AVERAGE (WITH MANY OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CATEGORY OF EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS).
2017/2018 State Scores: THIRD YEAR OFFERING VPK BOASTED 100% PASSAGE RATE WITH A 92.47% AVERAGE (WITH MANY OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CATEGORY OF EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS).
Do you accept volunteers?
Yes, Parents are required to volunteer a minimum of 25 hours per school year. Parents who have more than one child are required to volunteer a minimum of 35 hours. Opportunities include the PTO, classroom help, fundraisers, school events, tutoring, mentoring, marketing, building items for the school, or any other way the family and school agree they can contribute. Alternative family members may volunteer if the parent/guardian is unable to partake.
POLICY FOR PARENTS WHO CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL EVENTS
In the event a parent feels they would like to be more involved in the school but cannot due to their work schedule or other conflicts, we will help them find a project or area which they can do on their own time. A member of the leadership staff will meet with the parent to find their area of interest. We will offer suggestions based on their interests and time. The following are a couple of examples:
• If the parent likes to sew, you can offer to have them make curtains for classroom windows. If This will count towards your volunteer hours.
• If a parent likes to build, you can offer to make light tables, shelves, tables for the classrooms etc.
How Does CIJS Ensure That Students with Disabilities Will Have an Equal Opportunity of Being Selected for Enrollment in the Charter School?
CIJS is required to admit all students, based on space availability and subject to selection through the School’s lottery system. A student’s ESE status will not be used in the selection and lottery process. CIJS operates within the context of the larger school district. The district serves as the Local Education Agency (LEA) with regards to federal IDEA (Individual with Disabilities Education Act), and therefore, CIJS personnel are required to abide by the district’s policies and procedures with regards to special education services. Given that the IDEA does not require that all special education services be provided at all schools, CIJS acknowledges that some ESE services may need to be provided at alternative locations based on the needs of the students and the district’s special education delivery model. If a student were to be accepted via lottery to CIJS whose IEP requires services significantly above what is currently being offered at CIJS, we will convene an IEP meeting to discuss the placement and develop a plan for meeting the needs of the individual student.