Truxton Academy Charter School
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a charter school?
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Charter schools are independently-operated public schools that have the freedom to design
classrooms that meet their students’ needs. All charter schools operate under a contract with a
charter school authorizer – usually a nonprofit organization, government agency, or university –
that holds them accountable to the high standards outlined in their “charter.” Truxton Academy
Charter School is authorized by the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute
(SUNY CSI).
Is there a fee associated with this school?
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We are a free public charter school. No tuition or fees are collected.
Do students at charter schools take state assessments?
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Charter schools align to the same New York state standards, and take the same state exams as
other public schools. In order to maintain its charter, a charter schools must meet and/or
exceed the performance of comparable students on these exams.
Can students with disabilities attend this school?
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As a public school, Truxton Academy welcomes all students. Charter school law in New York
State requires a student’s school district of residence and the charter school to work together
to provide evaluation and implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). For
some students with disabilities, Truxton Academy’s small school community and focus on
hands-on learning makes it an ideal learning environment. Truxton Academy employs a Special
Education Coordinator who works with parents, our school administration, and students home
school districts to develop plans that best meet the needs of students with disabilities as
outlined in their evaluations and IEPs.
Does the school have a nurse?
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We have a nurse who monitors all student health records and is at the school part-time based
on student need. As per New York State Charter School Law, this nurse is overseen and
provided by our district of location, Homer Central School District. The nurse is on campus one
hour per day.
Does Truxton Academy require immunizations?
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As a public school, Truxton Academy also requires an annual physical and updated
immunizations prior to the child’s attendance in school.
How do meals work at the school?
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We are proud to offer our own whole food nutrition program prepared daily in our school
kitchen for our students. We offer locally sourced tasty options for breakfast and lunch. Truxton
Academy promotes lifelong healthy eating and is happy to participate with the Free and
Reduced Lunch Program for qualified students. We offer MySchoolBucks for convenient lunch
account management. Students are asked to bring a daily snack and a water bottle from home.
How many grades will there be at Truxton Academy?
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We have students enrolled in grades K- 4 in the current school year. Each year a grade
will be added until we have grades K-6.
What are the school hours?
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Our School day begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:30 PM. Parents may drop off students as early
as 7:30 AM in our early morning program. Breakfast is served from 8:00 AM- 8:45 AM. Enrichment
opportunities are offered after 3:30 PM.
What is the average class size?
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Our class sizes average approximately 15 students to one teacher. The overall student to faculty
ratio is 8 to 1. Our expected class size when full grown is about 20 students per class, except in
kindergarten where our class sizes will ideally be 18.
How does transportation work?
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School districts located within a 15-mile radius of Truxton Academy are required to provide
transportation to and from Truxton Academy. Families must request transportation from their
home district if they wish to use it.
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The school office provides new families with the paperwork required to request transportation
from their school district. Currently enrolled families receive paperwork to request
transportation for the following year when the application period opens for the upcoming
school year. Current families are automatically re-enrolled in the school, but MUST RE-APPLY
for transportation ANNUALLY.
Transportation requests MUST be submitted to your home school district by April 1st for the
upcoming academic year.
How do I apply or register my child?
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As a Public Charter School, we follow the New York State laws regarding charter school
applications. Our Application Period Opens in February and closes on April 1st. Applications are
available on our website and at the school. We can accept applications electronically, via email,
or via USPS. If we have more applicants than we do spaces for students on April 1st, we will
hold a public lottery to ensure fairness in admissions. We continue to accept applications for
open spaces or for our waitlist after April 1st. Early application offers the best chance for
admission.
Lottery Information:
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Priority is given to students who reside in the Homer School District, but students from all
school districts are allowed and encouraged to apply. Siblings of current students are also given
priority as keeping families together is important. Students who fall into certain New York State
classifications are given extra weight in the lottery. New York State determines these categories
and the eligibility for these categories. The categories include children who are English
Language Learners, those with a documented disability label under Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 (a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits
discrimination based upon disability), and those who receive free or reduced meals according
to federal income guidelines.
The lottery is held in April and families will be notified of their acceptance within a week of the
lottery. Families will then have 2 weeks to either accept or decline the spot they are offered.
Students who are not offered slots in the lottery will go onto a waiting list in the order they
were chosen in the lottery. When an open slot becomes available before May 1st of the
following school year, students from the waiting list are contacted and offered the spot.
Registration Information:
Registration is on a rolling basis once the lottery has been held. Registration is open to those
accepted through the lottery or happens on a rolling first come-first served basis if no lottery is
necessary. Students are required to submit proof of birthdate, proof of residence (anywhere in
New York State), and basic demographic information to be considered registered. As a public
school, Truxton Academy also requires an annual physical and updated immunizations prior to
the child’s attendance in school. Our Welcome Packet, given at the time of registration,
includes these required registration components and also includes additional information
gathering forms that help us get to know your child and family to better meet the needs of your
child.
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