Crater Renaissance Academy

Crater Renaissance Academy
Address
Map
655 North 3rd St
Central Point, OR 97502

United States
Coordinates42°22′48″N 122°55′16″W / 42.380°N 122.921°W / 42.380; -122.921
Information
TypePublic, secondary
Motto"Connect - Create - Change"
Established2007
Sister schoolCrater Academy of Health & Public Services (CAHPS), Crater School of Business Innovation (BIS), & Crater Academy of Natural Sciences (CANS) (Closed 2012).
School districtCentral Point School District 6
PrincipalJennifer Spencer (2022 - Present)
Faculty23 (2016)
Grades9–12
Enrollment460 (2016)
MascotLarry The Lawn Gnome
Websitewww.district6.org/cra/

Crater Renaissance Academy of Arts and Sciences is a public high school located in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three public high schools in Oregon's School District 6, serving the Southern Oregon communities of Central Point, Gold Hill and Sams Valley.

History

In 2007 Crater High School was reorganized through a program called the Small School Initiative. With assistance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Meyer Memorial Trust, four smaller, independent high schools were created: Crater Renaissance Academy (CRA), Crater Academy of Health and Public Services (CAHPS), Crater School of Business Innovation and Science (BIS), and the Crater Academy of Natural Sciences (CANS).[1] While CANS was disbanded due to declining enrollment in 2012, the three remaining high schools, each with individual academic emphasis and culture, continue to serve the communities of Central Point, Gold Hill and Sams Valley.[2]

Crater Renaissance Academy was acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report as among the Best High Schools in the United States (bronze award) in 2014, 2015, and 2016.[3]

In 2015, a teacher, Jeffrey Robert Zundel, was arrested for sexual abuse of a student. An investigation resulted in criminal charges and he was sentenced to 90 days in prison. He had groomed the victim by telling her she was the reincarnation of his childhood girlfriend who had drowned, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Zundel was married to Medford School District Chief Academic Officer Michelle Zundel(now divorced).

In 2016, Crater Renaissance was one of eight schools in the nation to receive the gold award from the Schools of Opportunity.[4][5] This award seeks "to recognize schools that are excellent because they engage in research-based practices that focus on closing gaps in opportunity, regardless of the students they serve."[6]

Also in 2016, Crater Renaissance was one of four schools in Oregon selected by the Quality Education Commission to serve as a model site in its College Readiness Case Study Project.[7]

Bob King served as principal from the school's inception in 2007 through the 2015-2016 school year.

Larry The Lawn Gnome: Mascot of The Crater Renaissance Academy of Arts and Sciences

Academics

Crater Renaissance Academy was founded on the principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES), using its ten principles to guide its decisions.[8]

Campus and facilities

Crater Renaissance Academy shares Crater Campus with two other small schools: Crater Academy of Health and Public Service, and Crater School of Business, Innovation, and Science.[9] The campus includes a gym, football field and stadium, greenhouse facilities, Performing Arts Center, and an off-site environmental classroom.[10]

Athletics and activities

Crater Renaissance Academy and its sister schools compete together in Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) events as the "Crater Comets." This includes the football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, wrestling, basketball, swim, track, and cheer teams, and the Marching Band and Color Guard.[11]

References

  1. ^ Rafael, Jacqueline. "The Big Picture on Oregon's Small Schools: The Oregon Small School Initiative". E3. Retrieved 29 Dec 2016.
  2. ^ "Crater Comets". Crater Comets. Crater Comets. Retrieved 29 Dec 2016.
  3. ^ "U.S. News & World Report". U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report L.P. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  4. ^ "2016 Recipients". Schools of Opportunity. Regents at the University of Colorado. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  5. ^ Strauss, Valerie (12 September 2016). "The 20 schools that won 2016 Schools of Opportunity awards — and why they were selected". Washington Post.
  6. ^ "About Us". Schools of Opportunity. Regents at the University of Colorado. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. ^ Breslow, Jay Z.; Bousselot, Tracy E.; Chadwick, Kristine L. (15 April 2016). Oregon Quality Education Commission College Readiness Case Study Project. Eugene, OR: Educational Policy Improvement Center. pp. 9–17.
  8. ^ "About Us: CES 10 Common Principles (The Core Beliefs of RA)". Crater Renaissance Academy. Retrieved 29 Dec 2016.
  9. ^ "Crater Comets". Crater Comets. Crater Comets. Retrieved 29 Dec 2016.
  10. ^ "Crater Campus Map". cratercomets.com. Crater Comets. Retrieved 29 Dec 2016.
  11. ^ "Crater Athletics". Crater Athletics. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.