About MCS
Moab Charter School Mission
Academics, Arts, Excellence.
Moab Charter School Vision
Moab Charter School is dedicated to providing individualized education through small differentiated classes. The Utah Core Curricula guides our curriculum development, and our instructional methodologies are founded on scientifically researched methods, which address a diversity of learning styles. Every child’s unique abilities are nurtured and developed through a dynamic, innovative educational experience integrating fundamental academics with science, technology, the arts, and a global perspective.
Moab Charter School History
Moab Charter School was first established in 2004 by a group of active parents from Moab and Castle Valley interested in providing an alternative to local schools in a small school, small class size setting. At first established as a private school with tuition, the governing board soon applied for a public school charter with the Utah State Office of Education (USOE). The charter was granted, and MCS joined the many other free, public charter schools across the state of Utah. There are approximately 80 such charters in Utah today, all publicly funded by the USOE and serving over 30,000 students.
Moab Charter School had a difficult first few years as it struggled to find a Director with public school administration experience and retain its student population year to year. However, there were some excellent foundational principles instilled in the MCS mission those first few years, and through the efforts of some remarkable local people to keep the school going, the school turned a corner in the summer of 2008 by hiring a Director with extensive public school experience. The student population stabilized and has grown each year. An excellent group of licensed teachers is in place, and they are surrounded by a dedicated support staff, all of whom are supported by a strong governing board overseeing the administration of the school.
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Curriculum
Moab Charter School uses the Utah State Office of Education common core state standards as guidelines for curriculum and instruction. MCS utilizes the Journeys ELA and Go Math! programming to guide our standards based instructional practices. Additionally, we allow teachers to creatively approach their teaching and curriculum by applying unique abilities and taking innovative approaches to teaching. At the same time, teachers turn in weekly lesson overviews, trimester curriculum overviews, and participate in USOE testing, which allows the Director and MCS governing board to monitor curriculum and instruction and student achievement. This unique blend of creativity and accountability serves MCS students well, and our students show excellent aptitude on state tests (RISE) and other benchmark assessments.
MCS promotes the use of hands-on learning and cross-curricular learning as much as possible, though these two methods of instruction are not all-encompassing with regard to the school curriculum. The current curriculum is a healthy blend of what one might call a “standard, text-book based” approach, and a heavy mixing-in of various programs and strategies individual teachers have come to like and feel students respond well to. Additionally, music and art are important foundational aspects of our whole school curriculum. All students receive weekly lessons in music, art, and physical education. Teachers rotate students through “specials” or exchanges, where each teacher’s expertise is shared with students in one of these areas.
Students who leave MCS are well-prepared for middle school, and test scores in recent years show these students are generally performing at state averages. The curriculum in each MCS classroom is well-monitored, well-thought-out, and well-delivered. Students at MCS are thriving academically.
Patriotism and Respect for Flag
The flag of the United States of America will be appropriately displayed at Moab Charter School each school day in keeping with accepted practices. Students handling the flag will show proper respect for it. Each morning of every school day, students will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. At least once per school year, students will be instructed that participation in saying the pledge is voluntary and not compulsory, and students should show respect for anyone who chooses not to participate. A student may be excused from reciting the Pledge upon request by that student's apparent or legal guardian.