ABOUT ALTUS SCHOOLS
Altus Schools share a common philosophy and approach that puts kids first.
These nonprofit, State-funded, free public schools redefine how teachers teach & students learn!
Together we are Transforming Lives!
What makes an Altus School?
Our JOURNEY
Our PHILOSOPHY
The Altus Schools journey to provide personalized, exceptional educational options to students in neighborhoods throughout Southern California began in 1993 when The Charter School of San Diego (CSSD) became the first charter school approved in San Diego County. In the decades since, CSSD began serving students through a radically different model that provides students with a free, public individualized learning option in their neighborhood. Altus Schools have replicated to include Audeo Charter School (est. 2001), Mirus Secondary School (est. 2007), Laurel Preparatory Academy (est. 2013), Audeo Charter School II (est. 2016), Grossmont Secondary School (est. 2017), Sweetwater Secondary School (est. 2017), and Audeo Charter School 3 (est. 2018). Together, these schools have transformed the lives of more than 45,000 students, their families, and the communities in which they live.
Altus Schools share the philosophy of putting students first in education. Our schools focus on improving student achievement, creating prototypes for educational reform, and improving the quality of life for students, their families, and their communities. These nonprofit, State-funded, free public schools redefine how teachers teach and students learn!
Altus comes from the Latin word meaning “high, deep, noble or profound.” This name embodies the academic commitment and values-driven connection of all Altus Schools. Every Altus School is dedicated to creating environments in which students are able to accomplish their most important goal – to learn. Altus Schools are role models for excellence in public education. A hallmark of our schools is a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership. The individuals who make up Altus Schools are deeply invested in offering a superior experience. Using the Malcolm Baldrige approach to improvement has proven to be an excellent means of offering personalized instruction within a setting focused on quality.
With high expectations and the drive to go above and beyond for our students, our schools continue to be recognized on a local, national, and international level. From charter renewals to the opening of new schools, from Resource Center upgrades to new educational technology, from record breaking graduation numbers to prestigious recognitions, every day Altus Schools continue to advance student achievement in innovative ways.
Our VALUES
• Kids come first.
• Education at Altus Schools is personalized, individualized, and high quality.
• Altus Schools are committed to improving the quality of life for students, their families, and the community at large.
• Altus Schools are made up of a community of highly professional people. These committed individuals are independent, self-motivated, high energy people who speak for themselves. They work to create a positive, challenging environment that is centered on teaching and learning.
• Altus Schools are committed to the creation of educational reform models centered on how effective educational organizations run, how teachers teach, and how students learn.
• People-centered teams focus on supporting quality teaching and learning. Performance is measured on a variety of indicators that include productivity, credit ratio, audit-ability, quality, performances and commitment to the vision of Altus Schools.
Our AWARDS
Malcolm Baldrige
In 2015, United States Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker announced The Charter School of San Diego as one of four recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership. This is the first time that the award has been presented to a school – most importantly, a charter school – in its 30-year history. This honor is a tribute to excellence across many sectors. It is awarded to organizations that demonstrate quality and performance excellence. Organizations are judged on their Leadership/ Governance, Strategic Planning, Customer Focus, Knowledge Management, Workforce Focus, Operations, and Results.
CAPE
In 2015, CSSD was awarded the Gold-Level Eureka Award – the highest award given by the California Council for Excellence, which administers the California Award for Performance Excellence (CAPE). In 2005, 2007, and 2009, CSSD was recognized as a Silver-Level Eureka Award recipient. The award program, which emulates the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, recognizes organizations that demonstrate superior performance in seven key areas that include leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement and knowledge management, human resources, process management, and business results.
When choosing a school,
look for the
Altus School seal!