Frequently asked questions
Frederick Classical Charter School 101 -- Power Point
What is a Charter School?
A "charter school" is a public school that is given the freedom to implement a different approach to education than the regular public schools. Charter schools are not religious, and do not screen applicants in any way. There is no tuition. Parents who would like their children to attend submit an application. If there are more applications than there are slots available, a public lottery is held to randomly choose students. Currently, there are over 5,400 charter schools in America, serving over 1.7 million students.
What is Classical Education?
A classical approach arranges education into three stages that roughly correspond with a student’s development. These phases are called the "trivium" which consist of the grammar, logic and rhetoric stages. The grammar stage is from grades K-4. Students learn not only English grammar but the "grammar", or fundamental knowledge and skills of all subjects. In grades 5-8, students enter the logic stage where they use reasoning to more deeply understand previous learning while acquiring additional knowledge. The final rhetoric stage occurs during the high school years. It focuses on utilizing knowledge and reason to express oneself and persuade others.
In a classical education, history provides the foundation for the study of science and the humanities. During their tenure at our school, the scholars will take two chronological sweeps throughout history.
How many students are in each class?
Kindergarten consists of two classes of 20 students each. 1-8 are each capped at 42 students in two classrooms.
Do you have before and after care?
Yes, we have optional on-site before and after care provided by Clubhouse Kids, please see the Before and After Care page for more information.
How do I enroll my child?
Please visit our Enrollment page and click the button labeled Enroll Now.
Who can enroll?
Any child going into grades K-8 that is a resident of Frederick County, MD.
Do you have to go through the lottery every year?
If your child is on the wait list for the current school year, you must register again for the lottery for the following school year (wait list names do not carry over from one year to the next).
Once your child is a student at FCCS, you do not need to register for the lottery again.
Do siblings have to go through the lottery?
Yes, siblings of current students must register for the lottery. Siblings of current students, founding families, and children of faculty or staff will be given priority and are maintained on a separate wait list.
What if my child is not selected by the lottery?
If not selected by the lottery, your child will be added to our wait list. Once a spot becomes available you will be notified .
Does the school provide transportation?
Not currently. It is the responsibility of the family to provide transportation for your children. FCCS is hoping to be able to provide transportation to at least some of our students in the future.
Are there extra-curricular activities?
Yes, there are many clubs and activities offered at FCCS including, but not limited to, guitar club, homework club, boys and girls basketball, band, etc.
What role do parents play at FCCS?
Parents can play a huge role in the students education at FCCS. Our Board of Trustees, and committees are mostly comprised of parent volunteers. For more information, or if you would like to join the board or a committee please visit our governance page.
There are also many other opportunities to volunteer both inside and outside the building. For more information please visit our volunteers page.
What is Singapore Math?
Singapore math, which refers to the teaching methods or the actual curriculum used for kindergarten through sixth grade in the small island country, has become popular due to Singapore’s consistent top ranking on an international assessment of student math achievement called the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). In the latest TIMSS report in 2007, Singapore was ranked in the top three in fourth- and eighth-grade math scores, while the United States ranked ninth and eleventh, respectively.