COMMUNITY PARTNERS CHARTER HIGH OFFERS OPTIONS
FOR AREA STUDENTS 

Community Partners Charter High School (CPCHS) in Holly Springs has begun recruiting activities for the 2007-2008 school year with two recent open house activities for students and parents.  The school also participated in the Holly Springs’ Chamber of Commerce “Eye on Kids” event for parents to find out about local organizations for young people and children.  CPCHS, the only charter high school in southern Wake County, will be accepting applications for the fall semester for students in Grades 9-12.  The school currently has 86 students in Grades 9-12.
The priority for applications will be given to first-time 9th Grade students who plan to make CPCHS their high school for all four years.  According to the school’s director, Carroll Reed, the school will be expanding membership in 9th Grade to approximately 35 students.  One of the goals of the larger freshmen class will be to provide greater elective opportunities while keeping the small school, small class size atmosphere that sets CPCHS apart from the larger high schools. 
The school’s overall student population goal for next year is 105 to be able to offer an expanded curriculum at all grade levels.  The additional student spaces will allow for new students in all grade levels, including seniors.  However, even with the expanded enrollment, CPCHS offers a significantly smaller student body size than the area’s larger traditional high schools of two-thousand or more students.
The school’s advisory program provides an opportunity for students to gain confidence in several areas including speaking and communicating.  The school’s grading practice requires students to verbally present a portfolio of schoolwork to the advisor and parents each quarter, placing emphasis upon academic improvement, achievement, and communication skills.  The portfolio is part of the school’s historically different academic requirements and serves as a link between home and school as well as between the student’s advisor and his/her academic teachers.
 All students at CPCHS are required to complete community service and job shadowing experiences during each school year.  Those experiences are included in the portfolio development and reporting process throughout the school year.  Additionally, all seniors are required to complete an internship in a business or governmental agency as part of their graduation requirements.
Future open house activities will include opportunities to meet the staff and to interact with parents and students from the current school year.  CPCHS is located in downtown Holly Springs at 116 Quantum Drive, only a short distance from Apex, Cary, and Fuquay-Varina.  Interested parents and students may call the school for an application.  The application process will be open through the month of April.  The school’s phone number is (919) 567-9955.