Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the population of students that attend the school?
SFCS has 91 students. SFCS buses from all Minneapolis neighborhoods. Of the children who attend the school, 62% are children of color and 70% are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. SFCS is noted for its ability and willingness to serve diverse student needs.
Parents enroll their children. We accept students into Kindergarten on a lottery basis. Siblings of current students are given priority. SFCS does have a waiting list and could easily double in size, but we wouldn't think of it. One of the keys to our success is our small class size.
2. Do parents have to pay tuition for their children to attend SFCS?
No. Southside Family Charter School is a Minnesota State Charter School. The state of Minnesota contributes 50% of the school's revenue, while the balance is raised from private sources.
3. How many staff and teachers does SFCS have?
Currently, SFCS staff consists of nine teachers, an executive director, school and program directors, and two support staff. The board of directors, which meets quarterly, is composed of parents and community at-large positions. We also work with a diverse group of interns, volunteers and community teachers.
4. What is a social justice curriculum?
The Southside Family Charter School's social justice curriculum educates children and the larger community about the underlying social problems that foster racism, sexism, classism and homophobia. By addressing these issues at an early age, SFCS encourages children to see themselves as citizen activists who can change the world and helps children avoid internalizing the effects of discrimination by teaching a history of organized opposition to injustice.
5. What are history trips?
To promote self-esteem, a broad worldview and a lifelong love of learning, we explore the world through field trips designed to expand children's social and cultural awareness. Students ages 10-14 from SFCS take three history trips per year to study living history through presentations, interviews, and active student participation in current events. Some recent trips were to South Dakota to study Lakota culture and history and to Milwaukee to learn about labor history.
The Civil Rights trip and curriculum is the proudest and most public expression of SFCS's social justice mission. Southside Family Charter School tours the southern United States for 10 days exploring the path of the civil rights movement. This learning adventure, first undertaken in 1993, happens every three years. To prepare for the trip, students study the civil rights movement intensively and interview civil rights veterans in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The focus is on "Children as Actors in History." Students meet and interview some of the central actors in the civil rights drama, people who were children and teenagers at that time. Adults now, these inspiring role models continue their struggle for racial and economic justice. It demonstrates the power of children to lead us towards freedom and justice.
6. What is the SAACP?
The Student Association for the Advancement of Children as People (SAACP) is a student lead organization that fights against racism, poverty, and injustice. Leaders study issues, speak publicly about injustices and call for needed changes. Members of the SAACP have been invited to present the viewpoint of children at rallies and community meetings on welfare reform, affordable housing and issues of world peace.
7. Does SFCS really measure up academically?
Over the past five years, the majority of our students have passed the reading and math portion of the Minnesota Basic Standard Test. Many students in schools that serve inner-city neighborhoods struggle to pass these tests before they graduate, yet SFCS students accomplish this impressive achievement while still the 8th grade. This record illustrates the strength of our programs and is notable evidence that children from all backgrounds can succeed when expectations are high and educators respond to each child as an individual.
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