Signature School
Encyclopedia
Signature School is a charter high school
located in downtown Evansville, Indiana
, on the Main Street Walkway. The school opened in 2002 and is Indiana's first public charter high school. The first graduation ceremony for Signature School students was held in May 2003 in the Victory Theatre. There were 42 students in that first graduating class. From 1992 to 2002, before Signature School became a full-time high school, it operated as a half-day satellite school for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. In 2006, it was named the 54th best public high school in the United States by Newsweek.
In 2007, Signature School was awarded one of the best schools nationwide. It was No. 86 out of about 22,000 schools and was the only school in Indiana to receive this award. Within this same article, Signature School was listed as one of the top 10 charter schools in the United States. In 2008, the school again made Newsweek's Top 100 Best High Schools list by placing 99th. In December 2008, Signature was once again nationally ranked, placing 68th on U.S. News and World Report's annual 100 best High Schools list. Also, in the 2008 school year, Signature was declared a blue ribbon school. In 2009, Signature School was named the 27th best high school in the country by Newsweek. In 2010, Signature School has been listed as the 7th best high school in the country by Newsweek. Like any public school, Signature School is free and open to the public. The EVSC does not associate with Signature School nor do they interfere with their style of teaching.
The school offers students three major study paths: math and science, fine and performing arts
, or liberal arts
/humanities
. Signature School has been accepted into the International Baccalaureate Programme. However, the school also offers Advanced Placement classes for those who choose to not to graduate with an IB diploma. Today, many of the classes are a combination of AP and IB classes.
The foreign languages offered at the school are French, German and Spanish.
The school currently has a total enrollment of 302 students. The school was founded in part by the current principal Vicki Snyder. The school's success is also due to the motivated staff and teachers. Phyllis Pate is the main secretary, Mary Williams is the assistant to the counselor and Ann Gomoll-Doan is the school counselor. Alongside Vicki Snyder, these people play an important role in the school. Signature School prides itself on offering challenging courses for the "self-motivated learner" and for being different from other area schools. The student to teacher ratio is 20 to 1. Many students and parents can access grades and information from a server called Powerschool
, which is updated regularly.
Unlike other high schools, Signature students do not eat in a school cafeteria
, but at one of the numerous restaurants located in downtown Evansville. Students who bring their lunches may also elect to eat across the street from the school in a room called the Commons in the 2nd floor of the Signature School Science Center. Students sign up each morning for a restaurant and sign in with a teacher assigned to that restaurant.
Signature School has a focus on academics and the arts. Within its first five years of existence, Signature School has been well known for the many contributions it plays in the Summer EVSC Musicals, and the side shows, performed by the Signature Singers, which is led by teacher Terry Becker. On a side note, in addition to musicals, the school has a heavy amount of participation in Indiana State School Music Association competitions.
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
located in downtown Evansville, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, on the Main Street Walkway. The school opened in 2002 and is Indiana's first public charter high school. The first graduation ceremony for Signature School students was held in May 2003 in the Victory Theatre. There were 42 students in that first graduating class. From 1992 to 2002, before Signature School became a full-time high school, it operated as a half-day satellite school for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. In 2006, it was named the 54th best public high school in the United States by Newsweek.
In 2007, Signature School was awarded one of the best schools nationwide. It was No. 86 out of about 22,000 schools and was the only school in Indiana to receive this award. Within this same article, Signature School was listed as one of the top 10 charter schools in the United States. In 2008, the school again made Newsweek's Top 100 Best High Schools list by placing 99th. In December 2008, Signature was once again nationally ranked, placing 68th on U.S. News and World Report's annual 100 best High Schools list. Also, in the 2008 school year, Signature was declared a blue ribbon school. In 2009, Signature School was named the 27th best high school in the country by Newsweek. In 2010, Signature School has been listed as the 7th best high school in the country by Newsweek. Like any public school, Signature School is free and open to the public. The EVSC does not associate with Signature School nor do they interfere with their style of teaching.
The school offers students three major study paths: math and science, fine and performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, or liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
/humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. Signature School has been accepted into the International Baccalaureate Programme. However, the school also offers Advanced Placement classes for those who choose to not to graduate with an IB diploma. Today, many of the classes are a combination of AP and IB classes.
The foreign languages offered at the school are French, German and Spanish.
The school currently has a total enrollment of 302 students. The school was founded in part by the current principal Vicki Snyder. The school's success is also due to the motivated staff and teachers. Phyllis Pate is the main secretary, Mary Williams is the assistant to the counselor and Ann Gomoll-Doan is the school counselor. Alongside Vicki Snyder, these people play an important role in the school. Signature School prides itself on offering challenging courses for the "self-motivated learner" and for being different from other area schools. The student to teacher ratio is 20 to 1. Many students and parents can access grades and information from a server called Powerschool
PowerSchool
PowerSchool is a student information system product of Pearson's Assessment & Information group.-History:PowerSchool was purchased by Apple Inc. on March 13, 2001....
, which is updated regularly.
Unlike other high schools, Signature students do not eat in a school cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, but at one of the numerous restaurants located in downtown Evansville. Students who bring their lunches may also elect to eat across the street from the school in a room called the Commons in the 2nd floor of the Signature School Science Center. Students sign up each morning for a restaurant and sign in with a teacher assigned to that restaurant.
Signature School has a focus on academics and the arts. Within its first five years of existence, Signature School has been well known for the many contributions it plays in the Summer EVSC Musicals, and the side shows, performed by the Signature Singers, which is led by teacher Terry Becker. On a side note, in addition to musicals, the school has a heavy amount of participation in Indiana State School Music Association competitions.