Academics
At CCS, your child’s academic journey can begin with full-day Kindergarten and end with their 12th Grade Graduation Ceremony.
Collegium Charter School’s diverse K-12 student population enjoys unique opportunities to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines beginning in Kindergarten.
Guiding Your Child’s Academic Journey
Guiding Your Child’s Academic Journey
K-12 Education Is No Longer One-Size-Fits-All
Collegium Charter School invests in nurturing the whole child. Each student is given dedicated technology hardware and access to our comprehensive K-12 learning management system, forging powerful connections between their homes and our school. Students are then empowered to choose how to learn and demonstrate content mastery.
Removing Barriers To Education
Flaws in curriculum design and instruction delivery can negatively impact academic performance. At CCS, we overcome these barriers using innovative strategies like:
● Small classes and small-school feel
● Universal Design for Learning principles
● Blended Learning combining digital and traditional instruction
● Social-Emotional Learning instruction
● Multi-Tiered System of Supports
● Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
● Restorative Practices
K-12 STEM EDUCATION
Collegium Charter School’s diverse K-12 student population enjoys unique opportunities to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines beginning in Kindergarten. Our students learn to meet the demands of our dynamic and evolving world by understanding and designing solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Continue reading for an overview of the Collegium Charter School K-12 STEM pathway.
Elementary School
Beginning in Kindergarten, students learn to solve problems and design projects. Students create immersive stories and games in ScratchJr and Scratch, program and operate Ozobot and Sphero integrated robots and Micro:bit integrated microcontrollers. They creatively design innovative robots with VEX GO and VEX IQ, and create 3D designs printed in-house with our state-of-the-art 3D printers.
Extracurricular Opportunities
VEX IQ Competitive Robotics – Collegium features the largest elementary-level VEX
competitive robotics program in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Middle School
Our students in Middle School build upon their Elementary School experience by learning Python text-based programming with Micro:bit microcontrollers and Bit:Bot robots, supported by ARM Education curricula. Students also explore creative technology through 3D modeling, graphic design, photography, videography, animation, web design, and video game design.
Extracurricular Opportunities
● VEX V5 Competitive Robotics
● What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?
● Team-building and sportsmanship through competitive eSports gaming
High School
In High School, students build upon their prior learning through our robust course offering in STEM. Students choose rigorous pathways in engineering, computer science, and media technologies.
Students choosing engineering courses are challenged to design solutions to logic and engineering problems with analog circuits, single-board computers – including the Raspberry Pi – and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Additionally, engineering students design 3D solutions using Autodesk software, which are then realized with Creality and Ultimaker 3D printers.
Students choosing computer science courses learn programming in C++ , Java, JavaScript, and Python. Students may select our Advanced Placement course options in computer science, including AP Computer Science Principles, which emphasizes procedural programming and data science, and AP Computer Science A (Java), in which they learn foundational object-oriented programming. Students choosing media technology courses create innovative, engaging, and aesthetic solutions using artful design processes. Media technology students create graphics, images, video, and sound using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite and other industry-standard applications.
Extracurricular Opportunities
● VEX V5 Competitive Robotics
● Student-produced Collegium News video broadcasts
● Diversity In Programming club, welcoming students of all backgrounds
K-12 MUSIC AND PERFORMIN ARTS
Music and Performing Arts
While other schools are cutting programs like music and performing arts, Collegium continues to strongly support them and recognizes the vital role they play in our students’ education and development.
K-12 Music Opportunities
Music classes at CCS begin in Kindergarten and evolve through 12th Grade. All elementary students take general music classes every cycle where they participate in active music-making through instruments, movement, singing, and creativity. From choir and orchestra to band and jazz labs, Collegium’s Elementary students can choose to participate in a wide variety of additional music programs. Middle and High School students enjoy advanced options like guitar and piano classes, bucket drumming, music technology, musical theatre, and various choral and instrumental ensembles. Collegium graduates often continue their music and performing arts studies with respected colleges and universities.
Collegium Center Stage Theatre
Open to students in Grades 5-12, Collegium Center Stage Theater (CCST) is one of CCS’s most popular extracurricular programs. CCST offers students opportunities to audition for a variety of full-scale theatrical performances each year- at the high school level, a fall drama and spring musical (CCST Main Stage), and at the middle school level, a spring musical (CCST Jr.) Students can also participate in other production areas, like Stage Crew, Tech Crew, Costuming, and Stage Management.
Give Your Child The Star Treatment
Collegium’s Jeffrey W. Dean Theatre in our Performing Arts Center (PAC) is our state-of-the-art theatre facility that offers our students infinite possibilities and opportunities. The site features a performance stage, professional sound, multiple lighting rigs, a full fly system, scenery and special effects options, over 600 cushioned seats, an orchestra pit, and performer dressing rooms with restrooms. Our PAC is the perfect space for your children to pursue their interests in music and performing arts, plus opportunities to master video production and online streaming.
ASSESSMENTS AND STANDARDIZED TESTING
Pennsylvania System Of School Assessments (PSSA)
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) will begin shortly after spring break for CCS students in Grades 3-8. The exam schedule* is outlined below:
English/Language Arts
Grades 3rd-8th with a window of April 20-24, 2026
Math
Grades 3rd-8th with a window of April 27-May 1, 2026
Science
Grades 5 and 8 ONLY with a window of April 27-May 1, 2026
*Makeup exams will occur throughout the testing windows starting April 27th through May 8th.
CCS has historically used paper-pencil PSSA testing for most students in grades 3-8. However, Pennsylvania has now eliminated the paper-pencil testing option for all students without a specific accommodation within their IEP/504. Therefore, the state test will be administered on student computers for all students not meeting this exception.
To ensure that your children are feeling prepared on testing days, please make sure they are well-rested, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. As a reminder, for this year all students are provided breakfast and lunch at no cost. Please also review the important parent/guardian PSSA documents are available in English and Spanish:
- Parent FAQ | Preguntas Frecuentes de los Padres
- Cell Phone Policy | Póliza de los Teléfonos
- Calculator Policy | Póliza de la Calculadora
- Code of Conduct | Código de Conducta
Families with children in Grades 3rd and 8th can email Mrs. Jenni Burton (jburton@ccs.us) with PSSA questions or support.
PSSA Testing Opt-Out Information
Excusal from the PSSA Process
Chapter 4 of Title 22 of the Pa. Code (22 Pa. code 4.4) provides for the right of any parent/guardian to excuse his/her child from the state assessment if, upon inspection of the testing materials, he/she finds the assessment to be in conflict with his/her religious beliefs. This is the only basis for a parent/guardian to excuse his or her child from the statewide assessments.
Procedure for parent/guardian to request that student be excused from the PSSA/Keystone
Exam(s) for religious reasons:
- The parent/guardian needs to initiate contact with the school with a request for his/her student to be excused from the assessment(s).
- The School Assessment Coordinator from your building will contact you to schedule an appointment to meet two weeks prior to the assessment(s), where the parent/guardian can come in and view the exam(s) as necessary.
- At the meeting, the parent/guardian must submit a written request, addressed to the school CEO, to have his/her child opt out of the assessment due to a religious objection. The letter must list the specific name(s) of each assessment about which there is an objection.
- The school will confirm with the parent/guardian that the child will be excused from PSSA testing.
Keystone Spring Assessments
Students who were enrolled in Keystone trigger courses (Algebra 1, Biology, and American Literature) in Spring 2025, but were unable to complete the Keystone exam due to health and safety reasons, will be scheduled to take the Keystone Exam during the Winter Wave or during
the Spring testing window.
Additionally, students who have previously completed Keystone exams, but haven’t yet achieved proficiency will be provided an opportunity to retake their exam during the Winter Wave or during the Spring testing window.
The Pennsylvania State Keystone Exams (Winter Keystones) are scheduled for January 6-15th 2026, with makeups happening only within that window.
Students who are actively enrolled in Keystone trigger courses for the 2025-2026 school year will be registered to take the Spring Keystone exam.
The Pennsylvania State Keystone Exams (Spring Keystones) are scheduled for May 12 – 22, 2026, with makeups happening only within that window.
CCS historically offered students the option to take the Keystone exam on paper-pencil. However, Pennsylvania has now eliminated the paper-pencil testing option for all students without a specific accommodation within their IEP/504. Therefore, the state test will be administered on student computers for all students not meeting this exception.
Please review the important parent/guardian documents that are available in English and Spanish.
- Parent FAQ | Preguntas Frecuentes de los Padres
- Cell Phone Policy | Póliza de los Teléfonos
- Calculator Policy | Póliza de la Calculadora
- Code of Conduct | Código de Conducta
For any students taking either Algebra 1, Biology, or Literature Keystone please email Dr. Jason Bradley (jbradley@ccs.us) with questions.
