ACADEMICS

How do I enroll my child into your school?
Please visit the Admission page to apply on-line, visit our school, or call our Main Office and ask to speak with our Director of Recruitment.
Do you offer transportation?

Brighter Choice offers transportation from several surrounding local districts.

Please call our Main Office and ask to speak with our Parent Coordinator regarding bussing transportation forms and deadlines.

When are report cards distributed?

Report cards are sent home at the end of each trimester. Progress reports go home monthly (except during months report cards are distributed).

What Assessments do the scholars take, and when are they taken?

The scholars in grades 2 through 5 take the NWEA MAP assessment in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. This assessment measures growth and helps teachers plan to meet scholar needs. Scholars in grades 3 through 5 take interim assessments two to three times a year. These assessments are designed to measure mastery of standards taught in class, and provide teachers with data to create re-teaching action plans. In the Fall, Winter, and Spring scholars in K through 5 take benchmark assessments to measure their progress towards grade level expectations. These assessments are administered by classroom and reading teachers.

When are the New York State exams taken? What grade levels take them?

Grades 3 through 5 take an ELA exam and a math exam during Spring. Fourth grade students also take a Science exam.

When are parent-teacher conferences?

At Brighter Choice, we offer opportunities for parents to come in and speak about their children’s progress with their child’s teachers. Parent-teacher conferences are officially held after the first and second trimester, but can be requested at any time throughout the year as well.

What is the daily report and how does it work?

Every day, each scholar at Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls is given a daily report. This daily report allows students, parents, and teachers to monitor both positive and negative behaviors on a weekly basis. The daily report should be reviewed and signed every evening and returned to school the following day.

How is the lottery conducted?

Each fall, a new group of Kindergarten girls is admitted to Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls . New students in grades one through five are enrolled depending on availability. A lottery is conducted for each grade level to determine new Kindergarten students and establish a waitlist for each grade. In order to include your daughter’s name in the lottery, applications are due by April 1. Applications received after April 1st are placed at the bottom of the waitlist. Applications are received all year long. Click here to apply!

UNIFORMS

What is the Brighter Choice uniform?

The following are the uniform requirements for Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls:

• Navy blue plaid jumper with Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls logo
• Navy blue pants
• White collared shirt or White turtleneck
• White, navy blue or black socks
• Navy blue or black tights
• Modesty shorts (worn under jumper)
• Navy blue or black soft soled
• Navy blue sweater (optional)

Full school uniforms are mandatory everyday at Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls. Please be mindful if students continue to arrive to school out of uniform, a deduction will be issued on your child’s paycheck.

Where can I purchase uniforms?

Uniforms can be purchased at B. Lodge & Company, located downtown at 75 North Pearl Street. If you have questions about uniform availability, please call them at (518) 463-4646.

What is a charter school?

A charter school is an independent public school that is allowed to be innovative in how student achievement is accomplished. Charter schools are held accountable for the innovative methods they use to educate children, foster family engagement and provide unique experiences to their school community.

What are the school hours?

The school doors open at 7:25 a.m. Girls who enter the building after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy. School ends at 3:30 p.m. All scholars must be picked up by 4:00 p.m. Afterschool scholars must be picked up by 5:30 p.m.

How many students attend Brighter Choice for Girls? Which grade levels are offered?

Brighter Choice for Girls currently has approximately 330 girls enrolled in grades K through Five.

What is the student to teacher ratio?

The student to teacher ratio is 13:1.That means that for each teacher in the building, there are thirteen students.

What kind of after-school programs do you offer?

Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls partners with the Albany Police Athletic League (PAL) to offer a variety of after-school programs. Programs include karate, cooking, arts and crafts, basketball, and cheerleading. In addition to working with PAL, Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls partners with the local colleges and universities, including Albany College of Pharmacy (ACP), Albany Medical College (Project SOAR), and Siena College, to provide academic and mentoring programs for our girls. Teachers have also developed their own academic and extracurricular initiatives, which are offered after-school.