Information Meetings Set: 2013 Registration for GCPS Charter Schools Around the Corner

Registration information is available for parents interested in having their children attend a Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) charter school. To date, four Board-approved charter schools operate in Gwinnett County, offering students and families a variety of options in addition to traditional schools. These charter schools are Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology; Gwinnett County Online Campus; Maxwell High School of Technology; and New Life Academy of Excellence. Information regarding registration for these schools is found below.


Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology:

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) offers students an opportunity to study in three broad areas of focus: bioscience, engineering, and emerging technologies. Enrollment is open to all current 8th grade students who complete 8th grade promotion requirements and who reside in Gwinnett County. Registration information for the school’s 2013 freshman class will be available as of Nov. 1at all GCPS middle schools and on the district’s web site (www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us), as well as on the school’s web site (www.gsmst.org). In addition, informational meetings will be held at GSMST for 8th graders and parents interested in learning more about the school. The meetings will be held:

Tues., Nov. 13-- Archer Cluster, Central Gwinnett Cluster, Dacula Cluster, Lanier Cluster, Mill Creek Cluster, Mountain View Cluster, and North Gwinnett Cluster

Thurs., Dec. 13-- Berkmar Cluster, Collins Hill Cluster, Duluth Cluster, Norcross Cluster, and Peachtree Ridge Cluster

Tues., Jan. 15-- Brookwood Cluster, Grayson Cluster, Meadowcreek Cluster, Parkview Cluster, Shiloh Cluster, and South Gwinnett Cluster.

Gwinnett County parents of 8th graders who are currently not enrolled in a GCPS school may attend any of the meetings at GSMST to learn more about this educational option.

All sections of the registration form (available online Nov. 1) must be completed and returned to GSMST no later than the Feb. 1, 2013, deadline. GSMST will accept all interested students, unless there are more who register than spaces available, in which case a random lottery will be used to determine enrollment. If a lottery is required, it will take place on Feb. 11, 2013.



Gwinnett County Online Campus:

Gwinnett County Online Campus is currently registering students in grades 6-12 for second semester of this school year and will begin holding informational sessions for students in grades 4-12 who are interested in attending the online school for the 2013-14 school year. To enroll for 2nd semester of the 2012-13 school year: Parents interested in registering their middle and/or high school aged students (grades 6-12) at Gwinnett Online Campus for second semester (January-May) should submit a letter stating their intent to register their student by December 5. These letters may be e-mailed to april.pelfrey@gwinnettonlinecampus.com. They also may be mailed or faxed to the campus, 2595 Beaver Ruin Road, Bldg. F, Norcross, 30071. The school’s fax number is 770-326-8064. Parents who submit letters of intent will then be directed to visit the campus for registration on Dec. 7 or 10.

To enroll for the 2013-14 School Year:  Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, Gwinnett County Online Campus will expand service to students in the 4th and 5th grades. Parents interested in enrolling their student (grades 4-12) can attend one of several information sessions before the registration deadline. These informational meetings will be held through February in facilities across the district. Dates and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Nov. 13-- Gwinnett Online Campus --Building F

Dec. 6-- Gwinnett Online Campus--Building F

Jan. 10-- South Gwinnett High Theater

Jan. 24-- Collins Hill High Theater

Jan. 31-- Mountain View High Theater

Feb. 7-- Gwinnett Online Campus-- Building F

All of the Gwinnett Online Campus informational meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Registration for the 2013-14 school year runs from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2013.

Gwinnett Online Campus students learn the same curriculum and participate in the same assessments as students enrolled in traditional Gwinnett schools. The difference is how they learn as they have flexibility to do work from home on their own time with direct support from teachers and administrators and visits to the campus. For more information, parents can visit www.gwinnettonlinecampus.com .





Maxwell High School of Technology:

Gwinnett County students who will be 11th or 12th graders as of the 2013-14 school year are invited to register at Maxwell High School of Technology starting Feb. 1, 2013. Students and their parents can learn more about the school by visiting the campus during its winter open house on Thurs., Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 990 McElvaney Lane in Lawrenceville. As part of the open house, students and parents can visit the school and meet administrators, faculty, and staff. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the campus and the different labs students use while studying at Maxwell High.

Converted to a charter school in 2010 as approved by the Gwinnett County Board of Education, Maxwell High School of Technology offers technical education courses during half of the school day. Students attend their home school for the rest of the day. The school offers students the opportunity to be dual-enrolled at the college level and be industry certified upon their high school graduation.



New Life Academy of Excellence:

Gwinnett County parents interested in their kindergarten-aged children attending New Life Academy of Excellence next school year can visit the school during a scheduled school tour and information session. The event takes place Thurs., Nov. 15, at 9 a.m. at the school’s Duluth campus, 4725 River Green Parkway, Duluth. There is no need to register for this event ahead of time.

Operating two campuses in Gwinnett County (K-8 in Duluth and K-3 in Norcross), New Life Academy of Excellence offers a curriculum focused on the Chinese language and culture. The Gwinnett County Board of Education approved the school’s application allowing it to open in 2007. For more
information, parents can visit www.newlifeacademyga.com.