Vega Collegiate Academy

Background Statement

Founded in 2017, Vega Collegiate Academy Charter School (VCA) is a Title 1 elementary and middle school located in Northwest Aurora, Colorado. Fully enrolled with a waitlist, VCA provides a rigorous academic and character education program to students who represent Colorado's most vulnerable populations. Within a structured and joyful school community, VCA is committed to preparing every student for success in college and a life of opportunity.

In 2019, we served 235 students between grades K-2 and 5-7. This year, we will serve 315 students. When Grades 3 and 8 enroll, VCA will serve 500 K-8 students. That VCA has ranked as a top school in Colorado in both Math and Reading Growth (#1 and #4 in 2017, #2 in 2018) is a testament to the attention and care our faculty provide to each student. In action, our vision and mission looks like this:

A culture of high academic and behavioral expectations, as well as true joy. VCA teachers bring joy into the classroom, creating positive environments that reward academic curiosity and character development. Within a rigorous, highly structured, and challenging academic setting, there are opportunities for joy, laughter, and celebration.

An absolute focus on academic achievement. Every decision is made to prepare students with the academic foundation that places them on a path to a life of opportunity. VCA ensures that every student is reading at or above grade level by Grade 3. For older grades, students meet or exceed the entry requirements into college-track high school courses. Our students, of whom 70% are English Language Learners, are avid readers and the growth in their academic performance and behavior will have long-term impacts. In our first year, VCA ranked #1 in the APS district for growth in Math and Reading (#1 and #4, respectively, in the state of Colorado).

High-quality faculty teach to student strengths and support student needs. VCA maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1. Teacher training in restorative justice and trauma-informed practices is prioritized. Approaching challenges with compassion and empathy has fundamentally changed the academic experience for our students.

Students do what is right, and are conscious of life's opportunities. VCA explicitly coaches development of our core values: Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy. These are encouraged through daily Morning Motivations, weekly community celebrations, behavioral feedback with families, and a school-wide focus on character and leadership development at every grade level. The response from our students has been overwhelming. Our students hold themselves and each other to high moral standards. They help their classmates and teachers with daily tasks and chores. They engage with concepts that require deep reflection, and parent feedback notes positive behavioral changes at home.

VCA partners with families and communities to educate our children. As a community leader, VCA seeks to invest in the community that has invested in us. Every family receives a home visit, has access to two workshops per trimester, enjoys monthly cafecitos (coffee talks) with school leadership, and receives weekly communication from their child's teacher. In our commitment to the community and empowering local residents, VCA seeks to lead by example. When our students see how acts of service contribute to strong character, they begin to recognize themselves as agents of positive change.