Pottsville
Pennsylvania
Gillingham Charter School
Gillingham is a small charter school, currently serving grades K-11. The school opened for classes in August, 2011, and adds a grade each year, with grade 12 being added for 2014-2015.
For the children's sake, Gillingham Charter School cultivates a respectful learning organization upon the belief that children are, foremost, persons. The nourishment of relationships, habits and ideas through a Relational Education not only prepare students for future education but foster within them an avid desire for a life of learning, enabling them to author their own lives confidently and resiliently.
Their curriculum is full of living books, living things, and living ideas, tailored to meet PA State Standards. Gillingham's Relational Education Method is offered with the help of Charlotte Mason Educational Servies, (formerly Childlight USA). CMES offers a non-sectarian curriculum based on the teachings and philosophy of Charlotte Mason, and is the school's accrediting body.
The school is housed in a beautiful brick building, built in 1892 by volunteers. In the summer of 2011, the Gillingham collaborative lovingly, and with respect for the for the history and architecture of the building, renovated it in order to bring it up to current safety and access codes.
The school offers varied sports, music and arts programs. Enrollment is open to any student in Schuylkill County. Gillingham is a tuition-free public school.