Rocky Mountain Classical Academy (RMCA) is a public charter school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. As a school committed to academic excellence and character development, RMCA operates under a distinct educational philosophy that shapes its student population and academic focus. Mission Statement: Rocky Mountain Classical Academy exists to support parents in developing citizens of character who are equipped with a strong knowledge b…
ase and academic skills. The basis of this development is rooted in an academically rigorous, content-rich, classical educational program with Core Knowledge emphasis. Vision & Core Values: RMCA's vision is underpinned by the following core values: All students can learn at high levels.  RMCA exists to partner with parents in order to achieve high levels of classical learning for all students, as student education is the responsibility of parents. Rigorous Academics  through the use of the Core Knowledge Sequence and other curricular tools that challenge students is a priority. Classical Education  is the method and structure through which we will deliver our rich content. The most important factor in student learning is an effective teacher. It is the role of the instructor to close gaps and ensure that all students can achieve highly rigorous student outcomes. It is the role of the school administration to provide professional development, a plan of action, and accountability to student outcomes. Demographics and Student Population: RMCA serves a diverse student body drawn from various neighborhoods within Colorado Springs and the wider El Paso County. Our student population reflects the local community, encompassing a range of socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnic identities. The school strives to create an inclusive environment where all students, regardless of their background, can thrive within a classical education framework. We serve students with varying academic needs, including those requiring special education services and English Language Learners, providing targeted support and accommodations to ensure equitable access to our rigorous curriculum. Specific demographic data, including percentages of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities, and ethnic breakdowns, are regularly reported to the CDE and are available in our official data submissions. Academic Focus: RMCA's academic focus is deeply rooted in its classical educational program with a strong emphasis on the Core Knowledge Sequence. This approach ensures a cumulative and coherent curriculum that builds knowledge systematically across grade levels and subject areas. Our curriculum is designed to be academically rigorous, challenging students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of foundational knowledge in history, literature, science, mathematics, and the arts. Key aspects of our academic focus include: Content-Rich Curriculum:  Utilizing the Core Knowledge Sequence, students are exposed to a broad and deep body of knowledge, fostering cultural literacy and a comprehensive understanding of the world. Classical Pedagogy:  Instruction emphasizes Socratic questioning, logical reasoning, and the development of strong communication skills, both written and oral. Students are encouraged to engage with primary sources and classical texts. High Expectations for All:  In alignment with our core value that all students can learn at high levels, RMCA maintains rigorous academic standards for every student. Teachers are equipped to differentiate instruction and provide targeted interventions to ensure that all students can meet these high expectations. Teacher Effectiveness:  Recognizing that effective teachers are the most crucial factor in student learning, RMCA prioritizes professional development, instructional coaching, and accountability measures to ensure that our educators are highly skilled and continuously improving their practice to close learning gaps and foster student achievement. Through this comprehensive approach to education, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy is dedicated to developing well-rounded citizens of character, equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for future success.
Accredited with Distinction - This is assigned to the highest performing districts. These districts are meeting or exceeding expectations on the majority of performance tasks.
Accredited - Districts with an overall rating of Accredited are meeting expectations on the majority of performance metrics.
Accredited with Improvement Plan - These districts are identified as lower performing. They may be meeting expectations on some performance metrics, but they are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on many.
Accredited with Priority Improvement Plan - These districts are identified as low performing. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these districts until they improve.
Accredited with Turnaround Plan - These districts are identified as among the lowest performing districts in the state. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these districts until they improve.
Accredited with Insufficient State Data - These districts are assigned this accreditation rating when the state does not have enough data to report publicly. To better understand why a district received an Insufficient State Data rating, all publicly reportable data are reflected in the performance framework report. More information about these ratings is available here.
School Ratings
Performance Plan - Schools with a Performance Plan are meeting expectations on the majority of performance metrics.
Improvement Plan - These schools are identified as lower performing. They may be meeting expectations on some performance metrics, but they are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on many.
Priority Improvement Plan - These schools are identified as low performing. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these schools until they improve.
Turnaround Plan - These schools are identified as among the lowest performing schools in the state. They are not meeting or are only approaching expectations on most performance metrics. The state will provide support and oversight to these schools until they improve.
Insufficient State Data - These schools are assigned this plan type when the state does not have enough data to report publicly. To better understand why a school received an Insufficient State Data rating, all publicly reportable data are reflected in the performance framework report. More information about these ratings is available here.