Indian River Charter High School (IRCHS) was founded in 1998 as a small, public, non-traditional high school, with an emphasis on character development, academic achievement, career preparation, and cultural awareness. With an enrollment limited to 650, the school operates under the auspices of a private non-profit organization and is guided by a community Board of Directors. The mission of the Indian River Charter High School is to give its students the opportunity to develop a new set of competencies and foundational skills that will help them enjoy a productive, full, and satisfying life. This school will be a high performance organization.

The target population of IRCHS is primarily mature students in grades 9-12 who want a non-traditional structure and learning environment to successfully complete their secondary education and earn a Florida high school diploma. IRCHS is designed to meet students’ academic needs through a combination of tested, innovative, and integrated curricula approaches. IRCHS prepares students for success in post-secondary education, prepares students for a successful career, and requires students to develop both their personal character and their cultural awareness. Within an open-campus, the school provides a nurturing environment for student responsibility and offers a safe, healthy, and positive campus culture. Beyond making sure that each student develops the foundational skills of reading, writing, mathematics, listening, speaking, and critical-thinking, the curriculum emphasizes helping students learn how to learn as well as becoming self-motivated, active students and citizens, problem-solvers, and workers who both relate well to others and posses a high degree of integrity.

The foundation of the school’s environment is built upon Homebase, a team of twenty to twenty-five students assigned to one teacher who serves as the group’s on-campus advisor/facilitator/counselor. The Homebase room adjoins the teacher’s classroom and provides a safe, caring, and beneficial environment that students may utilize all hours of the school day. Once a week, the Homebase team meets to discuss topics such as campus events, character development, employment skills, academic concerns, cultural events, and community projects. The Homebase teacher is charged with guiding the learning process, tracking progress, meeting bi-monthly with each student, and communicating with teachers, administration, and family. A student stays with the same Homebase teacher for his/her first three years until placed with a Senior Homebase instructor.

Students who attend IRCHS shoulder a great deal of responsibility in their daily routine. Therefore, students and parents must sign a seven-point contract upon enrollment. If the student breaks the contract at any time during enrollment, he/she may be dismissed from the school immediately. All IRCHS students and staff agree to drug testing prior to enrollment and participate in an on-going random drug-testing program as a motivation for the prevention of drug use.

Student schedules resemble a college schedule. Students develop an individualized program of study through scheduling appointments where parents are welcome. The program of study addresses the student’s learning styles, interests, life-demands and ability level. Classes are conducted from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday. A full time student must maintain 28 hours of study. The school’s teachers are certified, student-centered, and represent a wide array of both academic and life experience. Teaching hours vary during the week, and time is made available for students who need assistance and consultation.

Board of Directors

  Gene Waddell, Chairman
Karl Zimmermann, Treasurer
Robert A. Brackett, Secretary
Barbara Armour-Strimel
Rich Nalbandian
Pamela Bjorkman
Steven Blum
Joan L. Johnson
Dr. David Sullivan
Richard Dillon
Mason Simpson