CIVA Charter High School opened its doors in September of 1997 after nearly three years of planning by a group of Colorado Springs teachers, representatives from the Hyde school, parents and other community members. CIVA, whose name stands for Character, Integrity, Vision, and the Arts, offers the families of Colorado Springs a profound educative experience.
The vision of CIVA is to "Inspire each student to understand and pursue his/her unique potential."
The guiding philosophy of CIVA was gleaned from the extraordinarily successful model of the Hyde School in Bath, Maine. Joe Gauld the founder of the Hyde school defines unique potential as: "a person's unique potential is akin to an inner calling, and reflects one's temperament, gifts, natural talents, dreams, aspirations, background, family and upbringing."
CIVA was a part of District 11's bond issue in 2004. With the monies approved by the citizens of Colorado Springs, we were able to purchase a building and renovate it into a new and permanent school. We are now located at 4635 Northpark Drive (near Garden of the Gods and I-25). Renovating the building was truly a community endeavor. Our faculty, parents and students performed a lot of the demolition work and even helped with aspects of the construction. We have a new school with spacious classrooms, a complete performing arts center, three computer labs, a fully equipped science lab, a small gymnasium with a weight lifting area. Most recently we have a new cafeteria; we have a hot lunch program catered in for our students.
In recent history, CIVA has a new alliance with the Quantum Learning Network. Quantum Learning is a brain based research model that maximizes student learning. It is a model that increases student achievement through more effective teaching. CIVA is the only high school in the State of Colorado that specializes in this pedagogy. Our students have benefited greatly, as demonstrated by their academic performance, since we adopted the Quantum Learning model.
Over the years, CIVA has developed into an excellent school attracting students from a very wide area. While most of our students come from District 11, we have attracted students from as far away as Monument to the north and Pueblo to the south. Approximately 70% of our students go on to high education, with many pursuing further education in the arts.
Also recent in our history, CIVA has expanded its program to compete in athletics. We now offer boys and girls basketball, girls volleyball, co-ed ultimate Frisbee and bowling. The teams have already established winning seasons.
CIVA Charter High School has established itself as a quality school. For nearly 15 years we have helped young men and women accomplish their educative goals. We are proud of our current students and our alumni.
