Innovation Academy Charter School
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Innovation Academy Charter School (IACS) is a small
charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...
in Tyngsborough,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, United States. The school was founded in 1996, under the name Chelmsford Public Charter School by a small group of parents from
Chelmsford, Massachusetts Chelmsford () is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Chelmsford was incorporated in May 1655 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court. When Chelmsford was incorporated, its local economy was fueled by lumber mills, ...
. While initially a
middle school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...
serving only the town of Chelmsford, IACS has since expanded, establishing a
high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
and serving multiple towns within Massachusetts.


History of IACS

Innovation Academy Charter School was created in 1996 by a group of parents in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts Chelmsford () is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Chelmsford was incorporated in May 1655 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court. When Chelmsford was incorporated, its local economy was fueled by lumber mills, ...
. Its first class of middle school students, grades 5-8, was made up of fewer than 150 students. Originally called Chelmsford Public Charter School, it served students in Chelmsford only. A few years later, the school was renamed Murdoch Middle School. It then served mainly three towns;
Chelmsford Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
, Billerica, and Lowell. It remained in Chelmsford for several years while growing in size, at one point occupying part of the Chelmsford Old Town Hall. Walter Landberg became the executive director and the school was renamed to Innovation Academy Charter School. The school then moved to its current location in
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts Tyngsborough (also spelled Tyngsboro) is a town in northern Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Tyngsborough is from Boston along the U.S. Route 3, Route 3 corridor, and located on the New Hampshire s ...
, where it became known as a regional charter school, expanding to also serve the towns of
Dracut Dracut is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the 2020 census, the town's population was 32,617, making it the second most populous town in Massachusetts with an open town meeting system of governance. The town cove ...
, Groton, Tewksbury, and Westford, among others. The facility was previously used as the
Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
Conference Center, and before that was the Wang Institute of Graduate Studies. Walter Landberg eventually left the school, after completing building projects for a new track and field and a building for the 5th and 6th grades named in his honor.


IACS Today

IACS has since expanded the original school into grades 5-12, a full middle school and high school. The school has four outcomes: problem solving, community membership, effective communication, and self-direction.


High school

The first graduation class of the high school was spring of 2011. The graduating class had 100% acceptance into a 4-year college. The students are split into groups of approximately 9 students called an "advisory". The advisory is led by a member of the high school staff who helps the students with school work and high school life. The school year is semester based with reports sent home 1/2 of the way through the semester. Before 2023 it was 1/3 and 2/3 of the way through the semester, that students and parents would receive progress reports, however, this system has changed, with only 1 progress report being given through the semester, at about the halfway point. Grading is A, B, C, D, and F. Honors in individual classes are achieved by doing extra work assigned by the teacher and raises the GPA of that class by .5. Honors credit is not received with a D or F grade in that class.


Middle school

Middle school is divided into 4 "teams". 2 teams are grades 5 and 6, and 2 others are grades 7 and 8. These teams are named after the outcome of the school listed above. The teams are further divided into advisories of 12-13 people. The middle school is made up of about 400 students. The school year is divided into quarters, with reports sent home at the end of every quarter. Students wishing to achieve honor roll must receive at least 3's or above. Distinguished honor roll requires no grade below a 3.5.


Grading

The middle school used to have a unique grading system. D, P, A, N, and W. As of the school year 2024-2025 the middle school has changed to a more traditional ABC grading system. The system is still unique in the lack of an A+ in the grading system. These grades are associated with point values. Students are graded on Application, Comprehension, and the school outcomes.


Sports


Middle school

The fall middle school sports teams consists of boys soccer grades 5-8, girls soccer grades 5-8, JV Volleyball grades 5-7, Varsity Volleyball grades 6-8, and cross-country grades 5-8. Boys soccer won their league championship in the 2010 season and the 2014 season. The girls won their league championship in 2013. In 2011 the cross-country team placed 14 at a USATF New England Cross Country Invitational meet. Winter middle school sports are indoor track grades 5-8, cheerleading grades 5-8, boys JV basketball, girls JV basketball, boys varsity basketball, and girls varsity basketball. Indoor track was added in the winter of 2011, as was cheerleading. Spring sports offered are Kickball grade 5, Softball grades 6-8, Baseball grades 6-8,0 Dance grades 5-8, and Co-ed Track & Field grades 5-8. Softball, baseball, dance, and kickball were all added in the 2012 spring season. IACS dance has been very successful in the past, receiving golds, high golds, platinums, and high platinum awards both at regionals and nationals, as well as many overall awards, including 1st place! IACS middle school track and field had a successful second season in spring 2011 when four middle school boys set the New England
4 × 400 metres relay The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track and field, track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap, totaling 1600 meters. It is traditionally the final event of ...
record with a time of 3:44.63. In the 2012 season, the boys placed 2nd in the state meet and girls placed 9th in the state.


References


External links

* {{authority control Schools in Middlesex County, Massachusetts 1996 establishments in Massachusetts Charter middle schools in Massachusetts Charter high schools in Massachusetts Tyngsborough, Massachusetts High schools in Middlesex County, Massachusetts