Our Charter
What is a Charter school? Charter schools are public schools granted autonomy to operate outside local school district policies, in exchange for maintaining agreed-upon levels of academic achievement by students.
Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) operates under the terms and conditions set forth in our charter agreement with School Board of the City of Richmond; the charter agreement authorizes PHSSA to establish, organize, and operate a charter school in accordance with applicable Virginia code.
Our History
The Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) was founded as part of the revitalization of the Woodland Heights neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. The revitalization included converting houses that had been divided into apartments back to single family residences and expanding the 43rd Street Arts Festival to year round arts activities for families. Another part of this project was restoring and maintaining Forest Hill Park, restoring and preserving Reedy Creek and its environs as a safe and clean tributary with ADA accessibility, and returning the vacant Patrick Henry School to use as a neighborhood public school that reflected the revitalization of the neighborhood while opening the school to all K-5 students in the city.
Read More about our History and See our Timeline here.
Board Of Directors
The Board of Directors is the paramount decision making body of Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts and is responsible for overall governance and helping to sustain the mission, vision, and charter of the School. The Board consists of four (4) officers and a maximum of up to twenty-four (24) directors.
The work of the Board of Directors focuses on five areas as outlined in the PHSSA strategic plan:
- Elevate the Building: Amplify the building to ensure a clean, safe, comfortable renovated building and grounds.
- Outstanding Staff: Employ committed, trained, and highly qualified teachers who understand and implement the mission every day.
- Stellar Curriculum: Enhance the curriculum to enable students to achieve academically through individual learning styles with an emphasis on science and arts.
- Sustainability: Activate a robust development program that generates support from Richmond Public Schools, private foundations, and individuals.
- Operational Excellence: Develop a culture of cooperation, open communication, and mutual respect among our stakeholder and leadership bodies, including the Board of Directors, School Planning and Management Team, Parent Teacher Association, and Richmond Public Schools.
Visit Our Board of Directors Page!