Learning, Nature and Belonging at Forest Ranch

From a one-room schoolhouse in the big woods to the current fire wise concrete and metal structure, a unique school has been open for over a hundred years in Butte County’s unincorporated community of Forest Ranch. Just a 20-minute drive from Chico, today’s Forest Ranch Charter School serves a small student body wrapped in the arms of nature. Christia Marasco, a founder and executive director of Forest Ranch Charter School, helped write the original charter to transition Forest Ranch from a standard public school to a charter school in 2008. She remains deeply committed to offering the resources that students in grades TK-8 need to grow as scholars and as youth with promising futures.

Meeting strict charter school requirements and student needs

            With an enrollment of 106 students and growing, this small rural school is focused on best practices for curriculum and instruction as well as highly intentional student placement aimed at individual growth. Ms. Marasco says, “Forest Ranch Charter is a balanced school intended to meet the needs of the whole community. We are always looking toward reaching long-term growth, working with families and teachers each school year to make sure every student is in a placement that provides them with proper curriculum and maximizes their potential.”

            A charter school is a public school that operates under a contract mapping out goals, operating procedures and accountability measures. Charter schools often emphasize specific instructional models and activities designed to enrich the student experience at the school. Forest Ranch Charter is authorized by Chico Unified School District and operates as an independent public charter school. The school participates in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and reports indicate all standards are being met.

            Ms. Marasco believes challenging students to push themselves, to build their strengths, is as essential to meeting their needs as the free bus ride to Forest Ranch. The school strives to provide a solid academic foundation that nurtures a passion for learning in students while promoting self-reliance and social action. Enrichment options are in place that boost each child’s classroom learning experience, contribute to a positive school culture and support students becoming adept at meeting their own needs, preparing them for life beyond eighth grade.

Core subject, critical thinking skills and class choices provide wholistic education

            In Forest Ranch classrooms, teachers use six-to-eight-week integrative thematic units to enrich lessons in core subjects like reading, math and science. They organize the curriculum around a central topic that helps pique student interest and offers activities aimed at meeting diverse learning styles and drawing students into a deep exploration of the theme. The cadre of teachers consult each other, each building upon what the students’ previous teachers have provided. The school has also adopted Thinking Maps, an academic tool to boost critical thinking and aid students in mapping their way across different subjects, giving students their own guide to consult as they grow older and advance. Ms. Marasco is particularly impressed with the depth of writing enhancement offered by Thinking Maps’ Write from the Beginning…and Beyond, which helps students express what they know and write effectively across all of their studies.

            Beyond the basics, Forest Ranch offers electives, giving students in all grades a chance to make choices in their education. They can do projects with a 3D printer, learn to run a sewing machine or participate in many sport and cooperative game options. They can explore their artistic side with the VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) program and excitement is brewing about offering a Dinner Showcase in the upcoming months. Music is also on the agenda with weekly band and classroom music and a chorale program. Of course, the rustic setting of Forest Ranch is perfect for outdoor education. Nature studies are popular and students learn about local flora and fauna, native versus invasive plant species, fire ecology and respect for the natural environment.

Forest Ranch Charter School promotes sense of ownership and belonging

            Welcoming students into campus projects, activities and committees introduces them to social action and contributes to a sense of belonging. Students are given a voice at safety meetings and hold a seat at the committee table with parents and teachers making school decisions. The student-operated Fox Cafe (named for the school mascot) raises funds for the school and student government runs a variety of additional school fundraisers and events. This year, an old-school “social network” will be making a comeback, encouraging children to write letters to each other with mail delivery handled by the younger, lower grade students. It seems there is a way for students of all ages to own a bit of Forest Ranch Charter and have fun lending a hand.

            “Students rise up when they feel a sense of ownership and that they are needed to make a difference,” says Ms. Marasco. “Providing them a sense of belonging and connection makes such a difference. I feel honored to care for our students and help them find their unique talents and strengths. It’s all about the kids for me.”

            Could this growing school at the edge of the woods be the right place for your child? Families living in the greater Chico area can check out Forest Ranch Charter School and see if it may be a good fit for their child. Learn more about the school and enrollment at forestranchcharter.org.