Michael Cowden

CCCS is dedicated to empowering students as learners through the development of a results-driven academic environment, which includes a partnership with parents, a focus on building life skills, and a commitment to cultivating children’s instinctive quest for knowledge. Graduates from CCCS have an impressive record of achievement, with significant numbers attending selective high schools beyond the district boundaries, many of them on scholarships. It is our mission to assist students in developing the necessary academic, social, and emotional skill sets to prepare them for successful academic experiences in high school, post-secondary education, and beyond. Realizing the unique challenges children face in low-income, underserved communities such as Chester, CCCS’s management team has developed a staffing structure that provides extra academic support to scholars who need it. This gives educators the ability to address specific needs on an individual basis. Each building has a principal and an academic director. Building academic directors are experienced teachers who provide hands-on guidance, support, and professional development for classroom teachers. CCCS also maintains an active tutoring support program to address special needs. By the time our students graduate from 8th grade, they will have acquired a solid foundation to be self-sufficient learners for the rest of their lives. They will have the ability to communicate confidently in the digital world and will be proficient in reading, mathematics, science, and technology, as defined by state standards.