Responsive Education Programs Aim To Improve State Graduation Rates

Born from a desire to help students at risk of dropping out earn their high school diploma, ResponsiveEd has grown into two districts with more than 70 schools and 20,000 students. With locations all over Texas, and even a few in Arkansas, ResponsiveEd offers parents a wide range of school choices, from classical, to STEM early college, online and credit recovery options.

Bridget Weisenburger, Communications Coordinator for ResponsiveEd, says the education that students are receiving through ResponsiveEd schools are not only helping them receive their diplomas, but are also propelling them into a successful future.

“ResponsiveEd was started in 1999 to help students at risk of dropping out of school stay on track to earn their high school diploma and be prepared to enter college and the workforce,” Weisenburger says. “Our first 15 schools created that year were focused exclusively on this goal.”

Pasadena Classical Academy

Since these initial schools, Weisenburger says ResponsiveEd has helped more than 11,000 students receive their diplomas. In the 2015-2016 academic year, more than 3,000 students are enrolled in premier high schools. The company, headquartered in Lewisville, TX, added college preparatory schools in 2007: Founders Classical Academies, ResponsiveEd Classical Academies, Quest Middle Schools and iSchool High Schools. More than 9,000 students in the state are enrolled in these programs.

Weisenburger says the “tried and true curriculum” at ResponsiveEd schools is available in both suburban and urban locations, giving students of all backgrounds the opportunity to advance their education. Part of the curriculum, and how it differs from many traditional public school curriculums, is the focus on classic literature, creative writing, memorization of historical texts and the teaching of Latin. Additionally, each grade is kept small, giving each student the chance to have a one-on-one relationship with their peers and their teachers.

Clay Classical Academy

“Our schools are small by design,” Weisenburger says. “Few have grades larger than 80-100 children. Some of our schools might only have two classes per grade. That allows our teachers to get to know our students very well.”

Enrollment at ResponsiveEd schools is done via blind lotteries every February for the upcoming school year. Because of the high demand of these types of public charter schools, the schools are provided access to a student’s disciplinary history, which would be the only reason a student is declined admission. Applications to each ResponsiveEd school can be done online.

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