Signature School

Evansville Signature School Signature School
Location
Evansville, Indiana, United States
Information
Type	charter high school, International Baccalaureate Programme, Advanced Placement
Established	2002
School district	Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
Director	Vicki Snyder
Grades	9–12
Number of students	302
Campus	Urban
Color(s)
Athletics	Cross Country, Golf, Track, and Tennis
Sports	Independent
Mascot	Penguin
Nickname	SIG
Website	Signature School

History

Located in downtown Evansville, Indiana, Signature School's main building is attached to the historic Victory Theater. The building now known as Signature School was originally a hotel, and was gutted and remodeled to be a school. Because of the buildings history, many of the classrooms remained small in size, because they were rooms for the hotel at one point.

Beginning in 1992, Signature School functioned as a half-day program, with both morning and afternoon classes for motivated high school students who wanted to be challenged and take higher level courses. The ACE program (The Accelerated, Compacted, Enriched Program) was developed for freshmen and sophomores wanting more advanced English, foreign language, math, and science courses. By 2001, Signature School had 278 part time students, and the school focus and dynamic had been evolving over the nine year it had been operating. After the Indiana Charter School Law was passed, the staff at the time saw an opportunity to apply for a full-day program, adopt more courses into its curriculum, and become a charter school. In December of 2001, Signature School submitted a charter-seeking conversion status to the [EVSC] and on February 25th 2002, the EVSC approved the charter.

The 2002/2003 school year was Signature's first, and the school had 213 students enrolled that first year.

Signature School is a charter high school located in downtown Evansville, Indiana, on the Main Street Walkway. The school opened in 2002 and is Indiana's first public charter high school. The first graduation ceremony for Signature School students was held in May 2003 in the Victory Theatre. There were 42 students in that first graduating class. From 1992 to 2002, before Signature School became a full-time high school, it operated as a half-day satellite school for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. In 2006, it was named the 54th best public high school in the United States by Newsweek. In 2007, Signature School was awarded one of the best schools nationwide. It was No. 86 out of about 22,000 schools and was the only school in Indiana to receive this award. Within this same article, Signature School was listed as one of the top 10 charter schools in the United States. In 2008, the school again made Newsweek's Top 100 Best High Schools list by placing 99th. In December 2008, Signature was once again nationally ranked, placing 68th on U.S. News and World Report's annual 100 best High Schools list. Also, in the 2008 school year, Signature was declared a blue ribbon school. In 2009, Signature School was named the 27th best high school in the country by Newsweek. In 2010, Signature School has been listed as the 7th best high school in the country by Newsweek. Like any public school, Signature School is free and open to the public. The EVSC does not associate with Signature School nor do they interfere with their style of teaching.

The school offers students three major study paths: math and science, fine and performing arts, or liberal arts/humanities. Signature School has been accepted into the International Baccalaureate Programme. However, the school also offers Advanced Placement classes for those who choose to not to graduate with an IB diploma. Today, many of the classes are a combination of AP and IB classes.

The foreign languages offered at the school are French, German and Spanish.

The school currently has a total enrollment of 302 students. The school was founded in part by the current principal Vicki Snyder. The school's success is also due to the motivated staff and teachers. Phyllis Pate is the main secretary, Mary Williams is the assistant to the counselor and Ann Gomoll-Doan is the school counselor. Alongside Vicki Snyder, these people play an important role in the school. Signature School prides itself on offering challenging courses for the "self-motivated learner" and for being different from other area schools. The student to teacher ratio is 20 to 1. Many students and parents can access grades and information from a server called Powerschool, which is updated regularly.

Unlike other high schools, Signature students do not eat in a school cafeteria, but at one of the numerous restaurants located in downtown Evansville. Students who bring their lunches may also elect to eat across the street from the school in a room called the Commons in the 2nd floor of the Signature School Science Center. Students sign up each morning for a restaurant and sign in with a teacher assigned to that restaurant.

Signature School has a focus on academics and the arts. Within its first five years of existence, Signature School has been well known for the many contributions it plays in the Summer EVSC Musicals, and the side shows, performed by the Signature Singers, which are led by teacher Terry Becker. On a side note, in addition to musicals, the school has a heavy amount of participation in Indiana State School Music Association competitions.

References

• http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?&schl=8295