Princeton Charter School's mission is to provide its diverse student body the best possible education by focusing on the fundamental academic disciplines in an atmosphere that affirms academic achievement, and in so doing, to offer the community true choice in public education. Princeton Charter School believes that a "thorough and efficient'' education is best accomplished through a rigorous curriculum that requires mastery of core knowledge and skills.

In Kindergarten through eighth grade a solid foundation must be built for a lifetime of learning. Some schools sacrifice high expectations for fear of undermining student self-esteem. Princeton Charter School believes that knowledge must come first, and that children acquire genuine self-esteem through academic accomplishment. Many schools currently deprive learners of this experience by failing to set and celebrate milestones of achievement.

By fourth grade wide gaps in achievement emerge that cannot be explained by variations in ability alone. Disturbingly but not surprisingly, these gaps often correspond to children's socioeconomic differences and varying levels of parental support. Some are created by inconsistent or even ineffective treatment of core areas such as language arts and mathematics. Princeton Charter School cannot hope to close these gaps entirely, but it believes that a stronger education program will help to bridge them.

These problems are urgent and cannot await gradual reforms. The children in our schools today have only one chance at a good education. Princeton Charter School hopes to influence the course of public education by positive example for the benefit of our children and the society they will create.