History
Priority Charter Schools began serving families in the Temple/Belton area in 1999. First called TOVAS Charter Academy, the name changed to Temple Education Center in 2004. In 2012, the name changed again to Priority Charter Schools in order to communicate a renewed philosophy of expansion into other communities.
PCS now serves students and families in Cedar Park, Copperas Cove, and Georgetown, as well as in the Temple/Belton area.
The school opened its doors first to students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade nine who wanted a choice in their education. After much demand from parents, the grade levels were expanded to include Pre-Kindergarten through grade twelve in August 2002. With the exception of Georgetown Charter Academy, all PCS campuses now serve PK‑12.
PCS serves an average of 900 students in its four central Texas locations. Each campus exhibits unique characteristics that resemble their surrounding communities.
Who We Are
Priority Charter Schools is an open‑enrollment charter school district. As such, all PCS campuses are free public schools that have the flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual students. PCS serves a wide range of students that extend from gifted and talented to students who need additional support to get to grade level. That is why PCS is different from the one-size-fits-all traditional public school.
PCS provides a personalized learning environment that promotes greater student achievement. PCS also places a great emphasis on character citizenship in both the teachers and students.
PCS partners with both the parents and the community. All campuses operate on the philosophy that each child has value. We believe that every child is unique and must be treated accordingly. See Priority Charter Schools’ mission statement.
PCS was first approved by the Texas State Board of Education in 1999 and operates under contract with the Texas Commissioner of Education.
PCS sees its obligation as providing a personalized education tailored to the needs of every student.
For more information on public charter schools in Texas, go to www.txcharterschools.org.
Mission
The primary mission and vision of Priority Charter Schools is to implement a public charter school in partnership with parents and the community that offers a multicultural, safe and friendly environment in which students can successfully learn basic skills and core academic content, develop and demonstrate their special talents and gifts, and develop social competencies that demonstrate citizenship and character.
The secondary mission and vision of the schools is also committed to empowering others who possess visions and missions to carry out their distinctive callings. PCS does not intend to control others in their endeavors but to help lighten their load of providing assistance and training in the area of personalized education.
At Priority Charter Schools, the administration attempts to teach its staff that parents and students are our customers. We further endeavor to instill within each staff member, from the teachers to the cook to the custodian that “people do not care what you know until they know you care.”