About the School
Polaris Charter Academy is a nonprofit, free public charter school located in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. Serving grades K??, it was founded in 2007 by three award-winning teachers and currently enrolls around 450 students. As Chicago's only EL Education school, Polaris emphasizes a unique educational approach that combines academic excellence with character development. The school's mission is to foster self-motivated, creative, and critical thinkers who are prepared to be responsible citizens. Polaris operates under five core values: Integrity, Compassion, Critical Thinking, Exploration, and Active Citizenship. Its curriculum is centered on Learning Expeditions, which are hands-on, community-based projects that enhance students' understanding of social studies and science through experiential learning. Polaris is part of a national network of EL Education schools, recognized for its commitment to developing students' leadership skills and critical thinking abili