Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

251 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 THE CARROLLTON CI T Y SCHOOLS fronts,” Albertus said. “Our 130-acre campus is home to all four of our schools: an approach that allows our students to belong to a school family as Trojans, from pre-K all the way through high school. As a state-recognized charter school system, the Carrollton City Schools have the ability to make many decisions at the local level––where our children are. With school governance teams at each school, parents, teachers and administrators collaborate to bring the very best educational opportunities to our students and families through innovative and efficient decision-making. From our Early Learning Center and academies at Carrollton Elementary School all the way to our international baccalaureate program at Carrollton High School, students in the Carrollton City Schools are encouraged to pursue academic, artistic and athletic excellence at every level.” The superintendent encouraged the public to check out the difference. “Please stop by and visit with us,” he said. “You’ll quickly see why the Carrollton City Schools are the gold standard.” Albertus emphasized that the system, serving some 5,600 students, has much to offer. “We pride ourselves on having something for everyone,” he said. About the system’s mascot––the Trojan: they were famed warriors from the ancient Greek city of Troy. The Trojans were described by Homer in The Iliad. Student engagement is critical, Albertus observed. If students discover what they’re best at, be it a given academic subject or the extracurricular activities of band, athletics and so on, and they enjoy this, they’ll likewise enjoy their overall school experience all the more. “When you feel as if you’re a part of something, and you look forward to that activity, you’re going to do better academically as well,”