About TCKS

Our Vision is educational excellence in knowledge, skills and character with strong parent-teacher-student partnerships.

Traut Core Knowledge School (TCKS) is a public school of choice within the Poudre School District that opened in September 1993. As a Core Knowledge school, TCKS is part of a network of schools across the country using a curriculum based on the Core Knowledge Sequence. The Core Knowledge Sequence is based on the premise that there is a specific core of knowledge that all students should learn while they are in elementary school. This core of knowledge is sequentially presented by grade level. The Core Knowledge FAQ explains some of the common questions about Core Knowledge.

The history, philosophy, and details about Traut Core Knowledge School and the five pillars are found in the Parent Guide.

The concepts implemented at TCKS are based on five supporting pillars built upon the foundation of choice. The pillars are:

1)      A content-rich curriculum built upon the Core Knowledge sequence. The school holds a belief that both skills and knowledge are important, and that the best way to teach the necessary skills of reading, writing, and thinking is in the context of a rich, interesting, knowledge-based curriculum. The knowledge is not an end in itself, but rather a means to the end goal of an excellent grasp of information and the ability to use that information thoughtfully.

2)      Parent partnership. At TCKS, parents are fully involved in all aspects of the school, to the point of a full partnership in the decision-making and operation of the school. The school believes that every child’s first and most important teachers are his or her parents, and that our school exists to supplement and support the learning that is started in the home.

3)      Character education. TCKS also believes that learning to act in a respectful and responsible way is crucial, and the school has identified twelve character traits that are taught throughout the school day.

4)      Student responsibility for learning. Students at TCKS are key partners in the educational goals. Students will obtain the desired success as they recognize and accept their responsibility for their own learning. There is a cost for students to attend TCKS, and that is the requirement to behave, and to work both in the classroom during work times as well as at home in completing their homework assignments.

5)      Mature Literacy. Knowing that reading is the most important skill for elementary students to learn, the development of Mature Literacy is a primary focus at TCKS. Literacy instruction is based upon the premise that students need a strong foundation of systematic phonics instruction along with plentiful opportunities to read meaningful text in order to become mature, competent readers.

6)     Governance. The SBMC is the Primary Policy -Making Body at TCKS.

7)     Assessment. Assessment is a valuable tool in education, and different viewpoints are necessary to obtain a full picture of a child's ability.  There are several different assessment results available to you to track academic progress.  Here is some information on a few of them.  For a complete analysis and for personalized information, please always contact your child's teacher and/or the assessment coordinator (Mrs. Baker).

The "What is TCKS all about” page explains some of the details of what our school is doing in addition to using the Core Knowledge Sequence.