Our Vision & History

Surrounded by almond orchards, Hart-Ransom Academic Charter School (HRACS) is located in the western area of Modesto, California. It is recognized as the 80th charter school established in the state, opening its doors in 1995 as a traditional homeschool model for Kindergarten through 8th grade, initially enrolling 65 students in a single building, which is now utilized as the District Boardroom.

 

Currently, HRACS serves over 550 students from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through high school, operating across two spacious campuses. These sites provide families the opportunity to meet with their assigned teachers and engage in optional onsite enrichment activities. The original home-based learning program has evolved to accommodate the diverse needs of the student body, offering traditional homeschooling, online learning, or a hybrid of both approaches.

 

Families participating in the HRACS program benefit from a strong emphasis on academic excellence, fostered by a warm, supportive, and communicative environment created by the staff. Each student is supported by a collaborative team that includes the parent, serving as the primary instructor, and a credentialed Advisory Teacher who monitors progress and assists with instructional planning.

 

Additionally, school support encompasses the Principal, office staff, resource specialists, and district-wide services such as speech therapy, psychology, counseling, and nursing. A strong commitment to academic excellence is reinforced through a Master Agreement signed by parents each year. This agreement obligates parents to meet regularly with an Advisory Teacher, submit monthly lesson plan projections, and participate in standardized testing. Students are assessed across all content areas, with state-aligned curricula tailored to meet the individual needs of each student.