STCS Students and Parents

What is a Charter?

A charter school is a public school and may provide instruction in any of grade K-12. A charter school is usually created or organized by a group of teachers, parents and community leaders or a community-based organization and is usually sponsored by an existing local public school board or county board of education. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are detailed in an agreement (or “charter”) between the sponsoring board and charter organizers.

A charter school is generally exempt from most laws governing school districts, except where specifically noted in the law. California public charter schools are required to participate in the statewide assessment test, called the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) program. The law also requires that a public charter school be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and prohibits the conversion of a private school to a charter school. Public charter schools may not charge tuition and may not discriminate against any pupil based on ethnicity, national origin gender, or disability.

K-8 Mission

To prepare a diverse K-8 student population for successful higher education by equipping each child with skills, knowledge, and critical moral thinking, developing habits of mind to become self-motivated, competent, lifelong learners.

Parent Communication

At Sherman Thomas Charter School we strive to keep our parents informed. BLOOMZ is a communication app that we have adopted here at STCS and found it is easy and simple to use. 

2025-2026 Handbook

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P)

Sherman Thomas Charter Schools participates in the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), offering before-school, after-school, and summer enrichment programming for eligible students.

For more information or to inquire about enrollment, please contact:

Erick Kroll Phone: (559) 915-5254 Email: ekroll@mystcs.org

Student and Staff Right to Carry Water Bottles

Sherman Thomas Charter Schools supports student and staff hydration during the school day. In accordance with California Education Code sections 38042 and 38043, students, teachers, and staff are permitted to bring and carry water bottles containing drinking water throughout most areas of the school campus, including classrooms.
This right does not apply in locations where school staff have determined that drinking water poses a safety concern — for example, libraries, computer labs, science labs, and other specialized instructional spaces where liquids near equipment or materials could create a hazard.

Dangers of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are extremely potent and can be lethal even in very small amounts. These substances are increasingly found mixed into counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs without the user’s knowledge, dramatically increasing the risk of accidental overdose and death.

Sherman Thomas Charter Schools is committed to student safety and encourages students and families to:

  • Never take medication or pills that were not prescribed directly to them by a doctor
  • Be aware that a single pill can be fatal
  • Know the signs of an opioid overdose (unresponsiveness, slow or stopped breathing, blue-tinged lips or fingertips) and call 911 immediately if these occur
  • Reach out to school staff, a counselor, or a trusted adult with any questions or concerns about substance use

For more information and resources, families may visit the California Department of Public Health’s fentanyl awareness page.

COVID-19 School Closure-Distanced Based Learning Information

Please see the following resources to help you navigate these tools that teachers may be using to access Distance Learning. Teachers will send additional information or be available to help guide you with any additional tools they may offer.