Our Curricula
At Philip’s Academy Charter School Newark (PACS Newark), our mission is to inspire diverse learners in a rigorous and innovative environment that cultivates resilient leadership, intellectual curiosity, and thoughtful stewardship. We believe that learning happens everywhere—both inside and outside of the classroom—and we are dedicated to providing our scholars with the love and support they need to build a strong foundation for life. Beyond academic excellence, we instill a hunger and determination for scholars to forge their own life paths, realize their dreams, and reach their full potential. Our curriculum prepares scholars to make ethical decisions and thrive as respectful, active members of a diverse global society.
Creative Curriculum for Pre-K
Our Pre-K program uses The Creative Curriculum®, a research-based, play-based approach that nurtures the whole child while building a strong foundation for kindergarten success. Through hands-on exploration, purposeful play, and meaningful interactions, children develop the academic, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills they need to become confident, curious learners.
Each day, our students engage in developmentally appropriate learning experiences that integrate literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and social-emotional learning. Children investigate engaging topics through project-based studies that spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and promote creativity while strengthening communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.
Our classrooms provide a balanced combination of teacher-guided instruction, small-group learning, independent exploration, and purposeful play. Rich learning centers allow children to make choices, explore their interests, and apply new skills in authentic ways while teachers intentionally guide instruction based on each child's individual strengths and needs.
The Creative Curriculum fosters a joyful learning environment where every child develops the confidence, independence, and foundational skills needed to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
English Language Arts, Phonics, and Mathematics
Our literacy foundation begins with Fishtank Learning ELA, a high-quality, knowledge-building English Language Arts curriculum designed to cultivate critical readers, writers, and independent thinkers. Through exposure to rich, authentic literature and culturally diverse texts, scholars engage in meaningful discussions, build background knowledge, and sharpen their analytical writing skills while learning to honor the unique worth of every voice in our community.
To complement our ELA instruction in the foundational early years, scholars in Kindergarten through Grade 3 participate in UFLI Foundations. Grounded in the Science of Reading, UFLI Foundations delivers explicit, systematic phonics instruction through structured daily routines that ensure young learners master word decoding, spelling, and automatic reading fluency with confidence.
Our mathematics instruction empowers scholars to develop strong conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real-world problem-solving abilities that build resilience and confidence. In Kindergarten through Grade 2, we utilize Eureka Math, which guides young mathematicians through a concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract learning progression, helping them visualize numbers and articulate their mathematical thinking.
Building upon this strong foundation, scholars in Grades 3 through 8 advance to Eureka Math². This enhanced, highly interactive curriculum deepens mathematical reasoning through collaborative problem-solving, digital tools, and real-world applications that challenge scholars to explain the reasoning behind their solutions and tackle complex challenges with determination.
Science and Social Studies
In science, PACS Newark scholars explore the natural world using HMH Science Dimensions. Fully aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), this curriculum employs the inquiry-based 5E Instructional Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) across all grade levels. From Kindergarten foundational observations to middle school module investigations in life, physical, Earth, and space sciences, scholars engage in hands-on experiments, interactive multimedia simulations, and real-world engineering challenges. By analyzing data, constructing evidence-based explanations, and evaluating environmental impacts, students develop skills that encourage thoughtful stewardship of our planet, training them to think like scientists, test prototypes like engineers, gather empirical evidence, and innovate sustainable solutions.
Our social studies curriculum, powered by Discovery Education, directly reflects our commitment to preparing scholars for entrance into an interconnected global society. Utilizing rich primary sources, dynamic digital media, and inquiry-driven units, scholars examine history, civics, economics, geography, and culture through diverse historical perspectives. By critically evaluating narratives and analyzing local and global events, scholars build a deep respect for varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This comprehensive approach empowers students to develop the advanced critical literacy skills, analytical reasoning, and empathy necessary to practice responsible citizenship, engage in ethical decision-making, and lead meaningful service to others in their communities and beyond.