A public charter middle school since 1997
What is a charter school?
Charter Schools are independently operated, publicly funded schools that are granted greater autonomy through state law. First started in Minnesota in 1991, the charter school movement seeks to create a high level of flexibility with accountability at a local level.
The charter school establishes a contract (a charter) with a sponsor, often a school district, university, or public educational institution depending on the state, to which they are academically and financially accountable. The charter is periodically reviewed (usually 3 to 5 year contracts) and can be revoked if the school is not meeting management or academic standards. As of 2025, 47 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have charter school laws. Participation and support of charters varies widely by state.
Oregon charter school law (ORS 338) - approved 1999
The Oregon law has specific goals in mind:
338.015 Legislative intent: goals. It is the intent of this chapter that new types of schools, called public charter schools, be created as a legitimate avenue for parents, educators and community members to take responsible risks to create new, innovative and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system. The Legislative Assembly seeks to create an atmosphere in Oregon’s public school system where research and development of new learning opportunities are actively pursued.
The provisions of this chapter should be interpreted liberally to support the goals of this section and to advance a renewed commitment by this state to the mission, goals and diversity of public education. It is the intent that public charter schools may serve as models and catalysts for the improvement of other public schools and the public school system.
The goals of public charter schools shall be to:
Increase student learning and achievement
Increase choices of learning opportunities for students
Better meet individual student academic needs and interests
Build stronger working relationships among educators, parents and other community members
Encourage the use of different and innovative learning methods
Provide opportunities in small learning environments for flexibility and innovation, which may be applied, if proven effective, to other public schools
Create new professional opportunities for teachers
Establish additional forms of accountability for schools
Create innovative measurement tools
“It is the intent that public charter schools may serve as models and catalysts for the improvement of other public schools and the public school system.”
— Oregon Charter School Law, 1999
Our Story
In the mid 1990s, Salem-Keizer was transitioning from a junior high model (7th-8th grade) to a middle school model (6th-8th grade). Howard Street Charter School was founded in 1997 as an alternative school in the South High Annex when Leslie Jr. High transitioned to a new location as Leslie Middle School .
Working with Salem-Keizer Public Schools, the HSCS Founders used the national template for charter schools to articulate the mission and vision of our program and, when the Oregon Charter Law (ORS 338) was enacted in 1999, we were grandfathered in as one of the first charter schools in Oregon, the first in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
From Aug 1997 until Dec 2019, our home was the Annex of South Salem High School. However, with growing enrollment at South Salem High School, we received notice in 2017 that we would need to move. Thus, we began the next step in our journey.
After searching various parts of Salem-Keizer, Howard Street choose to find a place in downtown Salem. This central location will allow us to live up to our vision of being a school for anyone living in Salem and Keizer. With nearby access to public transportation and a more central location, it is easier than ever for families to get to our school.
Our home is 625 Marion St NE - the former Oregon Department of Energy building. Originally built in 1955 as a grocery store, our home is a strong concrete and metal-ribbed building with beautiful wooden arches supporting the roof. The building allows lots of natural light and features 12 classrooms including a dedicated science lab (a first for us) and music classrooms (another first). Each program has its own space with a computer lab, kitchen, front office area and a central commons.
In addition, our home was built with sustainability and green energy in mind. Solar panels on the roof assist with electrical costs and water filling stations remove the need for plastic one-use water bottles. We have a composting program for food waste and, of course, we recycle all we can.
Our grand opening was Jan 6, 2020 - thank you Salem Chamber of Commerce for welcoming us to downtown! We continue to thrive in the downtown area.
How and When to Apply
Admission to all charter schools in Oregon is through an application and lottery process. Our admissions’ window for the lottery is first Tuesday of January each school year until the first Friday of March. All applications are digital via the Avela platform.
All applications that are complete and within Salem-Keizer Public School boundary area are placed into a lottery and a random order is created of all applicants. Positions are then offered and the rest are placed on a waitlist.
The lottery is held on the Tuesday after the application deadline.
Process for 2027-2028
Our applications for 2027-2028 are electronic. You must apply online using this link : Avela Application
Please join us on Feb 16, 2027 for 5th grade parent information night (adults only please for space) and/or
Feb 17, 2027 for student-led building tours for interested students and their familes.
All applicants for 2026-2027 at this point are added to the bottom of the waitlist for the grade they are currently in.
If you wish to apply for future years, you will need to wait for the new applications. Applications for the 2027-2028 year will be available January 2027 and may be different than current applications.
Questions regarding application and admissions should be directed to the HSCS Admissions Chair, Leslie Savage, at lsavage@howardstreet.org