Frequently Asked Questions
To answer some of your questions as quickly as possible, we’ve compiled a list of those most frequently asked by SRA parents. Be sure to read more throughout this website and in our student-parent handbook so that you’re well informed and prepared to support your child through a successful educational journey.
What time does school start and end each day?
8:15 a.m. - Schools Starts
8:20 a.m. - Tardy Bell
3:15 p.m. - School Dismissed
3:15–5:15 p.m. - After School Program
School dismisses at 11:15 a.m. on half days.
When did the school open?
SRA's charter was approved on December 12, 2001, and the school opened in August 2002.
Do you provide bus service?
Yes, Albany County School District #1 provides busing for SRA students. Please find out more about it by visiting the district’s Transportation page.
Does SRA provide a school lunch?
Yes, Albany County School District #1 provides a hot and cold lunch as well as milk and juice for a fee. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch based on their family's annual income may receive lunch at discounted rates. To find out what’s for lunch or to obtain an application for free/reduced lunches, please visit the district’s Food Service page. Students may also bring lunch from home; however, we do not have microwave ovens available for warming or cooking lunches.
Does Snowy Range Academy have any sports teams?
Our middle school students, beginning in 7th grade, may participate in the Laramie Junior High sports teams. Participation fees may apply, and parents need to make arrangements to get their child to the Laramie Junior High for practice and games; we are not able to provide busing for these activities.
How much volunteer time does SRA require from each family?
A strong volunteer program is a vital aspect of Snowy Range Academy. We encourage every family to donate time to help develop school/home partnerships that will result in an increased quality of education for the students. We ask that you volunteer one hour each month in the school. Please participate in parent committees, coaching, preparing materials, special events, library, and lunch. Parents work in conjunction with the staff to ensure the most effective education possible for their children. We also ask that you attend and participate in SRA’s monthly board meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
We expect that parents who volunteer will comply with SRA volunteer guidelines by completing the volunteer application/information form, attending the New Volunteer Orientation, and adhering to the rules in the Volunteer Handbook. Please see our Volunteer page for more information and to access these forms.
How does the school make placement and admission decisions?
Each family desiring entrance for their child must complete a Letter of Intent to enroll (see the Admissions page). We will admit up to 24 students for each grade. If a grade has more than 24 applicants, we will hold a lottery to choose students with priority given to siblings. Because SRA's curriculum is accelerated, prior to selection by lottery, we will test all prospective students in math and reading to ensure they have the ability to be successful in our school. We may recommend placing a student in a lower or higher grade based on his/her reading and math skills. The principal and parents will determine the best placement for the student.
How do I enroll my child at SRA?
You may fill out a Letter of Intent (see the Admissions page) to enroll and mail (address below) or email it to the school. We will contact you to schedule testing prior to the lottery in April.
Snowy Range Academy
4037 E Grand Avenue
Laramie, WY 82070
Are SRA teachers certified?
All of our teachers are certified by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board.
Is there tuition costs to attend a charter school?
SRA is a tuition-free public school. We are funded by the State of Wyoming based on our student population, just like all other public schools in Wyoming.
Does SRA require students to wear uniforms?
Yes, all students who attend Snowy Range Academy wear the school uniform. Please see the clothing choices and their purpose in the Student-Parent Handbook and in the Uniform Code.
Why do you teach Spanish at SRA?
All SRA students learn Spanish beginning in kindergarten. Research has shown that learning foreign languages helps increase listening ability, memory, creativity and critical thinking—all of which are thinking processes that increase learning in general. Being exposed to a foreign language also enhances students’ abilities to understand the English language. Finally, foreign language study exposes children to other ways of looking at the world.
Tell me about Snowy Range Academy's character education program.
At Snowy Range Academy, we incorporate a character education program into our curriculum. We follow the Core Virtues outlined in the Core Knowledge Sequence by E.D. Hirsch. Each year, we teach our students what it means to behave responsibly, generously, diligently, and gratefully (among other virtues) by reading accounts and stories of historical figures who exhibited these character traits, by modeling the behavior, and by recognizing these traits in each other. We do not incorporate religious beliefs in our teaching of the character traits, but rather we believe the traits we select transcend all cultures and nations of the world.