Careers

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Who are we?

Looking for a school that reminds you of why you got into this profession in the first place? A place where kids are more than a test score and teachers are treated as professionals and as people? Check out Polaris Charter Academy, a school founded on the belief that focusing on character development and grounding students in real-world, authentic, deeper learning will develop children who become ethical people and lifelong learners who contribute to a better world.

We are Polaris Charter Academy, a dynamic EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) school on Chicago’s West Side. We exist to support students to become academically successful life-long learners with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. With 450 students in grades K – 8, Polaris promotes an expanded definition of student achievement, putting academic excellence and character development equally at the forefront.

We are CREW!

Polaris was founded in 2007 by three Golden Apple Award-winning teachers whose mission was to transform education by creating a school deeply rooted in the best practice of “learning by doing.”  Their partnership with EL Education brought about a rigorous community-based curriculum called “expeditions” (long-term projects), experiential learning methods and the importance of developing character through a core set of values called the Points of Polaris.  Polaris is one of the 33 credentialed EL Education schools and one of 14 EL Mentor Schools in a national network of more than 150 schools that work with EL Education to challenge students to think critically and take active leadership in their classrooms and community.  We are the only EL school in the City of Chicago.

2024-25 School Year Talent Opportunities

Want to join the PCA crew?

PCA seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and is inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact so that all employees feel included, equally valued and supported.