Bristol Township seventh-grader
Simone Graves talks about the importance of art.
Credit: Submitted
A new arts-focused charter school is planning to open in Lower Bucks County.
About two dozen families attended the first of eight information sessions for the proposed TLC Buck Arts Charter High School Tuesday evening.
TLC Arts Founder and CEO Dr. Thomas Lubben is looking to bring his not-for-profit charter school concept to the county for a 2019-2020 school opening. As many as 250 high school students could attend the first year with the school eventually accommodating as many as 450 students.
The charter school is eyeing a 40,000-square-foot building on Northbrook Drive in Bensalem. The school would take up four floors of the building and feature a number of performance spaces and classrooms.
“Part of my philosophy is smaller is better,” Lubben said. “Nobody will get lost in our school.”
TLC Arts Founder and CEO Dr. Thomas Lubben speaking to those who attended the open house Tuesday.
Credit: Submitted
TLC Buck Arts Charter High School would offer courses of study in dance, figure skating, music, theater, literary arts and visual arts.
The school explained that students would attend studies on their major for half the day and would require more class credits than traditional high schools.
“We’re really teaching at almost the collegiate level,” Lubben said.
Bristol Township seventh-grader Simone Graves spoke at the open house about her interest in art and drawing, claymaking, photography, and printmaking.
The charter school would be open to all Bucks County students and receive tuition from each district where the student lives.
TLC Buck Arts Charter High School will present their charter application before the Bensalem Township School District next month. A hearing is required to be held and a final decision must come within 75 days of a mandated hearing.
Credit: Submitted
If the school gets approval and opens, the bussing will be provided for students who live within 10 miles of the school. Students who live outside that radius will be responsible for their own transportation.
Lubben opened several art-focused schools in the Lehigh Valley. One of the schools in Bethlehem draws some students for Bucks County.
TLC Bucks Arts Charter High School plans to host more information sessions at the 1000 Northbrook Drive site. The sessions will take place on Sunday, August 26, Sunday, September 9, and Sunday, September 16 at 7 p.m. Sessions will also take place Tuesday, Tuesday, September 11 and Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. Additional information sessions will be held Saturday, September 22 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
