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Guiding Principles

Vertex Partnership Academies is the first-of-its-kind network of character-based, International Baccalaureate public charter high schools dedicated to equality of opportunity, individual dignity, and our common humanity.
Vertex Partnership Academies Student Scholars are immersed in a culture of democratic discourse guided by the four cardinal virtues of Courage, Justice, Temperance, and Wisdom. These virtues are called cardinal (from the Latin word “cardo” which means “hinge”) because they are the root virtues upon which all other standards of moral excellence depend.  Rather than being provided strict definitions of the cardinal virtues, each Vertex Student Scholar will be challenged and empowered to define for themselves what Courage, Justice, Temperance, and Wisdom mean in their own life and how those virtues should shape the culture of the school community. 
 
Vertex Partnership Academies faculty encourage a diversity of ideas and viewpoints, which creates cognitive tension and sometimes discord, but this will be essential to learning and must exist in a culture of trust that allows this tension to be pursued constructively.  Through Socratic seminars, study groups, academic rituals, individual and collective assignments, each Vertex Partnership Academies Student Scholar is expected to adopt the ten attributes that define the International Baccalaureate program Learner Profile, organized below by cardinal virtue.

Cardinal Virtues

As Vertex Partnership Academies, Student Scholars exit adolescence and mature into young adulthood, they are expected to take greater ownership of the school environment and collectively prioritize school actions.

Ultimately, Vertex Partnership Academies graduates will be academically well-rounded, multilingual, compassionate, and knowledgeable of the words and worlds around them. As alumni, they will represent Vertex Partnership Academies as empathetic leaders of bold intellect and be goal-oriented decision-makers empowered to make choices that will lead to life success.

As with all International Baccalaureate programs, the aim of Vertex Partnership Academies is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.