Mission, Vision, & History

The Mission of Westminster Community Charter School: 

To challenge the status quo—to encourage people to think differently about their situation in life. We do this through assuring that there are high levels of learning, by creating a safe and caring environment, and promoting community involvement in order to prepare students for a successful secondary experience.

Key Design Elements:

•         Balanced literacy
•          Mathematics instruction and balanced numeracy
•          Extended day, weekend, and evening opportunities
•          Healthy living
•          Technology
•          Special classes
•          Academic and instructional support
•          Staff development
•          Community partnerships

 History

1992 M&T Bank's management identifies an opportunity to positively impact the community by investing in education.

1993 M &T chooses to partner with Buffalo Public School 68, one of the lowest-performing schools in Buffalo.

1994 Dr. Yvonne Minor-Ragan is appointed as principal.

1995 School 68 is renamed Westminster Community School (WCS) to reflect the new community focus of the school.

1997 WCS exceeds the district average in math and reading on the nationally standardized Terra Nova exams for the first time.

1998 WCS partners with The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project of Columbia University - over 90% of staff participates in a week-long summer workshop.

1999 M &T Bank and Westminster are featured in CNN's "Investing in Futures." 2000 Summer school program begins with a capacity enrollment of 231 and a waiting list of 58.

2001 Dr. Ragan is honored as a Citizen of the Year by The Buffalo News.

2002 Dr. Ragan is selected to participate in an international study conducted by the University at Buffalo on five female principals from around the world.

2004 The Buffalo Board of Education approves the conversion of WCS to a charter school, with the new name of Westminster Community Charter School (WCCS).

2006 WCCS acquires a closed local library next-door to the school and integrates it into the school.

2007 M&T Bank receives a 2007 Pathfinder Lifetime Achievement Award for Education in recognition for bridging the gap between business and education.

2008 Westminster unveils a new addition, which includes three primary classrooms, a state-of-the-art health clinic, a new main office suite, a conference room, an atrium, a safer parking lot, a community playground and a basketball court.

2009 WCCS is granted a five-year charter renewal unanimously by the New York State Education Department, the New York Board of Regents and the Buffalo Board of Education.

2010 Westminster wins President Obama's Promise Neighborhood Grant $500,000.

2011 Promise Neighborhood program implementation begins.

2015 WCCS is granted a three-year charter renewal by the New York State Education Department, the New York Board of Regents, and the Buffalo Board of Education.

2016 WCCS hosts its first Saturday Academy as part of the Community Schools initiative.

2017 Westminster opens the newly renovated library, a state-of-the-art space for students and the community.