The Charter School for Applied Technologies (CSAT) opened its doors in 2001 as a 700-student school serving grades K-6. 

Today, CSAT is a busy campus consisting of three distinct buildings (Elementary, Middle and High Schools), that host approximately 2,090 students from 20 different school districts throughout WNY.   

Located in Tonawanda (K-5 and 9-12) and North Buffalo (6-8), the Charter School for Applied Technologies (CSAT) is the largest charter school in New York State and provides students with a full, K-12 experience. CSAT provides an excellent education, a celebrated fine arts program, competitive athletic teams, and a career preparation program. The school has graduated 98% of its seniors since its first senior class in 2008; an accomplishment that is the result of an incredibly dedicated staff with a “whatever it takes” mentality. CSAT has a Family Support Center, Greenhouse, and a fitness-based physical education program to promote healthy living.

Since its founding in 2001, CSAT’s staff and students have earned local and national praise for academics, and numerous recognition's for excellence in assisting underserved students. At this time, 83 percent of students come from the City of Buffalo, while 85 percent of its student population is at or below the poverty level. 

Teachers are encouraged to be innovative through hands-on learning, technology integration and data-driven instruction, and promotes the student-teacher relationship with engagement activities within the classroom.

CSAT teaching experience includes:

• Team teaching approach.

• Data-driven instruction.

• Unionized teaching force.

• Technology integration within the classroom.

• New teacher/staff orientation and mentor program.
• Variety of professional development opportunities.

What Makes CSAT So Different?

Like every parent, your child's safety, happiness, and education are among your first priorities. We at CSAT share these priorities, and hold ourselves to high standards to better prepare your child for the challenging society that awaits him/her. When a parent selects CSAT, they are making a choice that will result in a positive, profound difference in the life of their child. 

The CSAT student experience includes:

1. A longer school day & year 
   The CSAT school day is 7.5 hours long and the school year runs between August and June, allowing teachers more time to effectively address individual needs.
2. Second-language instruction 
   Second-language instruction beginning in fourth grade.
3. Dress code 
   Students adhere to a formal dress code. 
4. Music & sports 
   Extensive music and band programs are open to all students, and include a competitive marching band and jazz ensemble. In addition, CSAT is one of only three state charter schools that compete in varsity sports (in Section VI's Niagara-Frontier League).
5. Computers & technology 
   The campus boasts three computer labs, "wireless labs" that travel from classroom to classroom, and faculty members that are accessible to parents throughout the day via e-mail. 
6. Career preparation programming in all grades (K-12).
7. Nearly 80 extracurricular clubs, teams and musical performing groups.
8. Positive Behavior Interventions and Support behavior model (PBIS).

"Every Day is Career Day"

It's the school's commitment to its motto - "Every Day is Career Day" - though, that sets it apart from others.  CSAT's school-to-career component prepares all students, including those who may not be college bound, for the world of work.  Career preparation starts for our students in kindergarten with field trips and visits by community business leaders and extends throughout their entire educational career, culminating in student enterprise programs, job shadowing, and individualized work study and internships for those in higher grades.

What is a charter school?

A charter school is an independent public school that operates with freedom from many of the constraints that apply to "traditional schools."

How?  Because they are designed and operated by a group of community founders (that can include business leaders, parents, and educators alike), charter schools do not have the many levels of bureaucracy found in traditional public school districts.  This allows charter schools to be more nimble  and able to respond quicker to the needs of parents, teachers, and students. This organizational structure also results in more control over such areas as personnel, curriculum, budget, discipline, organization of classes and grade levels, and length of the school day, week, and year.