Cosmos Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions

Charter schools are nonsectarian, secular public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. Charter schools, like other public schools, do not teach religion. The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. 
A charter school is independently operated in the sense that it can design its own educational program, hire its own teachers and staff, and manage its own budget. The basic concept of charter schools is that the school exercise increased autonomy in return for an accountability to its founders, parents, public, and grantors.

Harmony Public Schools are operated by the Cosmos Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization, established in Houston, Texas. The Cosmos Foundation has been currently operating thirty-three (33) charter schools in all major cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso) of the state of Texas. For more information visit Harmony Public Schools web site.

The Cosmos Foundation is a non-profit corporation that was established in Houston, Texas. The foundation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for educational, scientific, and literary purposes. The Cosmos Foundation is dedicated to quality education and it promotes science, mathematics and educational technology in school environments. The Cosmos Foundation is the parent organization for Harmony Public Schools.

Harmony Public Schools are college preparatory charter schools and serve students in grades Pre-K through 12.

Harmony Public Schools are open enrollment and free to all students living in their respective ISDs and surrounding school districts. Students must also be age eligible to attend any Harmony Public School.

Teacher-to-student ratio is around 1:12 at Harmony Public Schools. The officials of the Harmony Public Schools will maintain 1 to 12 (teacher-to-student) ratios by adding new employee as enrollment increases.

Yes, there is a school uniform policy at Harmony Public Schools. Parents need to purchase uniforms before the school starts from the school.

Yes, Harmony Public Schools offer after school and Saturday tutorials.

Yes, Harmony Public Schools offer gifted and talented program and advance courses.

Many courses offered in regular public schools will be offered at Harmony Public Schools. However, Harmony Public Schools will offer a more broad and rigorous curriculum including English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, Physical Education and Spanish. Special emphasis is put on science, math, and computer technologies at Harmony Public Schools.

Harmony Public Schools offer a comprehensive college preparatory program emphasizing science, mathematics, and technology education. Harmony Public Schools strive to play a role in satisfying this need. Harmony Public Schools also offer programs to develop skills and education for its students to enroll in Science and Engineering departments of prestigious colleges in the country and compete in an increasingly demanding workplace of science and technology, and contribute to the long-term economic development for the region.

• As HarmonyPublic Schools, we believe every child can learn and grow into asuccessful and productive citizen. When this belief is combined with theexpertise necessary to set up and run a school, the result, we think, isan excellent environment for your children to learn. We believe that thisenvironment will lay the foundation for a bright and productive future.

• Harmony PublicSchools emphasize character education. We believe that parents wantschools where their children are taught to be honest, courageous, persistent,etc. individuals, not just where they become educated. Our students wearuniforms daily and adhere to a clearly-articulated discipline policy.

• Our teachers andleadership team are experienced and committed. Within the central office ofHarmony Public Schools, administrators are also strong, dedicated anddiverse, and they monitor the quality and viability of our organization.


• Your childrenwill be in the classroom with a high-performing teacher at Harmony PublicSchools.


• At Harmony Public Schools, our goal is toenable our graduating seniors to enroll in top 4-year public and privateuniversities.

Harmony Public Schools have very high expectations for students in both academics and behavior. Our faculty and staff are dedicated and hard-working, and receive regular professional development and supervision. They function as a team and are committed to ensuring that students succeed. Harmony Public Schools have a small school and small class size. 

The following educational innovations will distinguish Harmony Public Schools from other schools;

• Integration of technology intocurriculum:By using a multi-sensory approach to learning, students will be providedwith opportunities to learn through auditory, visual, tactile, andkinesthetic activities. The students are guided through the process ofdetermining which learning style is best suited to their needs at HarmonyPublic Schools.


• Online Access: Parents willbe able access online student grades, attendance, conduct, disciplinereports, and teacher comments at Harmony Public Schools.


• Strong Reading and WritingEmphasis:English and ESL teachers focus on pronunciation and spelling of vocabularyused in the school, classroom, and home.


• Grade Advancement Policy: Harmony PublicSchools develop a grade advancement policy for exceptional learners whodemonstrate outstanding skills in Reading and Mathematics.


• Performance Assessments: Performanceassessments - also known as "alternative" or"authentic" assessments - augment norm-referencedmultiple-choice tests in all grade levels at HarmonyPublic Schools.


• Parental and Community Involvement: Involvingparents in the activities of the classrooms, cafeteria, playground andmany other extra-curricular affairs helps both students and parents tobecome better acquainted with the process of education.


• Peer Tutoring, Mentoring andCounseling:Peer partnership is used as a positive tool at Harmony Public Schools.High school students will tutor elementary and middle school students incore areas.


• Guidance for teaching and supportpersonnel:In-services are the frequent and major part of our staff developmentHarmony Public Schools.


• Teacher Specialization in/after4th Grade:The elementary school has two parts. The students receive specializedsubject teachers as early as in the 4th and 5th grades in Mathematics,Reading, Computer Science, Foreign Language, and Science.


• Teachers as Homeroom Advisors: Middle schoolstudents are assigned a homeroom teacher who acts as an advisor, helper,and immediate guide for the student at Harmony Public Schools.


• Character Education and Leadershipdevelopment:The aim of education is to support the growth of pupils' overallpersonalities.


• Family Visits: At HarmonyPublic Schools, parent-teacher relationship is improved by family visits.Teachers will be urged to visit students at home to inform the parentsabout the school and student's progress, while the parents will have anopportunity to provide the teachers with feedback and input.


• Career Education: All studentsattend an annual Career Day at Harmony Public Schools and meetprofessionals from different occupations.


• Cross-disciplinary learning: Students workon projects that require cooperative teaching efforts in Language Arts,Fine Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science Harmony Public Schools.


• Digital Art Program: The Fine Artsprogram is integrated with technology at Harmony Public Schools. With thegrowing availability of technologies of interactivity and Internet access,we see new interactive and online platforms.


• Participation in Contests: Students in thegifted and talented and the standard program are encouraged to participatein local, statewide, national and international competitions.


• Out of State and Europe Trips: Harmony PublicSchools organize out of state and Europe Trips every year to different countriesin Europe.

Yes, as Harmony Public Schools, we also offer character education classes to our students. By character we mean "common sense values" such as honesty and integrity. Harmony Public Schools strive to create a culture that honors "Doing the RIGHT Thing!" where RIGHT stands for Respectful, Intelligent, Genuine, Hard-Working and Team-Oriented. 

As Harmony Public Schools we hope that parents who want their children to grow up to be adults who embrace common sense values will not only choose to send their children to Harmony Public Schools, but also work with us to model and teach their children what these words mean and what they look like when put into action. 
Harmony Public Schools hire faculty, administrators, and staff who embody principles of character and leadership and who wish to be an active part of a community that values these in word and deed.