Chelsea students Crystal Carrillo and Natasha Cruz both said they weren’t maximizing their abilities and ascending toward their full potential in a traditional public high school. They turned to the Phoenix Charter Academy, a charter school located in the former Our Lady of Grace School building on Nichols Street in Chelsea, for academic direction and they’re excelling in their new environment and preparing for the next step beyond high school.

The school began its fourth year of operation under the direction of founder and Executive Director Beth Anderson last week, with 180 students in grades nine through 12. The school serves students in Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Boston, and other communities. However, 40 percent of the students are from Chelsea. Carillo, 16, a member of the Student Leadership Council, said she found new motivation within herself after enrolling at the charter school.

“Before, I wouldn’t go to school, and now I come to school every day and I do my work,” said Carillo, who will graduate in 2011. “I take six classes a day and the teachers are all very helpful and they reach out to you. After I graduate, I plan to go back to California and go to school there and study to be a parole officer.” Cruz said Phoenix Charter School has re-energized her academically and she’s more dedicated toward her dream of attending Endicott College and becoming a medical attorney.

“Phoenix Charter School has been a great fit for me because I feel like I learn better  if it’s one-on-one as opposed to one teacher to 30 students,” said Cruz, president of the Student Leadership Team. Cruz, an 18-year-old senior, takes a serious approach to her role as president of the 16-student leadership council.

“My role is not to dictate but to make sure they all have a say in what they want to have done for the school and to make our school a better place,” said Cruz. “I’m guiding students in the right direction and helping them achieve what they want to do after school.” Cruz said she’s proud of her stellar academic record and achievements on the student leadership team since arriving at the Phoenix School last year.

“I was getting poor grades and then I came here last year and I feel that I’ve improved big time, and I’m very proud of myself,” said Cruz. “And this year, I hold higher standards for myself than I did last year, so I want to make sure that I get all A’s instead of just B’s.” Olivia Lahann,  director of assessment, works with students to place them on the right track toward passing the MCAS Exam and succeeding in college. She said the charter school has a strong support system for every student at the school.

“We have a diverse group of students, and when they first come here, they’re usually pretty cynical and don’t have high expectations for how the school is going to be. We offer relentless support, so we’re constantly in contact with them. We hold really high expectations for our students, but we’re also developing and building personal relationships with all of our students, which I think is something they have never really gotten before.” Aaron Oster-Beal, one of 10 Fellows who tutors students for the MCAS and SAT Exams and assists in school projects, praised the study body at Phoenix Charter Academy, saying that it’s been “awesome” working with students on a daily basis.

“The students are extremely motivated and focused and want to put in the time necessary to excel on the MCAS,” said Oster-Beal, a graduate of the College of Wooster in Ohio. “It’s been really enjoyable to meet students at the school.” Anderson said the enrollment period for the current school year is continuing throughout September.

“We hold an enrollment period in September so we make sure that we’re serving our mission-oriented audience of young people who may be out of school or not doing well in their high school,” said Anderson. Anderson said Carrillo and Cruz are excellent representatives of the school.

“They’re fantastic young people, and they’ve developed into true leaders in the school; and that happens for a lot of our young people who have felt disconnected and were out of school.”