Uncommon Schools

Uncommon Schools (Uncommon) is a non-profit charter public school managed and operated in the United States that starts and manages urban schools for low-income students. Uncommon Schools starts and manages 42 urban charter public schools. Uncommon Schools are in six regions: Boston MA, Camden NJ, Newark NJ, New York City, Rochester NY, and Troy NY. Uncommon plans to manage 45 schools, serving nearly 16,000 K through 12th grade students by 2017 and decides to give them $1 million for lunches.[1]

History

The organization first supported the creation of North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, which opened in 1997. North Star was co-founded by Norman Atkins and Jamie Verilli. In 2005, Uncommon formalized its mission as a charter management organization with the goal of starting and managing schools that create college prep opportunities for low-income children.[1] In 2009, the founders of Uncommon, along with those of Achievement First and KIPP created Teacher U at Hunter College. This program was expanded into the Relay Graduate School of Education, an independent graduate school for teachers in these charter management networks to earn degrees.[2]

Schools

Uncommon manages school networks in six regions:

Boston, MA[3]

Camden, NJ

New York City, NY[4]

Newark, NJ[5]

Rochester, NY [6]

Troy, NY [7]

Results

In New York City, Uncommon Schools have performed well on recent standardized tests. Kings Collegiate Middle School received a B rating on their 2011-2012 NYC DOE Progress Report, and Brownsville Collegiate Charter received an A overall rating.[8] At Williamsburg Collegiate, 100% of fifth graders passed the 2009 state Math exam.[9]

On September 9, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized Uncommon Schools’ North Star Academy as a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School. The highest award bestowed by the Department, it honors 304 public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that demonstrate the highest student achievement in their respective states and/or have closed the achievement gap.[10]

In Massachusetts, Roxbury Prep students achieved a 93% proficiency rate on the 2011 8th grade ELA MCAS exam.[11]

At Troy Prep, 100% of seventh graders passed the 2011-2012 state exam, and 38% of fifth graders passed the ELA exam, which was slightly better than the district average. Seventh grade ELA scores were significantly better at 56% passing (compared to 37% in the district).[12]

Awards

Uncommon Schools won the 2013 Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools and received $250,000 to support college-readiness efforts for their students.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "About Us". Uncommon Schools. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Relay GSE. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Uncommon Boston". Uncommon Schools. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Uncommon Schools New York City". Uncommon Schools. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Uncommon Newark". Uncommon Schools. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Uncommon Rochester". Uncommon Schools.
  7. ↑ "Uncommon Troy". Uncommon Schools. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Progress Reports (Elementary/Middle/K-8)". NYC Department of Education. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Gabriel, Trip (May 1, 2010). "Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools Is Mixed". New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "2010 Blue Ribbon Schools" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Top-Ranked 8th Grade Districts". Boston Globe. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  12. ↑ Waldman, Scott (September 9, 2012). "Troy Charter Schools Passing the Test So Far". Times Union. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "http://www.broadprize.org/news/661.html". External link in |title= (help)
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