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 53 urban charter public schools. Uncommon Schools are in five regions: Boston MA, Camden NJ, Newark NJ, New York City, and Rochester NY.

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 Jamey Verrilli. 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 five regions:

Boston, MA[3]

  • Roxbury Prep Mission Hill Campus
  • Roxbury Prep Lucy Stone Campus
  • Roxbury Prep Dorchester Campus
  • Roxbury Prep High School

Camden, NJ

  • Camden Prep Mt. Ephraim Elementary / Middle School
  • Camden Prep Copewood Elementary / Middle School
  • Camden Prep High School

New York City, NY[4]

  • Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate
  • Brownsville Collegiate
  • Excellence Boys Elementary / Middle Academy
  • Excellence Girls Elementary / Middle Academy
  • Kings Collegiate
  • Kings Elementary School
  • Leadership Prep Bedford Stuyvesant Elementary Academy / Middle Academy
  • Leadership Prep Brownsville Elementary Academy / Middle Academy
  • Leadership Prep Canarsie Elementary Academy / Middle Academy
  • Leadership Prep Ocean Hill Elementary Academy / Middle Academy
  • Ocean Hill Elementary School
  • Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School
  • Uncommon Charter High School
  • Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School
  • Uncommon Leadership Charter High School
  • Uncommon Preparatory Charter High School
  • Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School

Newark, NJ[5]

  • North Star Academy Fairmount Elementary School
  • North Star Academy Vailsburg Elementary School
  • North Star Academy West Side Park Elementary School
  • North Star Academy West Side Park Middle School
  • North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School
  • North Star Academy Clinton Hill Middle School
  • North Star Academy Downtown Middle School
  • North Star Academy Vailsburg Middle School
  • North Star Academy West Side Park Middle School
  • North Star Academy Washington Park High School
  • North Star Academy Lincoln Park Elementary School
  • North Star Academy Lincoln Park Middle School
  • North Star Academy Lincoln Park High School
  • North Star Academy Alexander Elementary School

Rochester, NY [6]

  • Rochester Prep Elementary School - Jay Street
  • Rochester Prep Elementary School - West Campus
  • Rochester Prep Elementary School - 3
  • Rochester Prep Middle School – Brooks Campus
  • Rochester Prep Middle School – West Campus
  • Rochester Prep Middle School 3
  • Rochester Prep High School

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.[7] At Williamsburg Collegiate, 100% of fifth graders passed the 2009 state Math exam.[8]

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.[9]

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).[10]

Awards

Uncommon Schools won the 2013 Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools and received $250,000 to support college-readiness efforts for their students.[11]

References
  1. "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. "Progress Reports (Elementary/Middle/K-8)". NYC Department of Education. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. Gabriel, Trip (May 1, 2010). "Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools Is Mixed". New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  9. "2010 Blue Ribbon Schools" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. Waldman, Scott (September 9, 2012). "Troy Charter Schools Passing the Test So Far". Times Union. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  11. Archived 2013-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
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