While attending a K-12 forum on the future of education, Rochester Prep Assistant Superintendent Paul Powell kept thinking about Jahnury Acosta, a Rochester Prep alumnus and freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology. Jahnury’s journey to graduate at the top of his class wasn’t an easy one but watching him succeed through rigorous AP courses in … Continued
We’re honored that the TODAY show chose to go “back to school” with Uncommon Schools ̶ a testament to the importance and impact of the love, joy, and rigor our staff bring every day to over 20,000 students attending one of our 54 schools in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Our students shined brightly … Continued
Twelve-year-old Darius Brown is passionate about two things: animals and bow ties, the combination of which birthed Beaux and Paws, a custom bow tie company for people and pets alike. The Newark native and student at North Star Academy helps shelter pets spiffy up for adoption by donating a one-of-a-kind bow tie to animal rescue … Continued
When Morehouse graduates of the Class of 2019 were told they were graduating debt free — thanks to a gift by billionaire Robert F. Smith — they were faced with unprecedented opportunities and a future without the burden of student loan debt. For Jacquese Harrison, a Morehouse graduate and Chicago native, this meant pursuing a … Continued
Hello, Uncommon Friends and Family — Our hearts are heavy after the senseless acts of violence and domestic terrorism this past weekend. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and the entire Dayton and bi-national El Paso communities. We send our love and support to those in the Uncommon community who … Continued
“I felt my heart being pulled in. As I watched and listened and fought back tears, all I could think was, If this is the first day of school, what is tomorrow going to be like? And the day after that? And the day after that? Where will these children be in five years? In … Continued
Monica Reed, a psychology major, wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a teacher. Now she knows. After spending the summer as a Summer Teaching Fellow at Uncommon Schools North Star Academy, the Newark native will return to the classroom next year after she graduates from Delaware State University. Monica is among 130 rising college … Continued
Rochester Prep West Campus has been identified by the New York State Education Department as a 2018-19 Recognition School, one of only four K-8 schools outside of New York City to achieve the distinction. Under the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), schools identified as “Recognition Schools” have high academic achievement, student growth and graduation … Continued
Susan Spencer, a geometry and algebra teacher at Uncommon Schools Rochester Prep High School, recently spoke with Evan Dawson, host of Connections on NPR, about her first year of teaching. “I was surprised by how purpose driven this work is for so many people. I’ve never worked in a profession where people were so dedicated … Continued
Alexandria Timoll, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction at Uncommon Schools Leadership Prep Canarsie, was recently awarded the Outstanding Educator of the Year award by the publication Education Update. “For me, this was shocking. It made me take a moment. It’s nice when people notice the hard work that you’re doing,” she told BC News (Brooklyn … Continued
“I knew that this school was going to help me reach my dreams in the future — and I always kept that in mind.” Uncommon Collegiate Charter HS alumnus Dwayne Dinkins experienced many challenges that could have kept him from graduating and going to college but thanks to the support from his foster parents and … Continued
Uncommon Schools North Star Academy Washington Park High School is sending 154 graduates to college this fall, including four of the eight Ivy League schools. To date, the Class of 2019 is the largest graduating class and many of them are first in their families to attend college. Students like Paulyn credit North Star Academy … Continued
Roxbury Prep High School graduates its first class this year, and 97 percent of our students will be attending a four-year university in the fall. Roxbury Prep HS was founded in 2015 with a small class of 9th graders — founding freshmen who are now the first to graduate. “It’s quite an emotional experience to … Continued
Hundreds of high school seniors at Uncommon Schools recently celebrated a big milestone: college acceptance. With big smiles across their faces, students walked across a stage, stepped up to a microphone, and announced to friends and family where they’ll be going to college in the fall. The schools vary widely, local and national, including Rutgers … Continued
In May, 20 local designers — including students from Uncommon Charter High School and Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School — were featured at the Brooklyn Public Library’s BKLYN Fashion Academy runway show. This year’s showcase paid homage to the Herero women of Namibia and their Victorian-style dresses. The designers also incorporated wearable technology into their … Continued
Uncommon Schools is proud to announce that North Star Academy received the 2019 College Success Award, which honors high schools that excel in ensuring students are prepared for, enroll in, and succeed in college. North Star Academy is one of the approximately 20 percent of eligible schools in New Jersey that won the College Success … Continued
Since our founding, Uncommon Schools has always been driven by student achievement. Our mission has remained constant: to start and run rigorous, joyful schools that support our students in getting to and through college. With that in mind, we are excited to name Julie Jackson as our first President of Uncommon Schools. Julie is a … Continued
Atlantis, Joyceline, and D’Asia — three Rochester Prep seniors — made a surprising discovery with professor Andre Hudson while working in a science lab at Rochester Institute of Technology. The young women are co-authors on a scientific paper announcing a rare bacterium that kills e-coli. Their work will be published in the April issue of … Continued
Richard Whitmire, author of the new book, The B.A. Breakthrough, features Uncommon Schools’ North Star Academy and our Target 3.0 GPA program focused on helping students gain the skills and habits necessary to persist in college. Graduates from North Star Academy with GPAs of 3.0 or higher are four times more likely to earn college … Continued
Students at Uncommon Collegiate Charter HS (Brooklyn) are challenging stereotypes by combining dance, coding, and engineering in the STEM From Dance Project. According to research, women occupy about 10 to 30 percent of the #STEM industry. Among people of color, that number falls to about 4 percent. Programs like these not only expose young women … Continued
In January, Uncommon Schools Excellence Girls Middle Academy held a two-day retreat for its students. Over 400 young women convened in workshop sessions and were inspired by women role models, motivated each other, and built a sisterhood within their community. Watch the video below to learn more about the event, and to hear our students … Continued
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