New Heights Academy Charter School in New York City has successfully achieved a 100% college acceptance rate for a decade. The independent charter school has been serving the local community for almost 20 years. The school opened its doors to 192 5th and 9th graders in 2006 and has since grown to serve 765 students in grades 5-12. The accomplished charter school attributes its success to the dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to providing high-quality resources and support that scholars need to excel academically and socially.
Unlike traditional public schools, New Heights Academy encourages students to be proactive about their plans after high school. All students, including those entering 5th grade, are immediately and consistently introduced to experiences that prepare them for the challenges they will face in the collegiate environment.
At New Heights Academy, the preparation for higher education beyond high school is not deferred to the final years of a student's secondary career. Instead, the school collaborates with families and scholars to gain a comprehensive understanding of student interests and aspirations. Equipped with this information, school staff and faculty assist students in identifying the types of universities that align best with their interests. While college isn't a mandatory requirement, faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure that college is at least an option for everyone. This approach has fueled NHA's impressive 10-year streak of achieving 100% college acceptance.
The school was founded by educators, teachers, and community members who saw a need to provide an alternative option to families to eradicate generational poverty and offer young people opportunities to explore post-secondary options. The school’s mission is “to graduate students prepared to succeed in college and life” and the past ten years of graduates suggest the school is competently working to realize its mission. The first of its kind established in upper Manhattan, New Heights Academy is an inclusive, safe space for all students with a strong culture which emphasizes self-efficacy. The acronym PRIDE represents the school’s ethos: Perseverance, Responsibility, Integrity, Discipline, and Enthusiasm.
Distinguished among other charter schools, New Heights Academy is dedicated to molding students into successful leaders capable of effecting positive change in their local communities and globally. The most compelling evidence supporting this vision lies in the substantial number of alumni who return to the school as staff, faculty, and leaders after completing college. Additionally, many alumni actively engage with current students, offering insights into the challenges of college life and providing guidance on how to prepare for them.
New Heights Academy believes its success is due to the heroic endeavors of its faculty and staff who’ve been equipped with high-quality resources and continuous feedback that help enhance each student's learning experience.
Instructors participate in weekly roadmapping consultations with an instructional coach to ensure appropriate skills and content are taught and mastered by every student. When the faculty finds that students are struggling to master concepts, they utilize a data reflection process to determine what barriers prevent student learning. Once the barriers are discovered, teachers redesign their instruction to match student learning needs.
As a result of these practices, students at New Heights Academy are more likely to attend college because of their academic preparation, increased exposure to the university setting and one-on-one college counseling services. College tours occur more often at New Heights Academy compared to other public schools. Beginning in middle school and throughout their high school career, students at New Heights Academy participate in local and national college tours that expose them to the various university types across the country. In addition to college tours, university recruiters visit the school to educate scholars on the benefits of attending their respective institutions.
“Our school places a strong emphasis on attending college,” says Executive Director Dr. Christina Dukes Brown. “It’s always a student’s choice to pursue higher education or not, but we provide a structured, high-performance environment that ensures they are prepared to make a wise decision for the next phase of their lives. New Heights Academy scholars learn the required academic skills to be competitive on a collegiate campus, but our staff goes the extra mile to help them reach their full potential as citizens of the world. Our encouragement translates to more than a diploma. New Heights Academy alumni are far more likely to give back to their community and they possess a strong desire to help build a better, more inclusive and equitable world. Now more than ever, this mindset is paramount for America’s future leaders to prioritize.”
To continue elevating educational outcomes in an underserved community, New Heights Academy requires more funding. The school has achieved impressive accolades, like increasing student learning by almost two grade levels yearly, but needs financial support to increase and improve their offerings. Visit their website to learn more about how you can support the New Heights Academy mission.
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