Program   Core Values

 For the record - I've been on more than a few school visits since last we met, and none have impressed me as much as North Star did... 

 North Star is one of the best choices I have made. It's given my daughter self esteem knowing she could do whatever she put her mind to. 

North Star, seen as a part of a new paradigm of school innovation, added a second middle school in 2005 and an elementary school in 2007 to serve more Newark youth.  It also stands as the flagship school for the Uncommon Schools Network, which will expand to ten schools in 2008-09.  As testimony to its accomplishments, North Star has welcomed more than 3,900 visitors over its first eleven years.  In 2008-08, the school received over 500 visitors from all professions and all corners of the globe:  school leaders, politicians, teachers, journalists and educational experts.  The school has been regularly featured in the media, including articles in the New Jersey Star Ledger and The Guardian in the UK.  Its directors continued to be centrally involved in the public conversation on school reform, sustaining the work of the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association and partnering with three of the top national urban principal training programs: New Leaders for New Schools, KIPP Fisher Fellowship, and Building Excellent Schools Network.

Eliminating the Achievement Gap

North Star students completely eliminated the achievement gap on New Jersey state assessments.  On the 2008 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment, 100% of 11th grade students scored proficient or advanced proficient in Literacy (compared to 94% statewide, 64% across Newark, and 55% for neighborhood schools), and 91% were proficient or above in Math (compared to 82% statewide, 48% across Newark, and 35% for neighborhood schools).  Compared to 2007 results, North Star is the highest-performing non-selective urban high school in New Jersey.  At the middle school level, 98% of North Star Academy 7th graders scored advanced or proficient on the 2007 New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) in Language Arts Literacy (compared to 54% in Newark) and 96% of 7th graders scored advanced or proficient in Math (compared to 39% in Newark).  Based on these results, North Star is the highest performing school in Newark and 2nd highest among all urban schools in New Jersey.  On the 6th grade NJASK, 92% of North Star students scored advanced or proficient in Language Arts Literacy and 89% scored advanced or proficient in Math, both above the Newark and statewide average.  5th and 8th grade results showed similarly impressive results compared to neighborhood schools, the Newark District, and the state as a whole.


100% College Bound at Third High School Graduation

In 2008, North Star sent off its fifth graduating class.  Every single senior was accepted to college—an average of six acceptances each—and 90% of graduates will be attending a four-year university. (10% will attend 2-year universities.) Alumni of North Star are currently attending schools such as the University of Chicago, Amherst, Boston College, Syracuse, and Rutgers.  Such results offer hope when compared to the Newark District, where only 26% of the graduating seniors report planning on attending 4-year colleges.  The school’s college placement director brought college representatives to visit the school, broadened students’ experiences through campus visits and information, and coordinated students’ participation in summer and year-long enrichment programs to strengthen preparation for college.  On June 26, 2008, 42 8th graders made the first small step towards college by graduating from the middle school.  These rising high school freshmen enter North Star Academy College Preparatory High School in August, the ninth high school class since North Star amended its charter.


Engaged Parents

Parents have been and continue to be active in all phases of the school, from its founding to its governance. All parents sign the school covenant and come to school a minimum of three times a year to pick up their children’s report cards. In a recent year-end survey, more than 98% of the parents said that they were “satisfied” – and more than 90% said they were “very satisfied” – with the quality of school leadership, the individual attention provided by teachers, the class/school size and the curriculum.


Community Partners

North Star continued to make good on its pledge to utilize downtown Newark as an extended campus, using the YM/WCA for its sports program, the Newark Public Library as the school library, the Newark Museum for its regular exhibits, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for theatre, dance and music enrichment and Rutgers University-Newark as a college preparatory resource. NJIT has graciously hosted North Star’s school-wide celebrations.

Steadily Growing School in High Demand

After eleven years, North Star has a new elementary school and a comprehensive middle school and high school, grades K and 5-12.  Following its original design, North Star started with 72 students (5th and 6th graders) enrolled in year one, and expanded one grade level at a time until it completed its middle school with 144 students in year three (5th through 8th grade).  With an amended charter allowing for a high school, North Star started with 180 students enrolled in year four (5th through 9th grade) and completed the high school with 270 students in year seven (5th through 12th grade). Heading into the 2008-09 school year, North Star has 711 students enrolled in Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 5th through 12th grade.  After twelve annual lotteries, there are over 1,900 Newark students on the school’s waiting list.

Motivated Students

Consistently, North Star students have near 100% attendance rates, regularly beating Newark and statewide attendance rate averages. The number is especially strong given that students are in school at least an hour longer each day than their peers and a month longer over the year.


Committed, Talented Faculty

North Star has a world class faculty stemming from the top 3% of all resumes considered. They design exciting and rigorous academic programs while being innovative in the classroom. Always aiming to perfect their craft, our faculty members not only received extensive in-house professional development, but they also visited many of the highest-achieving urban schools across the country to learn about other best practices.


Facility use and Improvement

To accommodate continued expansion, North Star has acquired a third school facility located on Clinton Avenue. In the absence of state facility funding for charter schools, North Star worked with Uncommon Schools – a public charity set up to help the school – to creatively and successfully acquire the necessary resources to finish funding for the high school facility. The proper management of New Market tax credits and federal and private grants funded the purchase and renovation of the high school building, including the creation of a bridge to join North Star's first two facilities.


Responsible Management

Administratively lean, North Star stretched shorter dollars – 59% of the per pupil public funds attributable to students at traditional Newark public schools – to produce a longer program:  an extended year and extended day featuring smaller classes, top-flight teaching, state-of-the-art technology, and a rich offering of educational opportunities.  For the eleventh consecutive year, the school both maintained a positive cash flow during the year and ended with a surplus.

Curriculum Development

North Star has developed over one hundred interim assessments directly aligned with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and North Star curricula.  These assessments form the backbone of the data-driven instructional model that has greatly enhanced student achievement.  In 2007-08, North Star continued to use its revised high school interim assessments, working backwards from Advanced Placement exams and the new SAT.  North Star continued to increase the rigor of the middle school assessments in light of NJASK state exams.  North Star also continued to develop an enhanced writing continuum from grades 5-12.  North Star staff created a new curricula and assessments for the school’s first kindergarten class.

Caring

1. We take care of each other.
2. We help each other. We notice when someone needs help and we lend a hand.
3. We do not hurt each other physically or emotionally.

1. We treat each person as valuable, worthy of greatness and goodness.
2. We accept individuals for who they are.
3. We show our respect at all times for each other, for property, for differences, and for opinions different from our own.
4. We are honest with each other.

1. We believe we are the masters of our own destiny and that we have the power to control our lives and shape our futures.
2. We are committed to the highest level of achievement: academic, social, and personal. We recognize our strengths and try to improve on our weaknesses.
3. We participate fully in everything we do. We do not do things halfway.

1. We act with fairness toward each other.
2. We get involved when members of the community are in trouble or need help.
3. We work to improve our community and the world.