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 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... 
- Karen Lytle, School Performance, January 2005
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.
- Anonymous Parent Survey Response, July 2005
Pioneering Global School Reformers
North Star, seen as a part of a new paradigm of school innovation, added a second middle school in 2005 to serve more Newark youth. It also stands as the flagship school for the Uncommon Schools Network. As testimony to its accomplishments, North Star has welcomed close to 3,000 visitors throughout its lifespan. Visitors come from all professions – school leaders, politicians, teachers, journalists and educational experts - and from all corners of the globe – Europe, Africa and Asia. The school has been regularly featured in the media, including articles in the New York Times, New Jersey’s Star Ledger and an exclusive spot on Fox News in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 – 90% free/reduced lunch and 85% African-American – completely eliminated the achievement gap on the New Jersey state assessments. Based on results of the general education students on the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA), 100% of the 11th graders scored proficient or above in Language Arts and 88% scored proficient or above in Math—significantly higher than the Newark District, all urban districts and even the statewide average. At the same time, 100% of the 12th grade students graduated by passing the HSPA—compared to only 75% of New Jersey students statewide and 35% of the Newark district.
North Star's 8th grade class performed equally well on New Jersey's Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA). Of the general education students on New Jersey’s Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA), 93.3% scored proficient or above in Language Arts, 96.7% were proficient in Science, and 76.7% were proficient in Mathematics—results which are double the Newark District’s average and higher than the statewide average as well.
100% College Bound at Third High School Graduation
On June 15th, 2006, North Star sent off its third graduating class. All the seniors were accepted to college—an average of four acceptances each—and every graduate will be attending four-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.
Engaged Parents
Parents have been active in all phases of the school, from its founding to its governance. All parents signed the school covenant and came 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, 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-Newark as a college preparatory resource.
Steadily Growing School in High Demand
There are over 1,800 Newark students on North Star’s waiting list. Throughout the years North Star has grown from a single middle school to now having three campuses – two middle schools and a comprehensive high school. By next year an elementary school will be incorporated, allowing North Star to serve over 500 students in four campuses.
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 were 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 leases a third school facility located in the North Ward. 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 – 69% of the per pupil public funds attributable to students at traditional Newark public schools – to produce a longer program: an 11-month, extended day schedule featuring smaller classes, top-flight teaching, state-of-the-art technology, and a rich offering of educational opportunities. For every year since its inception, the school both maintained a positive cash flow during the year and ended with a surplus.
Curriculum Development
Over the past few years, North Star has developed over sixty 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 2005-06, North Star launched newly revised high school interim assessments, working backwards from Advanced Placement exams and the new SAT. North Star also increased the rigor of the middle school assessments in light of the NJASK state exams. North Star also developed an enhanced writing continuum from grades 5-12.
Caring
- We take care of each other.
- We help each other. We notice when someone needs help and we lend a hand.
- We do not hurt each other physically or emotionally.
Respect
- We treat each person as valuable, worthy of greatness and goodness.
- We accept individuals for who they are.
- We show our respect at all times for each other, for property, for differences, and for opinions different from our own.
- We are honest with each other.
Responsibility
- We believe we are the masters of our own destiny and that we have the power to control our lives and shape our futures.
- We are committed to the highest level of achievement: academic, social, and personal. We recognize our strengths and try to improve on our weaknesses.
- We participate fully in everything we do. We do not do things halfway.
Justice
- We act with fairness toward each other.
- We get involved when members of the community are in trouble or need help.
- We work to improve our community and the world.
I pledge to live by these values as a member of the North Star community.
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