North Star Academy Charter School
Encyclopedia
North Star Academy Charter School of Newark is a charter school
located in Newark, New Jersey
that educates students in grades ranging from Kindergarten to 12th. The school was recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program
in 2010.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 909 students and 77 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.81.
North Star Academy has been mentioned many times in newspapers and magazines all throughout the tri-state area. Currently, there are five campuses: three middle schools (Clinton Hill
, Vailsburg
and Downtown Middle Schools), one Elementary School (Vailsburg) and a high school located in downtown Newark.
In 2000, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman
and then-Governor of Texas
George W. Bush
toured the school, hailing it as an example of reform.
North Star recently started a new Elementary school (Principal, Julie Jackson) and Music Program, (Connie Graham.) Graham just completed a recent production featuring North Star's kindergarten of "Magic Drums." based on "Jungle Drums" by Graeme Base.
by the United States Department of Education
, the highest award granted to American schools.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
, the school was ranked 11th in New Jersey and 507th nationwide.
In 2008, North Star Academy was awarded a Bronze Medal in the U.S. News & World Report
/SchoolMatters ranking of Best High Schools.
located in Trenton, New Jersey
which was established in 2007.
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
located in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
that educates students in grades ranging from Kindergarten to 12th. The school was recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
in 2010.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 909 students and 77 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.81.
North Star Academy has been mentioned many times in newspapers and magazines all throughout the tri-state area. Currently, there are five campuses: three middle schools (Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill, Newark, New Jersey
Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in South Central, Newark, New Jersey. It is centered at Clinton Avenue, and bounded roughly by Elizabeth Avenue in the east, Hawthorne Avenue in the south, Avon Avenue in the north, and Irvington in the west....
, Vailsburg
Vailsburg, Newark
Vailsburg is a neighborhood in the West ward of Newark, New Jersey elevation 280 ft. As of 2000, Vailsburg has a population of 34,348. The Vailsburg section of Newark seems to stick out from the rest of the area, not only geographically, but because of its hodgepodge of suburban, urban and park...
and Downtown Middle Schools), one Elementary School (Vailsburg) and a high school located in downtown Newark.
In 2000, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
and then-Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
toured the school, hailing it as an example of reform.
North Star recently started a new Elementary school (Principal, Julie Jackson) and Music Program, (Connie Graham.) Graham just completed a recent production featuring North Star's kindergarten of "Magic Drums." based on "Jungle Drums" by Graeme Base.
Awards and recognition
For the 2010 school year, the school was honored as a Blue Ribbon SchoolBlue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the highest award granted to American schools.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the school was ranked 11th in New Jersey and 507th nationwide.
In 2008, North Star Academy was awarded a Bronze Medal in the U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
/SchoolMatters ranking of Best High Schools.
Influences
Due to North Star Academy's success in urban district areas other schools have adopted some of their ideas in managing challenging students and have even modeled themselves after it. One such school is Foundation Academy Charter SchoolFoundation Academy Charter School
Foundation Academy Charter School is a charter school located in Trenton, New Jersey. The mission of the school as stated on its website is "to ensure that all of our students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation's finest high schools and colleges, and to instill...
located in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
which was established in 2007.
External links
- North Star Academy Charter School website
- North Star Academy Charter School, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...