The Great Oaks Charter School of New York City will open its doors in the Fall of 2013 with 99 students in 6th grade and will grow by one grade each year until to serve 550 students in grades 6-12. The School, which expects to draw students from families living below Canal Street in Manhattan, will set aside 25% of the seats in its lottery for English Language Learners. The mission of the school is to prepare its students for college success.
The key elements of Great Oaks' program, adapted from the high-performing Match Charter School and the first Great Oaks Charter School in Newark, include:
- High expectations: A No Excuses school culture and rigorous academics put students on a path to college-readiness.
- Intensive daily tutoring: A full-time Tutor Corps provides every Great Oaks student with several hours of individual attention every day.
- More time on task: A longer school day and year combine with extra learning opportunities for struggling students to move all students forward.
- Effective instructional techniques and a culture of data-driven decision-making: Great Oaks will leverage the lessons of high-performing urban schools to drive student achievement.
- Operational excellence: Non-instructional staff and a Board of Trustees who support and protect the vital work of teachers and students by creating a calm, secure school environment with ample resources and a clear strategic vision.
