In a recent article in the Washington Post, reporter Michael Alison Chandler shared a policy report by Progressive Policy Institute. The report focuses on public schools becoming a charters as a strategy to change low-performing schools to high-performers. (see article and report links below)
If Chancellor Kaya Henderson has her way, she would like charters to be the tool to turn around low-performing D.C. public schools. Charters have autonomy to create programs to meet students’ needs and make adjustments as need to produce successful scholars.
“If the chancellor would like to have more flexibility, it does not mean that all of a sudden schools will become charter schools, nor should they,” said. D.C. Council member David Grosso, chairman of the education committee.
Friendship Public Charter School, explained Damon Metz, the school’s Chief Technology Officer, recently faced an information technology challenge not too dissimilar from that being experienced by many educational institutions across the country, Administrators wanted to be able to provide computers to their student body but the high cost of frequent laptop replacement was unsustainable. So, Mr. Metz revealed, they looked around at best practices. It was the KIPP network that tipped them off to a solution.
Campus Highlight of the Month: Friendship Collegiate Academy
Friendship Collegiate Academy is a college preparatory high school serving students in grades nine through twelve. Challenging and relevant, Collegiate’s comprehensive curriculum prepares students for college and the world of work in a global economy. Students benefit from a broad offering of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses, as well as Career Academy courses that provide pathways in technology, science, engineering, law, communication and performing arts.
Collegiate AP offerings include AP Computer Science, a rarity among area high schools because of its rigor. The Collegiate Early College allows highly motivated students starting in the ninth grade the opportunity to take college courses and earn a maximum of two years college credit as they complete their diploma. Collegiate boasts high graduation and college acceptance rates. Of the nearly 300 seniors enrolled last year, 92 percent graduated and a majority of graduates were accepted to college.
Collegiate Academy ranks among the leading schools in the Washington metropolitan area providing AP courses. Friendship Collegiate is the only charted school in the District of Columbia to offer 9th grade AP classes. All AP students earn financial support toward scholarships for each passing test. Collegiate has won numerous honors for its efforts to provide college-going opportunities for all students including an EPIC Award for making significant gains with students and the College Board Inspiration Award for improving access to higher education.
The Collegiate Academy campus is located in Ward 7 at 4095 Minnesota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019. The campus is open for extended morning hours from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays and special hours on weekends for academic tutorials, career- and service-learning activities, and athletics programs. General hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friendship Collegiate Academy is an environment for students who want to complete collage and this college-prep institution is widespread throughout the DC community and among colleges throughout the nation.
Check out one of our amazing Alumni, Maya Foster-recipient of the award for the most outstanding charter school college graduate in the District of Columbia as well as the District of Columbia College Access program perseverance award presented by 2nd lady Dr. Jill Biden.
Way to go Friendship Public Charter School! The only charter school to receive grant opportunities to support vocational training in the areas of hospitality, engineering, and information technology!
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