Forced to find a solution to improve the quality of its programs, Eagle Academy Public Charter School Education Director Max Lyttle decided after both campuses dropped from Tier 1 status in 2018 to find a solution to improve the quality of the program.
He began by hiring more Black male teachers and classroom aides. Eagle increased the number of teachers and teacher aides in classrooms to four each.
As a result, their Fairlawn campus improved 24.7 percent on the “School Quality Report” and the Congress Heights campus improved by 35.5 percent both regaining Tier 1 status this year.
Overall Ratings for Charter Schools
This year, 63 Tier 1 public charter schools have been rated as top-performing, up 16 from last year. In addition, while there are zero Tier 3 PK-8 schools, 12 PK-8 schools improved their overall rating and score.
The recently released SY 2018-19 DC School Report Cards also shows that for the first time, families in Wards 7 and 8 each have a 5 STAR school among their school options, and that KIPP DC Promise Academy Public Charter School, in Ward 7, and Center City Congress Heights Public Charter School in Ward 8 are D.C.’s first-ever five-STAR schools in these wards.
Lastly, the Office of the Superintendent of Education report lists five 1 STAR public charter schools. Four of these schools were closed by the D.C. Public Charter School Board at the end of last year, leaving just one one-star school still operating.
Student Encouragement
Community College Prep PCS humanities instructor Stefan Lockridge believes his adult students trust his guidance.
Lockridge empathizes with his students and shares ways they can succeed, grow and be better scholars.
When student Mercedes was ready to give up on passing a part of the GED exam, Lockridge encouraged her to not rush learning and showed her another way to prepare for the test.
He encouraged her to take breaks between practice questions and to watch videos while riding the metro. These strategies helped her pass the exam.
Upcoming Events
– The Public Charter School Board will hold two public roundtables where D.C. residents can voice their opinions about the qualifications and experience needed by the next executive director:
6:30 p.m., Dec. 11 at Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS – 2427 Martin Luther King Ave SE
10 a.m., Jan. 11 at KIPP DC – College Prep Academy PCS – 1405 Brentwood Parkway NE
– On Dec. 14, My School DC EdFEST, the citywide public schools education fair, will take place.
– The board will hold its next monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 16 at DC PCSB (3333 14th Street NW, Suite 210). The meeting location is subject to change.