Schools To Learn From seeks to broaden the definition of what makes an excellent school and share that learning with educators from across the country.
About Schools to Learn From
Schools To Learn From is a program for schools to share effective and innovative practices that can be adapted and implemented by school leaders across the country.
Each year, the Schools To Learn From program selects four to five schools that are providing an excellent education for their students. Once selected, these schools act as learning laboratories by hosting visits and facilitating professional development that enables other educators to implement strategies and best practices in their own schools.
While School To Learn From is on hiatus for the 2020-2021 school year, we are still accepting nominations of schools for this program and other opportunities to be featured in professional development programming for the broader education community.
Questions? Please contact our team.
“I find the entire STLF community to be a catalyst for some of the most meaningful reflection, PD, and networking that I’ve experienced in my 11+ years as an educator.”
2019-2020 Selected Schools
Location: Nashville, TN
School Type: Charter (Grades K-4)
School Leader: Lagra Newman (Los Angeles ‘05)
Overview
Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School is an academically challenging, disciplined, and joyful elementary school in Nashville, TN. Through rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, and positive character development, Purpose Preparatory Academy ensures that all Kindergarten through grade four students achieve the academic skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation to be set on the path to college. In 2017 & 2018, Purpose Prep was recognized as a Tennessee Reward School for academic achievement, ranking within the top 5% of schools in the state of Tennessee.
Purpose Prep ensures that every scholar achieves our ambitious academic and character goals. Our teachers are committed to our mission by continuously improving their craft to optimize student achievement.
School Demographics
- 365 Students
- 98% Students of color
- 76% Students receive Free or Reduced Lunch
- 10% Students are identified as English Language Learners
- 7% Students have IEPs
Dimension of Excellence
Curriculum, Instruction, and Data Systems
- K/1/2 in the 90-99th percentile on exams in literacy and math
- Two teachers are assigned to each classroom
- Recognized in the top 5% in Tennessee for academic achievement.
What Did the Review Team Say?
“The mission-driven culture of the professional development for teachers is strong, including explicit examination of their own biases, discussions about white privilege, developing their own mission as teachers. Teachers orient themselves as activists in their work and practice what it means to live out the school’s mission in real-life role-play scenarios.”
Location: Lawrence, MA
School Type: District (Grades 9-10)
School Leader: Alison Balter (Massachusetts '10)
Overview
ENLACE (Engaging Newcomers in Language And Content Education) is a small academy within Lawrence High School, a comprehensive public high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts. ENLACE serves newcomer English learners, ages 14-16, who have arrived in the United States within the past 1-2 years and are at the beginning stages of English language development. ENLACE’s mission is to provide newcomer English learners and students with limited or interrupted formal education with the academic and linguistic foundation and socio-emotional supports that will allow them to transition successfully and quickly into the mainstream high school environment, on track to pursue a college or career of their choice. By combining the resources of a traditional public high school with the extra support and culturally responsive practices of a small, specialized learning community, ENLACE empowers students to proudly and purposefully develop their multilingual and multicultural identities.
School Demographics
- 204 Students
- 100% Students of color
- 100% Students receive Free or Reduced Lunch
- 100% Students are identified as English Language Learners
- 3% Students have IEPs
Dimension of Excellence
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy & Practices
- Involves families and community organizations in all aspects of the school, from inviting caregivers to see how students are learning, to including parents in restorative justice
- 65% of students passed all 3 MCAS on their first try
- Students are outperforming the average ELL student in all subjects across MA
What Did the Review Team Say?
“Many schools are struggling with supporting SEL, ELL and DEI in schools - ENLACE has found the link between implementing on all three of these areas effectively and in a short amount of time.”
Location: New York, NY
School Type: District (Grades 1st, 6-8)
School Leader: Monica Brady (New York ‘94)
Overview
CIS 303 is a warm, nurturing middle school located in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. We believe that a focus on social-emotional learning and development of the whole child leads to better, happier, and smarter citizens.
School Demographics
- 314 Students
- 99% Students of color
- 90% Students receive Free or Reduced Lunch
- 18% Students are identified as English Language Learners
- 37% Students have IEPs
Dimension of Excellence
School Culture and Environment
- Extremely detailed in how they use culture as a tool and clearly explained the academic outcomes that were a result of that work.
- The Advisory Program and Equity and Excellence for all program really demonstrates that they are putting the student at the center of their school community and doing whatever needs to be done to elevate the students' needs.
What Did the Review Team Say?
“Any school leader could walk away from this school with a strong understanding of why it matters to be intentional and what is means to fully weave your schools mission, vision and values into what you do everyday with students and families.”
Location: Shafter, CA
School Type: Charter (Elementary)
School Leader: Joanna Kendrick (Los Angeles ‘05)
Overview
Grimmway Academy Shafter is a free, public elementary charter school that provides a choice for families in rural Shafter, CA where virtually all the elementary schools have historically performed at low levels. The goal of Grimmway Academy Shafter is to bring opportunities to rural areas that will set children up for lifelong success by creating an environment for academic excellence and well-being. Grimmway Academy Shafter seeks to transform the lives of students through an innovative personalized approach to curriculum and emphasis on well being. A one acre garden honors the agricultural roots of the community and provides hands on learning and life skills. Children learn to cultivate the land, become stewards of the environment, and connect mind to body through edible education. Grimmway Academy Shafter is a zero waste facility and has been recognized by the city, county, and state for environmental excellence.
School Demographics
- 640 Students
- 97% Students of color
- 86% Students receive Free or Reduced Lunch
- 42% Students are identified as English Language Learners
- 6% Students have IEPs
Dimension of Excellence
Reimagining School
- Use of time, resources, volunteers are well-designed and meant to create the greatest impact for kids and their futures
- Holistic Approach: students’ personal, social, and emotional growth, along with a dedication to community/family inclusion are throughout the school.
- Grimmway ELL and SED students outperformed the local district and state of CA
What Did the Review Team Say?
“This is a rural school approaching equity in a different way by focusing on holistic wellness, healthy food, environmental sustainability, community, music and art which does indeed provide a unique element to learn from, especially the school's Edible Schoolyard.”
Location: Chicago, IL
School Type: Charter (High School)
School Leader: Emily Mason (St. Louis ‘07)
Overview
Muchin College Prep exists to empower Chicago youth to overcome systemic inequity through life-altering education.
Muchin opened in August of 2009 on the 7th floor of a high-rise building in the heart of Chicago’s downtown. It is rated a 1+ school, the highest rating in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Quality Rating Policy scale, and has consistently ranked among the top 10 highest performing non-selective high schools in Chicago.
Muchin scholars engage in a rigorous curriculum that prepares them for success in college and beyond. In addition, we also focus on character education and expect our scholars to be ambassadors inside and outside of the classroom. We are purposeful in leveraging our unique location to provide a variety of opportunities for our scholars to interact with and learn from local professionals through internships, youth employment, and enriching activities.
School Demographics
- 957 Students
- 98% Students of color
- 84% Students receive Free or Reduced Lunch
- 11% Students are identified as English Language Learners
- 11% Students have IEPs
Dimension of Excellence
Curriculum, Instruction, and Data Systems
- Muchin students are performing academically at a top level and they can clearly articulate the systems within their Dimension that allow for that.
- Mission focused on getting students to graduate college within 6 years - 100% of students have been accepted to four year colleges / universities
What Did the Review Team Say?
"This school certainly has a lot to offer in how it approaches setting students up for rigorous academic engagement, its approach to working through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, and in how the school prioritizes particular subsets of data to drive toward an ambitious mission."
“I didn't need to scour the country finding a school that excelled in what we wanted to achieve - TFA had done the tough work for me! So, I could simply go and learn!”
Past Schools To Learn From
2018 - 2019 Selected Schools
- Location: New York, NY
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School Leader: Benjamin Lev (New York ‘04)
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Schools
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Location: Kansas City, MO
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School Leader: Hannah Lofthus (New York '07)
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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School Leader: Kari Croft (Los Angeles ‘10)
Science Academy of South Texas
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Location: Mercedes, TX
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School Leader: Dr. Irma Castillo
2017 - 2018 Selected Schools
- Acero Esmeralda Santiago School -- Chicago, IL
- School Leader: Melissa Sweazy
- Mott Haven Academy Charter School -- Bronx, NY
- School Leader: Jessica Nauiokas (D.C. Region '97)
- Ewing Marion Kauffman School -- Kansas City, MO
- School Leader: Hannah Lofthus (New York '07)
- Wharton K-8 Dual Language Academy -- Houston, TX
- School Leader: Jennifer Day (Los Angeles '91)
- International High School at Langley Park -- Bladensburg, MD
- School Leader: Carlos Beato
2016-17 Selected Schools
- Bronx Lighthouse College Prep Academy—Bronx, NY
- School Leader: Alix Duggins (Mississippi Delta ’10)
- USC Hybrid—Los Angeles, CA
- School Leader: Olumide Macaulay (Los Angeles ’01)
- John Palmer Elementary School—Chicago, IL
- School Leader: Jennifer Dixon (Chicago ’02)
- Lakeland Elementary-Middle School—Baltimore, MD
- School Leader: Najib Jammal (Baltimore ’03)
2015-16 Selected Schools
- KIPP Infinity—New York, NY
- School Leader: Allison Willis Holley (New York City ’04)
- Benjamin Franklin High School—Baltimore, MD
- School Leaders: Chris Battaglia, Principal; Simon Birenbaum (Baltimore ’05), Assistant Principal
- Native American Community Academy—Albuquerque, NM
- School Leader: Kara Bobroff
- McGlone Elementary School—Denver, CO
- School Leader: Sara Gips Goodall (Colorado ’08)
2014-15 Selected Schools
- Liberty Elementary School—Baltimore, MD
- School Leader: Joe Manko (Baltimore ’02)
- Breakthrough Magnet School—Hartford, CT
- School Leader: Julie Goldstein (Los Angeles ’90)
- Hiawatha College Prep—Minneapolis, MN
- School Leader: John Kaczorek (New York ’05)
- Lighthouse Community Charter School—East Oakland, CA
- School Leader: Yanira Canizales
Read our snapshot of these four schools.