“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
--William Butler Yeats
What is Stanford New Schools?
The Stanford New Schools (SNS) is a non-profit organization, formed in
collaboration with the Stanford University School of Education to develop
and sustain small, innovative, high-performing public schools in underserved
communities.
SNS currently operates East Palo Alto Academy, which includes a High School
(9-12), and an Elementary School (K-8), both serving East Palo Alto, California.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are independent public schools, designed and operated by
educators, parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs, and others.
Charter schools design and deliver programs tailored to educational
excellence and community needs.
As a public school, a charter school is open to the all who wish to attend
(without regard to race, religion, or academic ability) and free of charge,
like traditional public schools.
Charter schools are held accountable for achieving educational results
and have to meet the same academic standards as traditional public schools.
What is the mission?
SNS is dedicated to preparing our racially, economically, linguistically
and academically diverse students for success in school, college, the
workplace and life.
We combine the most successful models of urban school reform with highly
qualified teachers employing well-supported pedagogical practices and a
curriculum that connects the work of the school to the life of the community.
What is the bigger picture?
In addition to providing an outstanding education for the students we serve,
our goal is to create model schools that will function as sites for
professional development for teachers in the local district and throughout
the Bay Area.
Our school already serves as a site for highly expert Stanford faculty
to develop innovative educational practices that can be shared with
educators throughout the country, and for preparing talented Stanford
students in our teacher education program to be effective in urban schools.
The school thus has a broad mission to contribute to school reform
throughout the country.
What is special about these schools?
The combination of highly qualified teachers and the expertise of the
Stanford University faculty and students allows our schools to design,
implement, and assess state-of-the art instruction. Such design features
as team teaching, looping, advisory, block scheduling, and an early college
opportunities provide individualized and supportive educational programs
that ensure success for all students.
The SNS schools also offers extended instruction hours, including after-school
and Saturday programs, providing students who are at risk of failure more
time to attain our high standards of achievement.
What are the results so far?
In the six years since our high school opened, we have dramatically
reduced the high school drop out rate. Of entering freshman who do not
move away or transfer to another school, 90% graduate on time.
Moreover, 90% of our graduating seniors go on to either 2- or 4-year colleges.
These are truly remarkable results given that 70% of our students are
non-native English speakers, most of whom are still learning English when
they enter the school, and most of them deal on a daily basis with the
challenges of living in poverty.
What is the financial snapshot?
Each year we need to raise an additional $2,500 per student in supplemental
private funding to continue our innovative programs to meet the educational
needs of our students.
It is the generosity of private donors, combined with Stanford's generous
giving of time and services from senior faculty members, that make it
possible for SNS to deliver the high quality K-12 educational environment
to our students.
Facilities
Because our community is served by two school districts, responsibility
for ensuring adequate facilities for our charter school is shared with
both Ravenswood City School District and Sequoia Union High School District.
Ravenswood provides facilities for our K-8 program, while Sequoia provides
facilities for our high school.
Stanford New Schools is currently working with both districts to develop
a plan for a single K-12 campus for SNS to be located in East Palo Alto.
How can I help?
We're glad you asked.
There are several ways that you can help.
See our help page for more information.
