MISSION & STRATEGIC PLAN
Our mission is simple: We aim to guide children to realize their inherent greatness. From a very young age, we reinforce to our scholars that they are agents of change. We guide scholars to embody the values of scholarship, excellence, community, and integrity as they develop their abilities to read, write, listen, speak, create, and think critically across disciplines. With a particular focus on science, the arts, and math, we prepare them to navigate and contribute meaningfully to an increasingly complex world.
VISION FOR EXCELLENCE
Our vision for Public Prep has always been to create classrooms that are beacons of community, fostering courageous learners, critical thinkers, and resilient leaders with a strong sense of personal agency. After almost two decades, this vision remains our guiding star.
Beyond our classrooms, we are dedicated to creating a clear path for our scholars' success, propelling them into high-quality high schools that align with their interests and strengths. We prepare them for whatever lies ahead, whether pursuing a college education or embarking on careers, by helping them discover their passions and equipping them with the skills needed to succeed in any field they choose. Our commitment extends beyond academics, ensuring each scholar has the guidance and support to thrive in whatever they aspire to achieve in the world.
A Public Prep education instills how important and fun it is to learn new things every day.
We prepare every scholar to realize their inherent greatness. Our scholars learn how to achieve great things every day and define excellence for themselves no matter their age.
Our educators lead by example and work together to support our scholars. In turn, a community wraps around our scholars as they encourage, support, and look out for one another.
We believe our scholars must be true to their word and stand up for what's right. We push them to always be honest with themselves and others.
OUR STRATEGY
At Public Prep, we help scholars see the possibilities for themselves, and prepare every scholar to achieve their highest level of success.
We take a scholar-first approach in preparing every young person to realize their inherent greatness. From a very young age, we reinforce to our scholars that they are agents of change. We guide scholars in realizing their power and promise, through the values of scholarship, excellence, community, and integrity. Our scholars develop their abilities to read, write, listen, speak, create, and think critically across disciplines, with a particular focus on science, the arts, and math.
Our Pre-K through 8th grade scholars build strong character, depth of knowledge, and empathy for the world around them. Our approach is rooted in love and justice, and requires an ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible, and anti-racist education.
OUR PRIORITIES
Public Prep is an exemplary network of single-gender schools in and around New York City, serving over 1,500 PreK-8 scholars in state-of-the-art facilities for learning. At the core of our strategy for success is close collaboration with families and community partners to create a support system that helps our scholars, families and educators thrive.
Our comprehensive approach to single-gender education, outreach, and communication between schools and families is continuously growing. We will continue offering opportunities to build diverse programming, social activities, and parent education initiatives, while keeping our curriculum and learning at the highest bar.
BELIEF IN COMMUNITY
Community is foundational to Public Prep. It's one of our core values. As a public charter school network in NYC, our scholars understand deeply how important it is to stay engaged. Scholars are proud of where they come from and are dedicated to making a difference for themselves, their families, and communities in the neighborhood and beyond.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Examples of our community engagement include annual food and clothing drives led by our scholars to support local women’s shelters, STEM programming with leading engineering professors from Columbia University, and workshops with world-renowned performers from the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Additionally, we host Advocacy Days where families meet with elected officials in Albany to lobby for the needs of their children, and our Mother and Son Dance, which honors mothers and mother figures with music, food, and community. By building strong relationships with local organizations and community members, we ensure our scholars have the support and opportunities they need to thrive academically and personally.
From a variety of diverse backgrounds. We welcome all!
We tailor our scholars' education to help them succeed and work hard to accommodate diverse learning needs.
On average, our schools perform 14% higher on state math testing than the other schools in their district.
We strive to nurture the whole scholar-mind and body with daily enrichment beyond the core content areas. Our Arts and Wellness focus expands their creativity, promote a healthy lifestyle, and ignite their inner passions. Scholars are able to build discipline-specific skills and understandings in the performing and visual arts and fitness, as well as develop additional skills such as problem-solving, self-expression, and perseverance.
We are committed to developing the next generation of female and male engineers, scientists, and mathematicians of color. Through robust science instruction beginning in Pre-K, Public Prep helps instill an early love of inquiry, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This ignites curiosity and the pursuit of STEM-related careers by young women and men, which is ultimately what's needed to bridge the gender and race gap in STEM fields.
Public Prep believes in using a balanced approach that builds a solid foundational skill set for all students, sparks curiosity, and cultivates a joy for and love of learning. At all grade levels, scholars build independence and take ownership of their learning goals.
Your donation makes a real impact. Join us in making exceptional, single-gender education accessible to all young people in our community. From world-expanding field trips to our top-of-the-line facilities and transformative pre-college programs, your support creates possibilities for our scholars.
At Public Prep, we believe it takes a village to foster successful scholars. Our scholars are deeply connected to their roots and are committed to making positive contributions while showing up as their authentic selves. Community is one of our core values, and we actively engage with our community through initiatives like family workshops, community service projects, and educational partnerships. These efforts provide our scholars with enriching experiences, promote active family involvement, and strengthen bonds with the neighborhoods we serve.