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NCSRC Case Study: Community Relations

The National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) recently had the privilege of visiting Cornerstone Prep. We invite you to view the second of this four-part documentary below, focusing on the role of community relations in the school's model. Consider how this and other factors have driven Cornerstone Prep’s remarkable and quick turnaround. These videos present the points of view from school leaders, teachers, students, and parents. 

The following is an excerpt from the NCSRC article: 

​​Cornerstone Prep is a turnaround charter school in Memphis, Tennessee. The school is part of the Achievement School District, a statewide district committed to transforming underperforming schools, and is operated by the charter school management organization Capstone Education Group. The school opened in fall 2012 on the site of a closed traditional public school. Before Cornerstone Prep began its turnaround work, Lester School operated in the same building and served the same zone as a neighborhood school. On the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), Lester consistently placed in the bottom 5% of all schools in Tennessee. Before Cornerstone Prep opened in the 2012-2013 school year, only 8% of students at Lester were at grade-level on the TCAP. Each year since Cornerstone Prep opened, the school has had double-digit gains in student achievement in math and reading, as measured on the TCAP. (Real the full article here.)

2: Community Relations

Community from Safal Partners on Vimeo.