Amanda Belden

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is a high-performing, innovative public charter school in Newark NJ, serving 1,900 students from Pre-K to 12th grade, on six campuses. We have high academic and behavioral expectations for our students. Our students, for example, take multiple AP classes before they graduate. We pair rigorous curriculum and teaching with intense personal support from teachers, tutors, and staff. Our mission is to prepare our students for college success through several key elements: • Small school – Grade-level cohorts of less 100 students allow each student to feel known and cared for. Our focus is on a sense of community and relationship building with families and students • More time on task – Longer school days than traditional schools. Weekend sessions and summer school for students who are struggling. • High expectations – Rigorous, differentiated, college-preparatory coursework from K-12. Advanced Placement and real college courses for all juniors and seniors. • Effective Instruction – World-class teachers with clear expectations and the support they need to continuously improve. These core principles that guide the work that we do daily: 1. Creating a community that is built upon genuine and meaningful relationships 2. Being surgical in our approach to differentiation of instruction and support of ALL students and team members 3. Setting and exceeding high expectations for academic growth and character development for all students, in preparation for success in college and beyond The Great Oaks Legacy Model: At Great Oaks Legacy, we believe in targeted instruction and differentiation for all students. Students in grades Pre-K through 2nd grade benefit from a co-teacher model – two teachers support classroom instruction all day long, allowing us to provide a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. From 3rd grade through high school, students receive tutoring daily in Math and English Language Arts as part of their regular school day.