School Overviews
Achievement Academy
Charter School
42 South Dove Street
Albany, NY 12202
518.533.1601
www.achievementacademycs.org
School Leader: O'Rita Swan
Achievement Academy is a college preparatory public middle school that opened in Albany in the fall of 2005. Achievement Academy replicates the highly-successful school model of Amistad Academy (New Haven, Conn.) and features a small school environment, an extended school day, a 200-day school year with up to 15 additional summer days of remediation, a rigorous curriculum requiring mastery of core skills and knowledge with a particular focus on math, reading and writing, frequent academic assessment, and school uniforms. Achievement Academy opened with grade 5 and continues to expand to enroll a maximum of 300 students in grades 5-8.
Albany Community
Charter School
65 Krank Street
Albany, NY 12202
518.433.1500
www.albanycommunitycharterschool.org
School Leader: S. Neal Currie Jr.
The Albany Community Charter School opened as an elementary school in September 2006. The school provides an extended day and a school year of 200 days to emphasize literacy skills as a foundation for all learning and regular assessment to prepare students for attainment of state learning standards. Each classroom has two teachers, and tutoring and homework assistance are available. Students also receive instruction in character education. The school works in partnership with Community Partners, Inc., which operates the highly successful Community Day Charter Public School in Lawrence, Massachusetts — one of the best academically performing charter schools in that state. Albany Community Charter School opened for kindergarten and first grade and will expand to grades K-4 to serve approximately 300 students.
Albany Preparatory
Charter School
50 Summit Ave
Albany, NY 12209
518.694.5005
www.albanyprep.org
School Leader: Carol Lennon
Albany Prep is a middle school that opened in Albany in August 2005. In addition to offering extended instructional periods for core academic subjects, an extended 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. school day, and 205-day school year, the school design — based on academic excellence, global citizenship, and application of knowledge — has its roots in the International Baccalaureate program, one of the most well-respected and successful school models in the world. Additionally, Albany Prep offers a small school environment. Albany Prep will expand to enroll 400 students in grades 5-8.
Brighter Choice Charter
School for Boys
116 North Lake Ave
Albany, NY 12206
518.694.8200
www.brighterchoice.org
School Leader: Darryl Williams
Brighter Choice Charter
School for Girls
250 Central Ave
Albany, NY 12206
518.694.4100
www.brighterchoice.org
School Leader: Melissa Jarvis Cedeno
The Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls and the Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys, both of which opened in September 2002, offer a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. school day, an extended 200-day school year, expert teachers in core academic subjects, a classical liberal arts education, an enriched visual and performing arts curriculum, the use of original historical documents to teach American history, computers in every classroom, school uniforms, and a unique single-sex public school environment. The Brighter Choice Charter Schools currently serve 240 students in grades K through 4.
Green Tech High
Charter School
321 Northern Blvd,
Albany, NY 12210
518.694.3400
www.greentechhigh.org
School Leader: John Taylor, Jr.
Green Tech High Charter School, opening in fall 2008, is an all-male school that will provide a high quality, college preparatory education for Albany students in a safe, small-school setting. The school will offer an extended school day, a longer school year, extensive literacy instruction, and programs that emphasize environmental awareness and technological proficiency. Green Tech High has a college-preparatory focus, including a rigorous academic curriculum that fulfills the state's performance standards and course credits to obtain a Regent's diploma. The school will grow to serve 300 students in grades 9-12, while maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 12:1.
Henry Johnson
Charter School
30 Watervliet Ave
Albany, NY 12206
518.432.4300
www.henryjohnsoncs.org
School Leader: Lillian Turner
The Henry Johnson Charter School, an elementary school named in honor of the Capital District's most famous hero of World War I, opened in September 2007. The school is modeled after the highly successful Milwaukee College Prep Charter School, which operated as a Marva Collins school. Ms. Collins is one of the nation's renowned educators, and her methods have been highlighted in books and on such television programs as 60 Minutes. The Henry Johnson Charter School provides an extended day and 200-day school year, has academic and behavioral expectations, and focuses on teaching core academic subjects and values. Currently, the school offers kindergarten and first grade for up to 125 students and will expand over the next couple of years to a K-4 school with 375 students.
KIPP Tech Valley
Charter School
1 Dudley Heights
Albany, NY 12210
518.694.9494
www.kipptechvalley.org
School Leader: Dan Ceaser
Based on the highly-regarded Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), KIPP Tech Valley is a college preparatory middle school that opened in Albany's Arbor Hill neighborhood in August 2005. KIPP Tech Valley's school design includes high expectations for student achievement and discipline, double periods of instruction in English Language Arts and Mathematics, an extended 7:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. school day, extended school year, bi-weekly classes on Saturdays, daily tutoring and enrichment, school uniforms, and teachers available by cell phones for extra help. During its first year, KIPP enrolled 90 students in grade 5 and eventually will expand to enroll up to 360 students in grades 5-8.