Part of our story lies in academics. Simply put, we provide a higher quality public school option. The students’ Stanford 9 test scores have improved consistently each year since we opened, and for the past several years, our students have scored well above the national norms in reading and mathematics. Our English as a Second Language students gain English proficiency within three years of enrollment and, like all our students, learn in two languages.

Moreover, because classes here are demanding, every student leaves the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School well prepared for the rigors of higher grade levels. Graduating students have been accepted to and recruited by competitive middle schools, both public and independent.

But our story doesn’t end there. We believe character is just as important as scholarship, so we look for ways to ensure a child’s long-term well-being. We make community service activities an integral part of school work. We train students to become “peace coaches,” so they can instruct others in conflict resolution. To instill an appreciation of diverse cultures, our Sixth Graders take educational trips to Panama and Martinique.

The Elsie Whitlow Stokes School is a place that, in some way, addresses every aspect of a child’s life, and it’s a place we hope will stay with each student throughout teen years and adulthood.