True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School

“The school utilizes uncommon schools, inc., an unrelated 501(c)(3) organization, to provide management and other administrative support services to the school. The school delegates hiring of certain employees, planning and executing budgets, and other financial operations to uncommon schools, inc. Michael blake, managing director; john powell, cfo; mary ann villanueva, chief external officer; julie jackson and brett peiser, co-ceos; and paul bambrick-santoyo and juliana worrell, chief schools officers; are employees of uncommon schools, inc. And officers of rochester prep charter schools. The charter school pays uncommon schools inc. Management fees for the services provided including the services of these officers. The fees paid during the year ending june 30, 2024 were $5,968,998.”

“Included in the memorandum of understanding between the school and the management company, the management company is allowed to have one representative on the board of trustees.”

“The form 990 is reviewed by the senior director of finance, accounting director, controller, and cfo of uncommon schools, inc in detail. It is then reviewed by board chair and submitted to the board of trustees for their review prior to submission.”

“All new trustees are required to sign the conflict of interest policy. Board trustees are bound by fiduciary duty to disclose any conflicts. Annually a resolution is adopted reaffirming a commitment to the policy.”

“Through the annual budget approval process, individual key employees and officer salaries are set by uncommon schools which employs comparable data from the other schools within the uncommon schools network as well as, to the extent possible, other local public school district salary data. The board approves the annual school budget within which these salaries are incorporated, but does not involve itself in any individual salary determinations.”

“These documents are located at the organization and are available upon request.”

“Rochester prep prepares our students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college. Our organization comprises of 7 high-performing public schools located in the city of rochester. We provide a k-12 pathway for 2,500+ students aged 4-18 across three elementary, three middle, and one high school. We are also providing regular touchpoints, access to resources, and career guidance to 500+ alumni aged 18-24 who are pursuing college degrees and post-secondary success. Our students and families are primarily people of color from low-income backgrounds. More than nine in ten students are eligible for free- or reduced-price lunch, 85% are black, 8% identify as hispanic, and 13% have special needs. Rochester prep is managed by uncommon schools, inc. (usi) a charter management organization (cmo) that operates 52 high-performing public schools across new york, new jersey, and massachusetts. In order to achieve our mission, rochester prep is committed to our core educational model, with each school exhibiting: 1) a college-preparatory mission; 2) a longer school day and year; 3) high standards for academics and character; 4) an academically-focused learning environment; 5) a focus on accountability and data-driven instruction; and 6) a faculty of committed and talented leaders and teachers. Year after year, we have consistently proven that, by relentlessly innovating how our schools implement these attributes no matter what challenges might arise our students can continue to defy the odds and leap over achievement and college-readiness bars. The rochester prep class of '24 had a 90% on-time graduation rate, outpacing the 71% rate of the rochester city district schools close to 20 percentage points. 93% of uncommon's rochester prep class of '24 took at least one ap exam in high school, compared to 35% for the national class of '23, the most recent data available. 35% of the rochester prep class passed at least one exam compared to only 22% nationally. 97% of rochester prep's class of 2024 was accepted into a 4-year or 2-year college, with 84% of our largest class to date expressing the intent to matriculate. We work hard to make sure admissions translate into enrollment and reach out to our newest graduates in the summer to help them navigate college life. Further, among new rochester graduates intending to start college this fall, 54% are heading to colleges that are the very, highly or the most selective. Rochester prep is advancing high-impact programs to bridge the achievement gap for our economically disadvantaged students, who represent a significant part of our community. With 91% of rochester's district-operated school students economically disadvantaged and only 12% achieving state assessment proficiency a stark contrast to over 40% proficiency in math and english among rochester prep students the importance of our work is clear. Our "student talent & voice" initiative spans all grade levels, creating space for student expression and growth through experiential learning and music education like suzuki strings. At the elementary and middle school levels, students participate in this program, choosing instruments like violin, viola, or cello and building skills as both soloists and ensemble members. We plan to expand this program to high school, fostering artistic continuity across all grade spans. In high school, students can delve into interests through electives, projects, and internships, with options like anime club, chess club, korean language & culture, drumline, and mock trial. These experiences enable students to explore their passions deeply and map out pathways toward larger goals. Partnerships like jaimie's bridge and our ap honor roll silver distinction highlight our commitment to equitable access and holistic support.”

“To prepare all students to enter and succeed in college through effort, achievement and the content of their character. All rochester prep students will demonstrate excellence in reading, writing, math, science and history while consistently exemplifying the virtues of respect, integrity, diligence, responsibility, compassion and perseverance.”

“The board has not changed its process for selecting the independent auditor nor have they changed the oversight of the audit from prior years.”