Francis
W. Parker Charter Essential School
This public secondary school (7th through 12th grade), located in Devens,
Massachusetts, is open by lottery to all students who live in Massachusetts.
The school, which serves approximately 400 students, was started in
1995 by parents and teachers committed to the principles of the Coalition
of Essential Schools. In 1999, the state granted the school a five-year
renewal of its charter.
Curriculum at Parker integrates the academic disciplines through “domains”—arts
and humanities, which includes Spanish; math, science, and technology;
and health and adventure. Class groups include a heterogeneous mix of
15 to 50 students whose ages span several years, and who work with one
or two faculty members toward mastery of common standards. Each year’s
coursework centers around a school-wide “essential question,”
as well as on specific concepts and content in the academic domains,
which reflect the state’s standards.
Student work is assessed at Parker via portfolios, using school-wide
standards and rubrics. Students advance at the rate appropriate for
their individual development and are promoted after successful “gateway
exhibitions” where they present and defend their academic portfolios
During year-end assessments, teachers evaluate student progress in narrative
form. The school does not rank students or award letter grades.
Seniors culminate their studies at Parker with a capstone senior project,
on a topic or project they choose to explore independently with the
guidance of an outside mentor, sometimes in a workplace internship.
The project is presented to a public audience as part of the student’s
graduation exhibition.
Service is an important component of a student’s education at
Parker. Students serve on important school operations committees (including
an elected Community Congress and a student Justice Committee) and live
by a Parker School Constitution, written and approved by the student
body. Advisory groups and elective classes go into the surrounding communities
to work with nursing homes, shelters, and other service organizations.
The Julia Richman Education Complex
This complex in Manhattan is one example of a large comprehensive school
that redesigned itself into smaller learning communities. In 1993, the
school closed to entering freshmen, who instead chose to attend one
of six new small schools located outside the school building. In 1995,
four new small schools moved into the building; two of these schools
were part of the original group of six small schools created to take
the ninth grade students. In 1996, the last class of the former comprehensive
Julia Richman High School, which had stayed in the building throughout
the restructuring efforts, graduated.
Today, the complex houses six small schools and approximately 1,650
students. The six schools include the Urban Academy, Talent Unlimited,
a performing arts school, Manhattan International High School, which
serves new immigrants, the K-8 Ella Baker School, a middle school for
autistic students, and Vanguard High.
The six schools are autonomous, each with its own budget, teachers,
schedules, and curriculum. In addition to the schools, the Complex also
houses First Steps—an
infant toddler center serving children of teen parents, the Mount Sinai
Student Health Clinic, the Inquiry Center for Teaching and Learning,
and the Maxine Greene Center for the Arts. These facilities offer services
to the entire community. While each school has its own separate space
within the Complex, the schools also share a number of common facilities
which include a library, cafeteria, auditorium, ceramics studies, culinary
arts room, dance studio, mini theater, art gallery, gymnasiums, and
swimming pool.
The Complex is governed by the Building Council composed of directors
and principals from each school and program within the building. The
Council, chaired by the Building Manager who is a principal from one
of the six schools, meets regularly and determines policy for the entire
Complex.
