Schools That Can

Dr. Irene Hall, Co-Founder and Co-Leader:

What We Stand For:

Discovery Charter School is a successful Newark public middle school with a non-traditional curriculum based on the discovery method of teaching and learning pioneered by the progressive educator John Dewey.

Our academic mission is to develop students’ critical thinking skills by building upon students’ innate curiosities. Using the “discovery” approach to teaching and learning, each student uncovers talents and abilities through a hands-on, interactive, problem-solving and exploratory learning process.

Discovery Charter School is committed to the small-school model, enrolling seventy-five students per year. Its curriculum includes direct approaches to subjects like engineering and law, as well as intensive reading and writing programs.

Best Practices:

Setting the Bar High: Expectations have an enormous impact on low-income, urban students. Consistently high academic and citizenship standards not only set clear goals but also let the students know these goals can be achieved.

Communicating with Families: Parents, grandparents and guardians know our staff is available any time. Conferences between parents and teachers occur on an almost daily basis. On “Family Nights” students and their families participate with teachers in a chess game, a lecture, or a friendly chat.

Caring for Community: Community-building and social responsibility are placed firmly at the core of our curriculum. Our students know their actions affect their school, their families, and their community. They learn they can make a difference.

Commitment to a Small School: We believe that relationships with students and their families are the foundation of education. Our small school of seventy-five students allows each child’s talents to be nurtured. Every child’s education is a “family affair.”

Recent Accomplishments:

In 2008, 70% of our eighth-grade graduating class was accepted to private high schools. One third of this small group (Discovery’s graduating classes average 10-12 students) received over $300,000 in scholarships to these nationally recognized college preparatory high schools: Milton Hershey School, Miss Porter’s School, St. Vincent Academy and The Pingry School.

Since our first group of eighth-graders graduated six years ago, our graduates have been awarded $2 million in scholarships, and 100% have enrolled in college.

Established in 1999, Discovery is chartered by the State of New Jersey Department of Education.