Over 80 percent of the students at East Side Charter School live in poverty. Most of the children live with only one parent, few of whom completed any college education. But at this school, kids can come early and stay late. They have a longer school year. They wear school uniforms.
Parents sign something akin to a contract of mutual responsibility.
Teachers and administrators are given freer reign to innovate and initiate. Out of almost 200 public schools in the state of Delaware, from the wealthiest to those struggling the most, East Side Charter School was the only one last year where every student tested met or exceeded our state s standards in math. We are a small state, but we are building a growing record of achievement in public school education. Delaware leads the nation in the percentage of families who exercise public school choice. Scores on the Delaware State Tests last year in reading and math were up across the board.