Distinctions

The majority of our students come from northwestern Queens County, which includes the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, North Corona, Astoria and Long Island City. These communities are characterized by rich economic and ethnic diversity and haunting economic disparities. Jackson Heights is a pocket of upscale cooperative apartments surrounded by low-income immigrant communities.

Despite the sometimes harsh realities that our students are exposed to, Renaissance students have consistently performed above district level in attendance, graduation and standardized exams. We have maintained a school attendance rate of above 93% for several years. We have an exemplary college-bound program and Renaissance students are recognized year after year for their leadership skills with scholarships and internships.

Achieving Outstanding Results. Since 2005, we have maintained a 92-97% graduation rate, and for the last 2 years 100% of our graduates have been accepted into college... prestigious colleges, too, such as Brandeis, NYU, Swarthmore, Barnard and Trinity, to name a few. In 2009 91.7% of 3rd-8th graders met or exceeded standards in the NYS ELA exam, and 96.7% of 3rd-8th graders met or exceeded standards in the NYS Math exam. By any measure, including our standardized test scores, Renaissance is a school that works.

Experience. While many charter schools are one or two years old – Renaissance began 17 years ago, in 1993, as one of New York City’s first “New Visions” schools. In May, 2000 the school converted to become one of the city’s first charter schools. Renaissance was awarded a five-year charter renewal in 2005 – the maximum allowed by law – and its consistent performance on all measures demonstrates that their proven model and results will continue to garner additional charter renewals.

A Greater Impact. Renaissance mentors dozens of schools, as well as hopeful charter operators and educators, including several groups of international educators who are investigating the charter movement. Many after-school site coordinators and administrators visit the extended-day program, with its mix of targeted tutoring, eclectic for-credit classes and creative clubs. Renaissance participates in the federally funded Partnership for Innovation in Compensation for Charter Schools (PICCS) piccs.org consortium of charters developing a comprehensive program to provide financial incentives, a data system that delivers real-time data, a peer-review program and professional development to improve accountability procedures and student performance. The NYC Charter School Center nycchartercenter.org consistently selects Renaissance for Best Practice awards to share its methods with other charter schools. Renaissance has become a leader and mentor by virtue of its experience and its outstanding results.

Recognition

  • Renaissance was issued a 2009-2010 citation from Assemblyman Jose Peralta honoring our students’ increased geographic literacy and global awareness through our Matrix Geography program. Stacey Gauthier, Co-Principal, was issued an award in 2008-09 for her outstanding contributions to Geographic Education from Hunter College Department of Geography.
  • Renaissance was awarded the 2008 Partnership Award by the United Federation of Teachers Officers and Executive Board to honor a successful partnership forged between administrators and educators
  • Renaissance won the 2008 Imagination Award in the middle and high-school category from the Lincoln Center Institute to honor imaginative thinking in the teaching & learning practice of New York City public schools. ImaginationAward2008
  • Renaissance received one of only three 2009 competitive grants from the National Geographic Foundation to lead a consortium of educational institutions across the country, across charter and regular public schools, to create and implement a model program for K-12 geography education. matrixgeography.org
  • Renaissance is the lead school in a consortium of NYC charter schools to receive a 2008-2010 federal Charter School Dissemination Grant to establish a model program for generating and implementing peer-reviewed learning experiences. 2DILE
  • Served as a model for small local schools and its administrators have mentored dozens of school operators.
  • Renaissance co-sponsored a consortium between The College of Saint Rose and the Center for Integrated Teacher Education that provided principal certification for educators who specifically hope to lead small and charter schools, 2005-2006.
  • Received a Special Citation from the 2005 Blackboard Awards for Excellence in Education.
  • Recipient of a full five-year charter renewal in 2005
  • United Nations Under-Secretary Anwarul K. Chowdhury commended Renaissance students and staff for their month-long facilitation of the “Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World” exhibition at the United Nations, March of 2004.
  • Chosen as the site for Mayor Bloomberg’s press conference on the NYC Charter School Initiative, October 30, 2003, when he labeled it an exemplary “charter school that works.”
  • Awarded a NYC DOE Best Practice Award for Finance, Special Education: Disciplinary, Due Process and English Language Learners program (2003 Oversight Findings.)
  • One of New York’s first five charter schools, 2000, and still its only K-12 charter school
  • One of the first winners of the Annenberg Challenge Grant for Arts in Education, 1998-2001.