Phoenix Charter Academy Network

The Phoenix Charter Academy Network manages a growing portfolio of free, open-enrollment, college preparatory public high schools in Massachusetts. The Network’s mission is to challenge disconnected students with rigorous academics and relentless support so that they can recast themselves as resilient, self-sufficient adults in order to succeed in high school, college, and beyond. The Phoenix Charter Academy Network of schools intentionally targets such vulnerable, disengaged students and holds them to challenging academic and behavioral standards, while providing the supports to help them get there. Phoenix operates three schools: two Commonwealth charter schools in Chelsea (opened in 2006) and Springfield (opened in September 2014) and an in-district school in Lawrence (opened in 2012). Among the school features are a longer school day and year, strict attendance and conduct standards, small classes, targeted academic remediation, a student support center, and an on-site Little Scholars Center, for parenting students. Unlike most "alternative" schools that place primary focus on student support often at the expense of rigorous academics, Phoenix schools aim to get all students to reach proficiency on the MCAS, graduate from high school, and enroll and be successful in college. The Phoenix model breaks the mold, and our results reflect this. Phoenix Chelsea students have historically outperformed most sending public school districts on the MCAS assessments and of our 203 graduates (167 Chelsea, 26 Lawrence, 11 Springfield), 100% have been accepted to college. Of those eligible for financial aid, 79% have enrolled in college, an impressive achievement compared to 66% of students nationally and 49% of low-income students.