Stanford New Schools
What is the bigger picture?
Our goal is to provide our students with a high quality education that prepares them for futures as college students, community members, and global citizens. In addition, our school functions as a site for Stanford faculty to develop and research innovative educational practices, and share the results with educators throughout the country. The school is connected to the Stanford Teacher Education Programs, which helps improve both settings. The school thus has a broad mission to improve education and contribute to school reform throughout the country.
What is special about these schools?
The combination of highly qualified teachers and the expertise of the Stanford University faculty and students allows our schools to design, implement, and assess state-of-the art instruction. Such design features as team teaching, looping, advisory, block scheduling, and an early college opportunities provide individualized and supportive educational programs that ensure success for all students. The SNS schools also offers extended instruction hours, including after-school and Saturday programs, providing students who are at risk of failure more time to attain our high standards of achievement.
What are the results so far?
Since our high school opened in 2005, we have dramatically reduced the high school drop out rate. Of entering freshman who do not move away or transfer to another school, 85% graduate on time. Moreover, 90% of our graduating seniors go on to either 2- or 4-year colleges. These are truly remarkable results given that over 80% of our students are non-native English speakers, most of whom are still learning English when they enter the school, and most of them deal on a daily basis with the challenges of living in poverty.
What is the financial snapshot?
Each year we need to raise supplemental private funding to continue our innovative programs to meet the educational needs of our students. It is the generosity of private donors, combined with Stanford's generous giving of time and services from senior faculty members, that make it possible for SNS to deliver the high quality educational environment to our students.
What about facilities?
Because our community is served by two school districts, responsibility for ensuring adequate facilities for our charter school is shared with both Ravenswood City School District and Sequoia Union High School District. Ravenswood provides facilities for our 5th grade program, while Sequoia provides facilities for our high school.
How can I help?
We're glad you asked. There are several ways that you can help. See our Giving page for more information.
