Rocketship Education currently operates three K-5 charter schools in San Jose that serve overwhelmingly low-income, immigrant students. Through a rigorous college-preparatory focus, Rocketship seeks to transform public education by developing an instructional model that supplements traditional face-to-face instruction with instruction provided via computer-based programs and tutoring. As part of Rocketship’s school education model, students attend one block of Math/Science, one block of Learning Lab, and two blocks of Literacy/Social Studies during an extended school day (8am to 4pm). In Learning Lab, students focus on their individual learning needs by working on computers and with tutors, if remediation is necessary. The lab is staffed by paraprofessionals, which enables the organization to re-allocate nearly $500,000 a year toward teacher compensation, teacher and principal training and development, and enrichment programs for students. Rocketship students, almost all of whom qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, are among the highest performers among their peers in the state of California. The network wants to expand the Rocketship model to 50 U.S. cities and eliminate the achievement gap by 2020.
Learn More: Rocketship’s Website | Rocketship’s Facebook
About Rocketship Education – Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Successes
- Two of three schools operated by Rocketship rank among the 15 top-performing high-poverty schools in California.
- Rocketship Sì Se Puede Academy was the top school of all new elementary schools in California which opened in the fall of 2009, serving low-income students.
- Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary earned the same score as the Palo Alto School District, a neighboring community with a more affluent demographic.
(Source: Rocketship Education)
Studies
- Evaluation of Rocketship Education’s Use of DreamBox Learning Online Math Program, SRI International, August 2011
- Eliminating the Achievement Gap: A White Paper on How Charter Schools Can Help District Leaders, Center on Reinventing Public Education, June 2011
In the Press
- Research Findings: Rocketship Education Boosts Scores with Online Learning, Edutopia, August 2011
- Q&A with Rocketship Education’s John Danner: ‘There are things that the computer does best and things that teachers do best’, Hechinger Report, June 2011
- Schools Blend Computers With Classroom Learning, NPR, June 2011
Facts
Founded: 2006
Reach: Three free, K-5 public charter schools serving 1,350 students in San Jose. The charter network hopes to partner with as many as 11 school districts in Northern California to open 20 charter schools in the Silicon Valley area by 2017.
Student Demographics: About 90% qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and about 75% are English language learners.
What’s Different: Extended school day: 8am–4pm; students receive 1:1 computer time every day, and work with tutors, if needed, for additional support.
And More: The schools’ labs are staffed by paraprofessionals, which enables the organization to re-allocate nearly $500,000 a year toward teacher compensation, teacher and principal training and development, and enrichment programs for students.
(Source: Rocketship Education & The Foundation Center)
