2025 ANNUAL REPORT
2025
ANNUAL REPORT
PICTURING OUR FUTURE
Welcome from the CEO
What does it mean to lead as an intentionally diverse community in today’s world? This year we undertook a months-long project to answer this question and chart the next five years of Prospect Schools. Through focus groups, large gatherings, surveys, and dozens of meetings, we asked our students, team, and families to share what matters most to them as members of our special community. What emerged became our Portrait of a Graduate, which is a framework and visual anchor that we will use to define a shared vision of what’s possible for students and make that vision coherent across grades, K-12.
Every Prospect Graduate will leave our walls Curious, Empowered, Academically Confident, Globally Minded, Community Stewards, and Life Ready. These characteristics will shape every decision we make as an intentionally diverse school community that aims to give all of our kids the skills to build lives of choice and opportunity. It's a tool that we are using to make school coherent across grades. Now more than ever it’s crucial that we help our graduates leave high school with an incredible academic foundation and the confidence to tackle the challenges of the world with empathy and adaptability. This is a north star we can all rally behind.
Wheeler Building
New High school Campus
Opening Fall 2026
The 2024-2025 school year was filled with many other bright spots:
- Our students continued to excel on state ELA and Math exams, outperforming, again, their city and district peers by 23 and 18 percentage points, respectively.
- We solidified plans to move Brooklyn Prospect High School to a new state-of-the-art facility in Downtown Brooklyn.
- 80% of 2025 graduates were eligible for the full International Baccalaureate Diploma, the highest percentage to date, and 30% of all seniors will be the first in their family to attend college.
- Two-thirds of graduating seniors – 71 – received full scholarships to attend college. These achievements are tangible evidence of how our vibrant community enables all students to thrive.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supports Prospect Schools and enables us to have tremendous impact across Brooklyn. As you explore our Portrait of a Graduate, and this Annual Report, you’ll discover the promise of what we can achieve together and the bright future we’re building, and I hope you will deepen your support of our community.
Tresha Ward
CEO, Prospect Schools
Tresha Ward
CEO, Prospect Schools
We’ve established our north star, Portrait of a Prospect Graduate, to anchor our program decisions. The Portrait of a Graduate is a shared vision of the skills, knowledge, and mindsets we want every Prospect student to develop by graduation.
CURIOUS
Prospect Graduates will foster a spirit of inquiry to grow into well-rounded, multifaceted individuals.
EMPOWERED
Prospect Graduates will recognize and use their strengths and feel empowered to persist through life’s challenges.
ACADEMICALLY CONFIDENT
Prospect Graduates will think critically, build a strong foundation for college-level work, and navigate academic systems with confidence to reach their goals.
GLOBALLY MINDED
Prospect Graduates will show empathy and respect for diverse perspectives and develop the fluency to engage thoughtfully as globally minded citizens.
COMMUNITY STEWARDS
Prospect Graduates will stay informed on key issues, engage in civic life, and act with an awareness of how their actions impact both local and global communities.
LIFE READY
Prospect Graduates will develop versatile, life-ready skills across financial, digital, and career domains.
WE ARE
CURIOUS &
EMPOWERED
OUR COMMUNITY
OUR STUDENT BODY
OUR STUDENT BODY
At Prospect Schools our full staff and faculty reflect the racial/ethnic diversity of our student body.
Staff retained last year
Identify as BIPOC
(Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
Are working at a Prospect school
Have worked at a Prospect school for 5+ years
Have children enrolled at a Prospect school
Prospect Schools shows steady faculty & staff retention increases alongside narrowing race and role gaps.
* For optimal viewing, use landscape orientation.
* For optimal viewing, use landscape orientation.
ACADEMIC GAINS
2024-25 English Language Arts Comparative Proficiency
2024-25 Math
Comparative Proficiency
ACADEMIC SHOUTOUTS
On the 2025 state tests for English Language Arts & Math, Downtown Elementary School student proficiency was above 85+ on both assessments.
“Seeing my 5th-grade students grow in math, both academically and socially, is a true joy. I take pride in creating a classroom that builds confidence through joyful learning and cultural relevance."
Arkeeda Jones
Downtown Elementary School
5th GRADE MATH TEACHER
In the 2025 state test, 83% of International Elementary School students were proficient in English Language Arts and Math.
"We started by knowing our kids as deeply as we needed to know our academic content. When data showed we needed to make changes to support students, my teachers responded with action plans centered on the needs of each child."
Amy Althoff
International Elementary School Director of Upper School
On the 2025 state test over 80% of Downtown Middle School 8th graders were proficient in English Language Arts, and Black and Latinx students in that cohort grew by 13%!
2024-25 English Language Arts Comparative Proficiency
2024-25 Math
Comparative Proficiency
"The 8th-grade English Language Arts team consistently sets high expectations for students from the jump, getting them ready for the rigor of high school from day one. The teachers did such a great job building student confidence and independence, while also providing students with the support they needed to reach mastery."
Brad Jensen
Downtown Middle School Director of Literacy
On the 2025 state tests 80% of Sunset Yards 7th grade founding class scored proficient in English Language Arts.
And 89% of the 5th grade class were proficient in Math.
"From kindergarten through middle school, Sunset Yards Campus students showed growth, confidence, and joy in learning. These achievements reflected the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the ongoing support of our families. Together, we continued building a joyful, challenging, and inclusive learning community."
Anastasia Brown
Sunset Yards Campus Interim Co-Principal
* For optimal viewing, use landscape orientation.
80% of our students are proficient in English Language Arts and 78% of our students are proficient in Math, outperforming NYC middle schoolers and District 13 peers.
* For optimal viewing, use landscape orientation.
"Last year CHMS' overall proficiency in ELA went up by 5%. We attribute this work to strong data review and targeted intervention for those students who need it most. This isn't about boosting numbers: this is about getting closer to our goal of ensuring all students are academically ready and confident as they continue their educational journey past CHMS."
Matthew Ellis
Senior Principal and Founding Windsor Terrace Campus Principal
GRADUATE GAINS
applied to college,
and 100% were accepted
are going to a 4-year college.
8.5% are going to a 2-year college,
the remainder have alternative plans (workforce, trade school)
college acceptances per student
will be the first
in their families
to attend college
an increase from the prior year!
full-ride scholarships received
an 18% increase from last year!
HOW OUR GRADUATES COMPARE
*class of '22 is the most recent data for NYC DOE schools
IB For All
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program challenges students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make meaningful connections across disciplines.
We’re one of the only unscreened, public schools in New York City to offer this prestigious program to every student.
Increasing readiness for the IB Diploma program relies on the careful planning and groundwork laid by our educators.
took at least 1 IB exam
up 12% from the previous year
were eligible for the full IB diploma
the highest percentage to date!
passed at least 1 IB exam
up 11% from the previous year
Black/Latinx students attempted the IB program
A 9% increase from the previous year
IB IN ACTION
As a founding student, Matthew Grossane-Diez embodies the vision that propelled Prospect Schools into being developed. After graduating with the class of 2016 and getting his BA in English Writing and MA in Adolescent Education from the College of Staten Island, Matthew returned to Brooklyn Prospect High School to teach English Language Arts (ELA).
This opportunity to think critically about global issues that don't necessarily impact them on a day-to-day basis allows our students to engage in the thinking that is required of a bold global citizen.”
Matt Grosanne – Diez
BPHS '16 & ELA Teacher
He’s proud to help his 9th and 12th grade students advocate for themselves and comprehend the world around them. “Our students are growing up in a world that is rapidly changing,” says Matthew. “They’re receiving information from a vast range of different spaces. ... Having the bandwidth to participate in whatever discourse they choose starts in the ELA classroom.”
Matthew incorporates multiple forms of inquiry in all his classrooms:
"In IB Language and Literature, students have the opportunity to explore both literary (books, plays, and musical albums) and non-literary texts (visual albums, comedy sketches, and journalism). Throughout the two years that they participate in the IB program, these various texts allow students to put themselves in the shoes of a wide variety of people. They're asked to consider race, gender, sexuality, and even religion as they [examine] the ways each respective author attempts to convey what we call a social commentary."
As a founding student, Matthew embodies the vision that propelled Prospect Schools into being: he certainly seems to have developed a lifelong passion for learning.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
WE ARE
COMMUNITY STEWARDS
& LIFE-READY
Prospect 2030
This year, our entire community - staff, students, alumni, and families - came together to define what we want to be true in 5 years.
Our answer was not just a strategic plan, but a set of characteristics and qualities that we want every Prospect student to embody when they walk across that stage at graduation. Every decision we make will connect back to these attributes and ensure that all Prospect graduates are given ample opportunity and support to develop the “Portrait” characteristics.
Together, we identified 3 main priorities to help us achieve our vision with one clear focus: Elevating Every Experience, Empowering All to Thrive.
Strengthen Student Experience
-
Ensure excellence in every lesson and success for every student
-
Robustly support students so none fall through the cracks
-
Expand access to enriching experiences during and after school
Invest in our team
-
Build a culture of "Better today than yesterday"
-
Ensure transformational leadership across our schools
-
Recognize, reward, and retain excellent teachers
-
Cultivate cultural proficiency in all members of our team
enhance and expand our schools
-
Move Brooklyn Prospect High School to a new location to accommodate a growing student population
-
Open K-8 campus at Windsor Terrace and ensure its success
-
Invest in capital improvements to the Downtown and Windsor Terrace campuses
A CLOSER LOOK
In Fall 2026, Brooklyn Prospect High School will move to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Downtown Brooklyn.
The custom-built campus will feature dedicated science labs, three roof terraces, an NBA-sized gym, and professional-grade arts spaces like a black box theater and dance studio. Every aspect of the building was designed to expand what’s possible for students in academics, athletics, and the arts.
Located just two blocks from our Downtown Elementary and Middle Schools, the new building will deepen connections across the Prospect network. Surrounded by the vibrant Downtown Brooklyn community and accessible by nearly every major subway line, this new home will accommodate 1,200 students at full capacity in 2030.
New High school Campus
Opening Fall 2026
"We will give our students access to a facility that matches the quality of [our] academic program…. Our students (and all students) deserve the very best. I think our students will be proud to be a part of our school."
Kylie Taylor Barker
Brooklyn Prospect High School Principal
The Value of a
DIVERSE COMMUNITY
Leslie Gallagher has worked with Prospect Schools as a librarian since 2012 and is a proud parent of two Brooklyn Prospect High School graduates. Prior to getting our first library off the ground, she worked at Brooklyn Public Library and as a children’s books Marketing Director at Penguin Random House.
"Prospect Schools has always believed that diversity is an asset and not something to shy away from. This is one of the reasons I work here and [why] two of my children graduated from Brooklyn Prospect High School!"
Leslie Gallagher
High School Librarian & IB Extended Essay Coordinator
Leslie is proud that Prospect challenges all students to enroll in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) and challenges all educators to make sure they’re prepared for that effort. Implementing the “IB for All” program is no easy feat, she says: “This change, a few years old now, is putting our mission into action. [It] has sharpened our focus, forced us to add more skills to our toolboxes, and encouraged all students to stretch themselves.” As the IB Extended Essay Coordinator, Leslie guides students on their path to complete one of the hardest, and most fundamental, elements of the IBDP.
As a veteran Prospector, Leslie has seen many students come and go, but she continues to be inspired by our exceptional staff and leadership, many of whom stay for years. “I have friends who work in other schools and they are always envious of the stories I tell them about my colleagues and how responsive our leadership is,” she says. “We have something very special here, and that gets directly transferred to the students we work with every day.”
Leslie believes our mission is even more important today than it was 14 years ago when she joined. Because Prospect operates within the rich cultural diversity of Brooklyn, she finds it critical that we honor our charge to lead as an intentionally diverse community.
ALUMNI SUCCESS
Prospect Schools’ Alumni Success Program, started in School Year 2023-2024 with 35 participants, continues to build momentum with an expanded portfolio of partnerships and resources for our graduates.
In School Year 2024-2025, we launched our biannual Alumni Newsletter to highlight alumni stories and share scholarships, internship opportunities, and more. We are also excited to celebrate the 10-year reunion of Brooklyn Prospect High School’s first graduating class, the Class of ‘16, this spring!
We are looking forward to cementing traditions with our 3rd annual Alumni vs Staff volleyball game.
"I feel very optimistic and excited to see the opportunities that are ahead for me. My advisor has been really helpful and patient."
Maria Herrera
Class of 2024
AND BRAVENX PARTICPANT
Pictured above, at left
Here are three of our latest offerings for alumni:
KIPP Forward
130 Prospect alumni are enrolled in our KIPP Forward partnership. They are paired with an advisor who visits them on campus once or twice a year during their first 2 years of college and mentors them in the areas of academics, financial aid, socio-emotional health, and career readiness. Alumni who choose to pursue technical training for a trade (for example electrician, cosmetology, plumbing trades) receive Career and Technical Education (CTE) support.
BravenX
BravenX, a 14-week virtual fellowship, offers college students career mapping, resume writing, and mock interviews to help participants secure internships, land their first job, or prepare for grad school.
MESA Alumni Lab
Established in 2021, MESA Alumni Lab supports high school graduates with enrolling and persisting in high-quality job training programs so they can gain financial mobility.
Alexa
Rodriguez
Class of 2025, Freshman at Vanderbilt University
In June 2025, Brooklyn Prospect High School senior Alexa Rodriguez received a prestigious award that gave her a full scholarship to attend college. The Posse Foundation is covering her tuition for Vanderbilt University, where she is majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society. It’s a competitive nomination and selection process, and we’re so proud!
A driven student with a passion for medicine and a deep sense of community, Alexa is the latest in a growing line of Brooklyn Prospect students to receive this award. She plans to attend medical school to expand upon her interests in neuroscience and reconstructive and plastic surgery — and to ensure better representation of women of color in medicine. While at Prospect Schools, Alexa took full advantage of various leadership opportunities, completing hands-on medical internships and volunteering as a mentor for younger college-bound students. Alexa’s decision to attend Vanderbilt was influenced by the school's vibrant campus life, academic rigor, and the tight-knit Posse community. Prospect Schools’ own CEO Tresha Ward is a Posse alumna and was part of Vanderbilt’s 11th Posse cohort.
NICHOLAS
REVELO
Class of 2025, Freshman at Cornell University
For Nicholas Revelo, a Brooklyn native and Brooklyn Prospect High School alum (Class of ‘25), the path to college has been about more than academics. It’s been about personal growth, gratitude, and honoring the sacrifices that shaped him.
Nicholas grew up in a Colombian immigrant household where his family’s deep belief in education as the key to opportunity was always apparent. “My parents have always prioritized my education and supported me in every way possible,” he says. “They made sacrifices so I could focus fully on school. That’s why I feel motivated to work hard … it’s my way of honoring what they’ve given me.”
“They encouraged me to challenge myself and supported me when things got tough. If I hadn’t gone to BPHS, I probably wouldn’t have developed the confidence to take on leadership roles and pursue big opportunities.”
Nicholas Revelo
Nicholas has always been interested in how money influences people’s lives. Now studying Finance at Cornell University, he credits BPHS with helping him build critical skills both inside and outside the classroom. “BPHS taught me leadership, time management, and how to collaborate with people from different backgrounds,” Nicholas says. “Those lessons became even more valuable once I got to college.” He specifically credits English teachers with strengthening his writing and critical thinking abilities and internships and extracurriculars for giving him real-world experience.
Prospect’s close-knit community of teachers and students had a positive impact on Nicholas’ belief in himself.
Leeya
Sanchez
Class of 2025, Freshman at Temple University
Growing up in a close-knit Brooklyn family, Leeya Sanchez (Class of ‘25) learned the importance of empathy and community early on. Those same values guided her through her years at Brooklyn Prospect High School, where she discovered her passion for understanding people and the systems that shape their lives.
Today, Leeya is a student at Temple University in Philadelphia, double majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice. “I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior,” she says. “My goal is to help people who are often misunderstood while deepening my understanding of the legal system.”
Leeya credits the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and the support of her teachers — such as Ms. McCalla, Ms. Martinez, and Ms. Le — for helping her grow both academically and personally.
“BPHS helped me grow beyond academics by teaching me to think critically, embrace diversity, and value community. I learned to listen to different perspectives, take responsibility for my growth, and approach challenges with empathy and confidence.”
Leeya Sanchez
GRACE
LINDSEY
Grace Lindsey has flourished professionally and personally over her 10-year career at Prospect Schools, which started at Windsor Terrace Middle School as a Science Resident fresh out of college.
Grace quickly established herself as a dedicated Prospector and soon joined the founding team at Clinton Hill Middle School in 2016 as a Humanities Teacher. She gradually moved from the classroom into operational and instructional leadership roles and, just this year, her journey has come full circle as she returns to those vital middle years as Principal of Downtown Middle School.
“When I interviewed…I was struck by the same things that are true for us now: kids are happy to be in school and excited about what they’re learning,” she says. “I walked out of that interview and called my best friend saying, ‘I’ll take any job they offer me.’”
At every step along her professional journey, Grace has felt supported and encouraged by mentors, colleagues, and network leaders to pursue new leadership opportunities:
"I’ve learned how to be a better, more patient, kinder person. [T]hat, in part, has happened through feedback, but also through the organization’s continual ability to see the best of me while still allowing me to reinvent myself."
Grace Lindsey
Downtown Middle School Principal
“My Principals were so supportive in helping me envision what could be next and providing opportunities to get there,” she says. Grace credits Prospect’s Principal-in-Residence program and the consistent, thoughtful feedback from her managers with giving her the preparation and confidence she needed to step into the Principal role this year.
“I've learned how to be a better, more patient, kinder person. [T]hat, in part, has happened through feedback, but also through the organization’s continual ability to see the best of me while still allowing me to reinvent myself.”
picturing
OUR FUTURE
A Note From Our
board of directors
Prospect Schools was founded with a clear purpose: to create diverse, inclusive learning communities where students develop a deep understanding of different perspectives and a lifelong passion for learning.
Our vision has always been to nurture creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking so that every graduate can reach for a bright future. It remains our honor to help advance our mission on behalf of Prospect Schools’ students, families, and educators.
The 2024-2025 school year was filled with significant achievements across our network. We announced the planned opening of a new, state-of-the-art Brooklyn Prospect High School facility in Downtown Brooklyn, as well as major building improvements to our 80 Willoughby Street campus. We also completed a months-long strategic visioning process that resulted in a dynamic 2030 Vision and Portrait of a Graduate, setting a clear and ambitious direction for the future.
Academically, our students and teachers continued to excel: 100 percent of our 2025 graduating seniors applied to and were accepted by colleges, and all Prospect Schools students again outperformed their city and district peers on state exams. Downtown Elementary was particularly outstanding, with 86% proficiency in ELA and 87% in math.
The members of our Boards are inspired daily by the dedication of Prospect’s educators and the brilliance of its students. Together, we remain committed to supporting this important work through 2030, and beyond.
Thank you for your continued support.
PENNY
MARZULLI
CHAIR, PROSPECT SCHOOLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
GRAVELLE
PIERRE
CHAIR, BROOKLYN PROSPECT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Voices from the
PROSPECT BOARD
"Prospect Schools embodies what education should be: equitable, inclusive, and excellent. Our intentionally diverse community and the IB-for-All program reflect a commitment to preparing all students to thrive in an interconnected world."
Theresa Sanchez
Board Member
“I'm proud to serve on the Board of Brooklyn Prospect l because I deeply believe in the mission of Prospect Schools and I see the schools inspire curiosity, model community engagement, and provide joy each day!”
Jessica Ochoa Hendrix
Board Member
2025 financial reports
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School (Schools Only)
Prospect Schools
(Network Only)
Fiscal Year 2025 Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Income & Expenses (Schools Only)
Fiscal Year 2025 Prospect Schools Income & Expenses
(Network Only)
*Expenses shown exclude non-cash items such as depreciation and ASC 842 lease amortization to reflect cash-based operating performance.
** Prospect Schools and Brooklyn Prospect Charter School are independent 501(c)3 nonprofits, linked through a formal institutional partnership
acknowledgements
Prospect Schools is deeply grateful for the partnership and generosity of the Charter School Growth Fund, the Walton Family Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Their support has helped the network grow to serve more students each year while continuing to strengthen a program grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through their commitment, Prospect is able to expand opportunities, elevate every student’s experience, and empower the next generation to thrive.
