introduction
Prospect Schools was founded in 2008 on the belief that families shouldn't have to choose between strong academics and a diverse community. When opened, it was the first intentionally diverse charter school in New York City, modeling its curriculum on the renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) Program.
Seventeen years later Prospect Schools is a network of seven K-12 public charter schools with three elementary, three middle, and one high school, serving more than 2,800 students across Brooklyn. We educate a diverse student body, from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, in a rigorous, yet supportive learning environment.
Over the past three years, Prospect Schools’ 3-8 grade students have outperformed their peers on State English Language and Math exams. And each year, 100% of our graduates are accepted to college. Building on this momentum, in the Fall of 2026, we will open a new elementary and middle school as well as expand our high school. Prospect Schools plans to serve over 4,400 students by 2030.
prospect schools 2030 strategic plan
Public education today faces a profound challenge: too many students experience schools that are segregated by race and income, and too few graduate fully prepared to navigate a complex, diverse, and rapidly changing world. At the same time, educators are asked to meet increasingly complex student needs while sustaining joyful and rigorous learning environments.
Our vision is that by 2030, Prospect Schools will become the leading network of intentionally diverse schools where ALL students and educators can learn, work, and thrive.
As we look toward 2030, we have the opportunity to achieve this vision by strengthening our diverse community, investing in exceptional educators, and ensuring every Prospect graduate is prepared not only for college, but for a life of leadership, purpose, and impact.
To bring this shared vision for our students to life, we created the Prospect Schools 2030 Strategic Plan, guided by the Portrait of a Prospect Graduate as our north star.
During the 2024-2025 school year, our entire community — staff, students, alumni, and families — came together to define what we want to be true about our network in 5 years. We aligned on what needs to happen in order to advance our impact and vision of equity.
Our first step after these conversations was to create Prospect Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate. This Portrait defines the skills, knowledge, and mindsets we want every Prospect student to develop by graduation.
Graduates will foster a spirit of inquiry to grow into well-rounded, multifaceted individuals.
Prospect Graduates will recognize and use their strengths and feel empowered to persist through life’s challenges.
Graduates will think critically, build a strong foundation for college-level work, and navigate academic systems with confidence to reach their goals.
Prospect Graduates will show empathy and respect for diverse perspectives and develop the fluency to engage thoughtfully as globally minded citizens.
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.
Prospect Graduates will develop versatile, life-ready skills across financial, digital, and career domains.
Our Prospect 2030 Journey
Watch the video below to learn more about how the Prospect community came together to shape the Portrait of a Graduate and the development of the Prospect 2030 strategic plan.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
To achieve our vision, we identified four strategic priorities we will pursue to strengthen Prospect Schools in every dimension - academically, operationally and organizationally.
Strengthen Student Experience
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Ensure excellence in every lesson and success for every student
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Robustly support students so none fall through the cracks
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Expand access to enriching experiences during and after school
Invest in our team
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Ensure transformational leadership across our schools
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Recognize, reward, and retain excellent teachers
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Cultivate cultural proficiency in all members of our team
enhance and expand our schools
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Build a state of the art facility and evolve the high school program
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Modernize existing Downtown & Windsor Terrace facilities
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Open a new K-8 campus in Windsor Terrace
Sustain our organization
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Build a culture of "better today than yesterday"
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Build & fortify the systems necessary to institutionalize our practices
the future we're building
The Portrait of a Graduate will guide every major decision in Prospect Schools 2030 Strategic Plan, ensuring that growth and improvement remain anchored in the skills and mindsets we want every student to develop.
As our Strategic Plan comes to life, this is what will be true across our network:
a strengthened student experience
- 90% of students will be proficient in ELA and Math, with an additional 140 Black and Latinx students reaching proficiency each year.
- Our high school will graduate more than 100 International Baccalaureate Diploma Program students annually and increase placements at highly selective universities.
- Student and sibling retention will continue to rise, reflecting families’ confidence in Prospect’s K–12 experience.
- After-school programming will expand and diversify, ensuring enrichment opportunities meet the needs of all learners — including students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
a supported, high-performing team
- We will maintain 80%+ annual staff retention, strengthening stability across classrooms and campuses.
- Leadership pipelines will continue to grow, and high-performing educators will be recognized, supported, and retained.
An Enhanced and Expanded Network of Schools
- The Windsor Terrace K–8 campus will be fully operational, and the new high school facility will include dedicated science labs, arts spaces, rooftop terraces, and a regulation-size gym.
- With the opening of the new high school building, Brooklyn Prospect High School will expand from 800 to 1,200 students.
- More than 4,440 Prospect students will learn in modern, thoughtfully designed campuses.
a sustainable and scalable organization
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By 2030, our network will serve more students in thoughtfully designed spaces, with measurable gains in achievement and equity.
prospect schools today
The foundation of our plan rests on the success of our students, highly skilled faculty, and school leaders. As a network of seven schools, we serve a student population that represents the diversity of Brooklyn. Our schools are built on the belief that academic excellence, inclusive environments, and outstanding teaching together prepare students to thrive in college, careers, and beyond.
At Prospect Schools, we celebrate our academic growth and achievements.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
In grades 3-8, Prospect Schools students outperformed their peers in New York City public schools, performing 23 percentage points higher in English Language Arts (56%->79%) and 18 percentage points higher in Math (59%->77%). Over the past three years, results have remained remarkably consistent showcasing Prospect Schools' steady excellence year after year.
2024-2025 English Language Arts Comparative Proficiency
2024-2025 Math
Comparative Proficiency
OUR NETWORK
our leadership
Tresha
Ward
Chief Executive Officer
Kecia
Clark
Chief Academic & Schools Officer
Hillary
Prince
Chief Financial & Growth Officer
Elise
Gilbert
Chief People & Equity Officer
Dumar
Paden
Incoming Chief Operating Officer
Yoni Samuel-
Siegel
Outgoing Chief Operating Officer
Paul
Astuto
Chief Strategy Officer
Chris
deLaubenfels
General Counsel