At BES, we believe an excellent school uses rigorous, culturally relevant curriculum, and leverages assessment data to inform instruction, leading students to master critical habits, skills, and content. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing is one way schools are able to track where students are academically and assess the best strategies moving forward to ensure growth and success. MAP is a trusted assessment for measuring growth in K-12 areas including reading and math, and it is implemented in more than 35,900 schools around the world through the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a division of learning technology company HMH. MAP is nationally normed and tracks student progress throughout the current school year as well as across years.
Today, we take a moment to celebrate the highest performing of the 75 Fellow-founded schools who took the MAP reading assessment in the 2023-24 school year. These schools–spanning geographies, grades, and tenure–continue to prove what is possible for our children across the country.
Top 5 Achievement in Reading
% of students who scored in the 50th percentile or higher on the Spring 2024 assessment.
- Resurgence Hall Charter School- 75%
- Springfield Preparatory Charter School – 70%
- Houston Classical Charter School – 59%
- Alpha: Cornerstone Academy Preparatory – 58%
- Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School – 55%
Top 5 Growth in Reading
% of students who met or exceeded their MAP Growth goals from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024.
- Libertas College Preparatory Charter School – 69%
- Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School – 68%
- Persistence Preparatory Academy – 67%
- Valence College Preparatory Charter School – 66%
- Springfield Preparatory Charter School – 59%
View more information about these schools below (listed alphabetically). Learn more about their mission, models, key factors that have contributed to their MAP success, and what’s next for them in the 2024-25 school year and beyond.
Alpha: Cornerstone Academy Preparatory (San Jose, CA) – Opened 2010
Founded by 2008 BES Fellow Shara Hegde. Currently led by Principal Fallon Housman.
MAP assessment grades: K-8
Alpha: Cornerstone Academy Preparatory (Alpha: Cornerstone) is one of four public charter schools in the Alpha Public Schools network that is preparing students in TK-12th grade for success in college and career. Recognized for providing high-quality education to students in East San Jose, Alpha: Cornerstone has received prestigious accolades including being named a California Distinguished School in 2014 and 2018, and was recognized as a School to Watch by the California League of Educators in 2023.
“Our school’s MAP success is driven by targeted instructional coaching for all staff, a team of academic interventionists providing focused support to specific scholars, and a culture of data-driven action planning. We regularly highlight bright spots and areas of focus through data stories, ensuring continuous improvement. Additionally, ongoing curriculum support equips teachers with the necessary resources for effective instruction,” said Fallon Housman.
In the 2024-25 school year, Alpha: Cornerstone will be leveraging support staff to provide intentional interventions for scholars, and it plans to partner with the Ignite Reading program to offer foundational literacy support to students in grades 3-8. Additionally, the school is focused on providing targeted support for subgroups including English language learners and students with disabilities, while maintaining a strong push for rigor across all grade levels and content.
We are honored to have Shara Hedge on our advisory board and appreciate her delivering training to BES Fellows. Leaders at Alpha: Cornerstone have also previously participated in the LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).
Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School (Queens, NY) – Opened 2017
Founded and currently led by 2015 BES Fellow Graham Browne.
MAP assessment grades: 5-8
Forte Preparatory Academy Charter School (Forte Prep) is a middle school open to students in grades 5 through 8 in Queens, New York. Driven by a philosophy of achieving excellence in all facets of life and learning, the school believes in the power of education to transform the lives of students from diverse, often disadvantaged, backgrounds. Through rigorous academics, creative & technological enrichment and leadership development, Forte Prep equips students to excel in college preparatory high schools and use their leadership and voice to change the world.
“Strong growth builds on strong academic habits and buy-in to our school community. We spend a lot of time getting students to buy into our joyful and academically challenging school culture, and I suspect that pays off in academic growth–although there are always opportunities to improve,” said Graham Browne.
Forte Prep is currently in the process of building its new high school building, which is tentatively scheduled to open in fall 2026.
Browne received Follow On Support from BES. Leaders at Forte Prep have also previously participated in the LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).
Houston Classical Charter School (Houston, TX) – Opened 2020
Founded and currently led by 2018 BES Fellow Deyvis Salazar.
MAP assessment grades: K-4
For generations, the classical education model has prepared children with the skills and character needed for life’s challenges. Houston Classical Charter School (HCCS) upholds this tradition in a modern setting by offering a values-driven academic foundation to every family in Southwest Houston. The school strives to provide Pre-K to 5th grade students with a rigorous, supportive education in a structured, positive, and collaborative environment. HCCS features a balanced literacy approach, comprehensive math instruction, and hands-on, tech-enhanced exploration that brings science to life for learners. Additionally, its core values are embedded into their language, curriculum, and daily routines to ensure scholars exhibit high levels of optimism, respect, excellence, and a connection to the community.
Deyvis Salazar believes HCCS’s key to success is their “focus on the basics and a relentless approach to academic success.” Looking ahead to the rest of the 2024-25 school year, the school is working on improving their data and ensuring their work can continue to improve and ultimately scale.
Salazar received Follow On Support from BES. HCCS leaders also previously participated in the 2023-24 LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).
Libertas College Preparatory Charter School (Los Angeles, CA) – Opened 2015
Founded by 2013 BES Fellow Anna Carlstone-Hurst. Currently led by Head of School Dan Maguire.
MAP assessment grades: 4-8
Libertas College Preparatory Charter School (Libertas College Prep) is a 4th-8th public charter school that deeply values each human in the community, believing in creating a culture where students want to come to school every day because of the strong and reliable web of relationships they build with peers and staff. The school’s leaders believe that serving their students means holding high academic expectations and doing everything they can to support them to meet those expectations. Above all, Libertas College Prep aims to create a liberatory school that empowers kids for their future.
The school’s success is a result of various factors centered around new systems, data practices, and staff support, says Dan Maguire. “We implemented an intervention system that meets kids’ academic needs for 40 minutes a day, four days a week led and planned by our strongest content experts and have refined it over the last two years. We also have strong data practices that use only reliable data sources to understand our students’ levels and then we’re able to deliver extra support through push-in specialists and small groups in the classroom. Lastly, we prioritize supporting and retaining our expert teachers through prioritizing sustainability for our staff.”
This school year, Libertas College Prep has set an instructional priority that will result in even more equitable growth for all students. It will support students with disabilities as well as English Language Learners by focusing on learning and implementing best practices in accommodations, special education support, and whole school systems like refining their Student Support and Progress Team (SSPT) process. “We believe this will result in even more equitable growth for ALL of our students.”
Anna Carlstone-Hurst received Follow On Support from BES. Leaders at Libertas College Prep have also previously participated in the LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).
Persistence Preparatory Academy (Buffalo, NY) – Opened 2018
Founded and currently led by 2016 BES Fellow Joelle Formato.
MAP assessment grades: K-6
Persistence Preparatory Academy (PPA) is a public charter school for K-7th grade scholars in Buffalo, NY that will be fully grown to a K-8th school next year. Through rigorous academics, high-quality instruction and leadership development, the school ensures that all students are firmly on the path to succeed at a four-year college and create positive change within their communities. In addition to college preparation and fostering a structured and supportive environment, PPA leverages data to provide students with targeted interventions, supports, and extensions to ensure continued academic success and growth.
When reflecting on the school’s achievements, Joelle Formato explained, “We have spent extensive time working to invest our scholars in their individual goals and meeting with them to track progress. We also have very strong staff retention which has led to a deep understanding of the standards and expectations of each grade level, with the quality of instruction continuing to rise each year.”
Looking ahead, PPA is continuing to build its new middle school, complete with major tracks such as fine arts, entrepreneurship, public policy, and STEAM. Through this exploration of fields, the school aims to help students expand their future goals and best set them up for strong high school placement.
Formato previously received Follow On Support from BES.
Resurgence Hall Charter School (Atlanta, GA) – Opened 2017
Founded and currently led by 2015 BES Fellow Tori Jackson Hines.
MAP assessment grades: K-4
Resurgence Hall Charter School (Resurgence Hall) began as a small, but mighty school delivering on the promise of an excellent K-8 education to families. Since then, it has grown to become a top-ranked Georgia charter school with accolades including becoming a 2023 Title I Distinguished School. Regardless of economic circumstances, zip code, race, or home language, Resurgence Hall strives to provide each and every student with a high-quality, college preparatory education that will prepare them for success in high school, college, and life.
As the first public school in Georgia to introduce computer science beginning in Kindergarten, it has continued to blaze a trail of innovation and excellence in its community. As the first public school in Georgia to introduce computer science beginning in Kindergarten, Resurgence Hall has continued to blaze a trail of innovation and excellence in its community as it is committed to answering a central question, “How can we create a high quality 21st century learning experience for all?” The school’s model also features components including 85 minutes of daily blended learning for literacy and math, allowing them to work on course content at their own pace and skill level while also receiving one-to-one individualized support.
Tori Jackson Hines previously received Follow On Support from BES.
Springfield Preparatory Charter School (Springfield, MA) – Opened 2015
Founded and currently led by 2012 BES Fellow Bill Spirer
MAP assessment grades: K-2
Springfield Preparatory Charter School (Springfield Prep) serves K-8th grade students and aims to be an exemplary public school that offers the highest quality of education and opportunity to a population of students that has been historically underserved. It combines a high-expectations instructional model with a highly supportive environment to help a diverse group of scholars achieve academic excellence and grow as leaders. Springfield Prep continues to use formative data in every moment with students and utilize all adults in the space to provide targeted, strategic support.
“Our students are defying the odds and are consistently the highest performing students in Springfield and are performing at high levels even when compared to students across Massachusetts in affluent school districts,” said Bill Spirer.
In the 2023-24 school year, Springfield Prep led schoolwide professional development to align all teachers, grades K-8, on foundational reading strategies and routines that can be used across the school. This year, it is building a professional development track to enhance teacher knowledge about reading comprehension and the balance of strategies and background knowledge. Additionally, it is introducing an initiative around fact fluency in grades K-4 to support student mastery of addition and multiplication facts, as well as giving students the opportunity to spotlight their progress in math tournaments through weekly Community Meetings.
Leaders at Springfield Prep have previously participated in the LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).
Valence College Preparatory Charter School (New York, NY) – Opened 2019
Founded by 2017 BES Fellow Mitchell Flax. Currently led by Executive Director & Principal Nicole Kone.
MAP assessment grades: 5-8
The Valence College Preparatory Charter School (Valence) community is a 5th-8th grade charter middle school that lives by its mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, professional habits, and strength of character to graduate from college and lead lives of opportunity. Through rigorous, college-preparatory academics, social-emotional learning, and robust, well-rounded extracurricular and sports programs, the school supports all scholars in growing as both part of a team and as individuals. Families are drawn to Valence’s focus on strong school-family partnerships, opportunities for experiential learning and field trips, and the resources provided for all scholars to be academically successful.
“We believe that much of our MAP success can be attributed to our school’s dedicated small-group intervention model, which both closes foundational gaps in reading and math, and provides enrichment opportunities, depending on scholars’ level of academic need,” said Nicole Kone. “We work to invest families and scholars in the importance of MAP data, and use scholar growth scores throughout the year to discuss scholar progress with families. Additionally, we set a high bar for what test administration and proctoring looks like, so that scholars have a consistent, focused testing environment in which they feel supported to do their best.”
This year, Valence’s school-wide focus is to support scholars with IEPs and English language learners through strong differentiation and intervention. It is also continuing to build out their extracurricular and sports programming, in addition to strengthening relationships with families and community through tailored programming, such as ESL classes for adults and neighborhood cleanup days.
Flax received Follow On Support from BES. Leaders at Valence have previously participated in the LENS program (fall 2024 cohort registration open until Oct. 1).