Facts About New Leadership

New Leadership Charter School is a public charter school in the city of Springfield, MA. It has been open for over 10 years. It serves between 450 and 500 students in the 6th through 12th grades, and there is no tuition.

NLCS students’ MCAS scores are among the highest of schools in Springfield. Over the last three years, MCAS scores at NLCS have improved more than ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

NLCS offers a challenging curriculum, including AP courses in social studies, English and mathematics, as well as leadership training and a wide variety of elective courses.

NLCS graduates attend some of the finest colleges in America, including Penn State University, the University of Vermont, Boston University and the University of Memphis.

The vast majority of NLCS staff are considered “highly qualified,” and they have very diverse backgrounds. NLCS teachers hail from many different countries. There are many languages spoken by the staff, and many bring interesting career backgrounds to the students. There are several doctorates among the staff.

NLCS offers a very low student-teacher ratio, and class sizes average significantly below city and state averages.
NLCS students are asserting themselves not only in areas of academic but in athletic competitions and community service opportunities on a continuous basis.  We are witnessing significant gains in student leadership and character development as collateral experiences in and out of the classroom yield extraordinary results for NLCS students.
  These achievements include:
In 2009 a NLCS student became the most prolific scorer in basketball in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New England

1st Charter school to make division play and make it to division III finals in basketball
Leading girls track & field team – one of the highest performing teams in WMass with many first place finishes in Western Mass and State competitions

Several All Western Mass and All Conference selections for girls and boys basketball and track & field
1st  place debate team in the Massachusetts  debate competition (New School Category)
NLCS student won 1ST place in the WE Dubois oratorical competition (sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha)
Essay competition winners

The majority the class of 2009 have received scholarships for colleges to date
Community service projects:
In the high school leadership class, all students are required to identify an area of personal weakness and a community need, then, create a service learning project that addressed both issues.
Student projects included:
Two students addressed their own organizational issues by writing and implementing a curriculum designed to help 6th graders get organized and learn note-taking skills.

Three students initiated separate projects designed to address listening skills by interviewing underserved populations (IE injured veterans, senior citizens), then writing up personal histories and creating displays.

A group of four students with a history of disciplinary issues conducted a study designed to determine what makes Middle School students act out. They observed classes and interviewed students immediately following incidents involving violations of the disciplinary code.