OUR APPROACH
LEAD Charter School is New Jersey's first public charter high school designed specifically for opportunity youth: young people ages 16 to 21 who have attempted high school but have not yet earned a diploma.
Located in Newark, LEAD is driven by a singular mission to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in post-secondary education, meaningful careers, and community leadership.
Our model is built around the reality that students who have disengaged from traditional schooling need something fundamentally different. Not remediation, but reinvention. Rigorous, competency-based instruction is aligned with real-world demands, while applied learning partnerships with local organizations and corporations connect academics to opportunity.
Skilled educators and dedicated advocate counselors ensure that no student navigates their path alone.
As a program of the Newark Opportunity Youth Network, LEAD connects students to a broad ecosystem of resources and draws on twelve years of experience in improving educational outcomes for off-track youth through our partner organization, YouthBuild Newark.
LEAD Charter School looks, feels, and operates radically differently from a traditional high school. For the young people we serve, that difference is everything.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
LEAD students are constantly afforded opportunities to develop their potential as leaders and positive role models so they can proactively pursue justice, equality and peace for all.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Young people are dedicated to rebuilding and improving the quality of life in their community through collective work, responsibility and cooperative economics.
NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEAD's school culture promotes a safe and nurturing learning environment where students are surrounded by supportive professionals who will catch them if they fall.
EMOTIONAL INTELLEGENCE
Our “whole student” approach sees social-emotional learning as equally important as rigorous academics and workforce training. This skill enables students to effectively navigate and manage their emotions, as well as understand the emotions of those around them.
ATTENTIVE TEACHERS AND STAFF
Our talent is our special sauce, and we are committed to developing a team of dedicated learners, strong managers, and inspirational leaders who embody our core values of appreciation, love, dignity, respect and faith.
SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATHS
Career readiness means more than a diploma. Students build hands-on skills in high-demand career pathways like healthcare, clean energy, and emerging technologies, giving students a sustainable foundation for life after graduation.
