30 Years of Impact
For three decades, Uncommon Schools has worked to change the trajectory of children's lives through joyful and rigorous schools. What began with 72 scholars has grown into a community of 53 schools serving more than 20,500 students each year—with thousands of educators working to build a legacy of excellence.
United Under One Mission
Since 1997, Uncommon Schools has held onto the belief that every child, regardless of zip code, deserves an outstanding education and the opportunity to attend college and graduate.
It all started when Norman Atkins and Jamey Verrilli opened North Star Academy, a single floor of fifth-grade classrooms serving 72 students in Newark, New Jersey.
North Star was built on the conviction that a college-prep program with outstanding teachers and leaders could dramatically improve learning and life outcomes for students.
These values and principles formed the model for all the schools that followed.
From one floor in Newark to 53 schools
72
Students each year
30 Years of Impact
Behind every number is a student, a family, a teacher, and a budding future.
- 72 founding scholars
- 20,500+ students served annually today
- 7,035 high school graduates
- 4x college graduation rate compared to their peers
- 119,125 elementary and middle school state exams passed
- 47,110 AP exams taken
- 2,987 SPED students
- 1,389 MLL students
- 91% family satisfaction
- 162 alumni returning to work at Uncommon
- 2.6M books sold since 2010
- 30,000+ teachers and leaders reached in 65+ countries
- 72% of Uncommon staff identify as a person of color
- 11 years average principal tenure at Uncommon — 6 in the role
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What Makes Uncommon Exceptional
For 30 years, Uncommon students have shown what is possible when excellence and opportunity meet.
The broader national landscape remains deeply unequal, making our mission just as relevant today as it was when we first started Uncommon. Too many students still attend schools that are overcrowded, under-resourced, or unable to provide the academic preparation and support they need to thrive. What makes Uncommon Schools' model exceptional:
- Rigorous academics
- Strong teacher and leader development
- Targeted individualized student support
- College access and alumni success programming
- Enrichment opportunities that help students develop confidence, purpose, and voice
I love that my little girl is truly seen, heard, validated, and poured into. She sees people who look like her in positions of authority, and most of her classmates look like her. Daily, I leave her knowing that she is safe, supported, and cared for.
In Their Own Words
Academic Excellence
Together, these investments allow Uncommon to do more than operate high-performing schools. We are public schools—free, open to all students—and once they are in our classrooms, we meet the needs of all learners. Our incredible educators help us create the conditions for students to excel: in the classroom, through college, and in the lives they go on to lead.
96%
of Uncommon alumni have been accepted to or enrolled in college, including at the nation's most selective colleges as of fall 2025.
Comparing 4-Year College Graduation Rates
Across our regions, our schools outperform local districts, and in several cases, exceed state averages and the proficiency rates of non-economically disadvantaged students. In Newark, New York City, Rochester, Camden, and Boston, students are achieving at extraordinary levels because they are known, challenged, and supported every step of the way.
Our high school students continue to raise the bar. In the Class of 2025, 53% of Uncommon students passed at least one AP exam—ahead of national public schools and statewide public school averages in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.