Overview
NorthStar Education Partners collaborated with Achievement Prep to develop a comprehensive strategic plan addressing multiple areas, including academics, talent management, and community engagement. This multi-year partnership focused on designing and implementing strategies to navigate current challenges and set a robust foundation for the future.
Objectives
Achievement Prep partnered with NorthStar to:
- Current State Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment to identify organizational strengths, areas for improvement, and key questions for strategic planning.
- School-wide Benchmarks: Establish performance benchmarks and a graduate profile to guide the growth of 4th-8th grades.
- Data Practices: Build on existing data practices to enhance organizational decision-making.
- Teacher Value Proposition: Define a compelling value proposition to attract and retain excellent teachers.
- Parent Engagement: Strengthen parent engagement and advocacy efforts.
Partner
Achievement Prep
Location: Washington, DC
Enrollment & Schools
Nearly 300 scholars across two campuses
Mission Statement
Achievement Prep’s mission is to prepare students to excel as high-achieving scholars and leaders in high school, college, and beyond. With families as partners and teachers as a main ingredient, exceptional academic results are possible. Achievement Prep graduates are lifelong learners, passionate leaders, critical thinkers, and self-loving dreamers, ready to meet the challenges of high school, college, and beyond.
Key Activities & Deliverables
Forward Planning with Leadership
- Weekly Meetings: Facilitated planning meetings with Chief of Schools and Chief of Academics, aligning to the roadmap and district priorities.
- Cross-divisional Coordination: Supported cross-divisional planning and coordination, creating cabinet meeting materials and aligning initiatives.
Organizational Assessment
- Data Analysis: Analyzed existing survey data, internal policies, and job descriptions.
- Diagnostic Review: Conducted a school-wide diagnostic, including focus groups and surveys, to surface key strategic questions.
- Benchmarking: Compared current practices against best practices in the field.
School Identity Development
- Performance Metrics: Established school-wide performance metrics covering academics, culture, attendance, and enrollment.
- Graduate Profile: Developed a profile outlining the holistic outcomes for students, influencing curriculum and student experiences.
- Theory of Action: Created a theory of action identifying key pillars of the school design.
Strategic Planning
- School Design: Identified shifts needed in school models to achieve desired outcomes.
- Parent Engagement Plan: Developed a plan to authentically engage parents and provide timely information.
- Talent Practices: Designed comprehensive talent practices for teacher recruitment, development, and retention.
- Implementation Roadmap: Created a multi-year strategic plan with detailed implementation steps and clear ownership of initiatives.
Implementation Support
- Training: Trained the team on monitoring and implementing the strategic plan.
- Capacity Building: Provided guidance and support to prepare initiative owners for leadership roles.
Outcomes
The collaboration resulted in a multi-year, board-approved strategic plan encompassing academics, people, finance, and operations. This plan guides all initiatives at Achievement Prep and has led to improvements in academic outcomes, teacher development, retention, and campus operations.
Read more case studies and learn how NorthStar Education Partners is transforming education through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches.