Ascend Schools

For the first time in Ascend’s history, thanks to board member Jackie Wilson, II, we hosted our high school graduation at the iconic Barclays Center — a historic Brooklyn landmark and place of possibility. And at that landmark, we celebrated another first: 💫 100% of our seniors graduated on time. 💫 100% were accepted into college. This isn’t just a number — it’s a milestone. A testament to the hard work, belief, and perseverance of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the partnership of our families and community. It reflects what we believe every student deserves: true choice — not just at graduation, but for a lifetime. Our seniors gained acceptance - which is fundamental for choice - to an incredible range of colleges, from local CUNY and SUNY campuses to some of the most selective institutions in the nation, including: • University of Pennsylvania • Wesleyan University • Villanova University • Colgate University • Vassar College • Connecticut College • Binghamton University • Rutgers University–New Brunswick • Temple University • University of Connecticut • The Pennsylvania State University • Worcester Polytechnic Institute • Illinois Institute of Technology • Clarkson University Among them is our remarkable valedictorian — accepted into six colleges, awarded three full scholarships, and heading to Vassar College this fall, completely debt-free. Her achievement isn’t the exception at Ascend. It’s the standard we’re building toward — proof of what’s possible when students are equipped not just with skills and knowledge, but with the confidence to know their potential has no ceiling. None of this would be possible without the tireless work of our BAHS school and network team. A special thank you to Mason C. Jones, our Director of Postsecondary Pathways, for transforming our approach and leading the team to incredible outcomes in his first year, and to the entire BGS team (Barbara Gao Shapiro) for their extraordinary partnership this year. They’ve leaned into every aspect of this journey, teaching us best practices and working alongside us to reimagine what a pathways team can be. This year has set the standard for us to build upon for our students. This is just the beginning. What a foundation to build from.

Teaching is an art. But building exceptional schools? That takes science, too. That’s why we love data at Ascend - especially when that data lets us drive transformational change. At this year’s Charter School Growth Fund CEO Convening, I was inspired by Michael Franco’s keynote on trajectory-changing schools—the rare 5% of schools helping students make more than 1.3 years of progress per year and sustaining it over a decade. That kind of acceleration doesn’t just close gaps—it opens doors to radically different futures for students. And it turns out, Ascend is on that path. According to TNTP’s Opportunity Report from a specific study of our schools, Ascend has the elements of trajectory-changing schools - excelling in key areas - and it shows what’s possible when alignment, clarity, and high expectations come together: 📈 95% of Ascend teachers now regularly use our adopted curriculum—double our 2022 rate and far above the 67% average at trajectory-changing schools. 📈 93% of literacy lessons and 83% of math lessons are now on grade level—ensuring all students access content that challenges and grows them. 📈  Students at Ascend spend +20% more time than even the benchmark for trajectory-changing schools experiencing strong instruction, and nearly doubling our own rates from 2022. This didn’t happen by accident. In 2023, we launched Literacy is Freedom, a network-wide priority anchored in a K–12 curriculum designed to marry rigor with engagement. That clarity drove better teaching, deeper investment, and ultimately, better schooling for our kids. There is not enough credit I can give Danique Day for the vision and the leadership in making this happen. We’re proud of how far we’ve come—and energized by what’s ahead. Much thanks goes to the entire Teaching and Learning team at Ascend over the past several years, not just for how far we have come, but where we are going to go. Michael Burgevin Katherine Bennett Sophia Balis-Harris Steven Madan Hope Luebbert Robert Sellers, M.S.Ed. Steven Poirier Katelynn Lucyk Haley Lee Erin Kleinertz Robert Saporito Billie Quigley Korena Johnson and many others! Jackie Taslim William Loskoch

An Open Letter: A Future of Choice, Opportunity, and Agency This week, I had the privilege of spending time with some of our youngest students at Ascend’s Flatbush Lower School campus—and they reminded me, yet again, why this work matters. In one classroom, kindergartners explored what it means to unite—and how working together can create real change. Down the hall, a first grader explained the meaning of being an upstander. And later, a group of third graders shared their dreams of opening cat cafés and seafood restaurants. Their ideas were bold, specific, and full of possibility. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of a spontaneous Q&A session where they hit me with the tough questions: “What does the CEO actually do?” (I help make sure we all work together—and tell the world why what we do matters.) “What was your path to becoming one?” (I started in finance, found my way to education, and grew into leadership—first as COO, then President, and now CEO.) “Have you always wanted to be a CEO?” That last one made me pause. The honest answer is: No. I didn’t even know what a CEO was when I was their age. And even once I did, I wasn’t sure it was a role someone like me could have. But somewhere along the way, I realized I could. And if I could—any one of them could, too. That moment stayed with me. Because it’s not just about career exposure—it’s about expanding what feels possible. At Ascend, we’ve always been grounded in strong academics. Academic mastery and rigorous, joyful learning are our bedrock. But the world our students are growing up in demands more. We are asking ourselves a bigger question: What would be true of our students if we fully prepared them for a life of choice, opportunity, and agency? A few answers we’ve begun to name: They would leave with the confidence to shine in any interview or opportunity. They’d have the networks and social capital to open doors—and create new ones. They’d know how to build and grow generational wealth. They’d understand systems—and have the courage and tools to advocate for change. As I step into the role of CEO, this is the future I’m focused on building—with our team, with our families, and with the broader community of champions who believe in what’s possible for young people. If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you: What experiences shaped your life? What do you wish every child had access to? What would it look like to design schools that make those possibilities real? Thank you for believing in our mission, and in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. I can't wait to continue to share our story with you.

We’re beyond excited to share that our Brooklyn Ascend High School class of 2025 is on track for a 100% graduation rate, a powerful milestone for our students, families, and educators. Behind this achievement are the stories of individual students who have overcome obstacles, stayed committed, and are now preparing to launch into college, career, and beyond. This is more than just a graduation; it’s a celebration of persistence, purpose, and potential. Stay tuned, we’ll soon reveal the special venue where this year’s graduation will take place! #AscendClassOf2025 #GraduationMilestone #StudentSuccess #BoundlessOpportunities #AscendCharterSchools