Dear friends,
Welcome to Link Community Charter School! Whether you are a parent, a student, an alumnus, a teacher or someone in search of a great school, you will find a very special school community here—one built on a longstanding commitment to social justice, a firm foundation of core values and a deep belief in the capacity of our young people to excel. The faculty and staff provide a rich and vibrant program that nurtures the development of our students’ minds, bodies and spirits as they grow to become tomorrow’s leaders. We strongly believe that all children deserve a quality education and can achieve given the right educational environment and we aim to deliver that each and every day for our young scholars.
When you visit, and I hope you will, you will find a positive and safe school environment, confident happy children who are eager to learn; energetic and dedicated teachers who plan thoroughly for engaging instruction and go beyond the expected to support student growth; an academic program that values strong math and literacy skills, as well as creative expression and the arts; support systems that enable all learners to be successful; and a community committed to modeling and teaching core values as an essential component of educating the whole child.
And, as you learn about Link you will learn that not only is our program and community strong, but so are our results. With an aim to support student growth, the results matter because we believe our scholars can achieve tremendously. So, our students excel on the state mandated PARCC in language arts, outperforming the districts they live in, many charter schools and even the state averages in 7th and 8th grades. In math, where many students across the state and country underperform, Link has outlined a three year plan to improve student performance.
Scholars leave Link prepared not for comprehensive high schools in the city but for competitive magnet schools and private schools, including independent day and boarding schools, throughout the country, as well as strong Catholic schools in the region. Graduates have received well over $4 million each year in scholarships and financial to make their high school acceptances a reality. They then graduate high school and college at rates higher than their peers in Newark.
At Link, the work is hard but rewarding and it calls upon every member of our school community—students, parents, teachers, staff, trustees, community partners to give their very best. Together, we all support student growth and a bright future!
Peace,
Maria Pilar Paradiso, J.D.
Head of School
