Our History
New Heights Charter School of Brockton (NHCSB) made history when it opened its doors in 2016 as Massachusetts’ first Early College charter school. Its pioneering goal is to revolutionize urban education while ensuring all students are college-ready.
The school’s curriculum is intentionally rigorous and culturally rich, emphasizing literacy and numeracy. NHCSB’s academic model is designed to close the achievement gaps for all students by empowering them to earn college credits while in high school.
The school aims to have all of its students graduate with a minimum of 12 credits from college-level classes, and most students earned more than 60 college credits from Massasoit Community College (MCC) and Bridgewater State University.
The school’s Executive Director and Co-founder, Omari Walker, believes that urban students will achieve their goals of attending college if equipped with the proper tools and dedicated instructors. He says the school’s culture is “We All Go To College. Period.” He added, “All teachers should believe that every student is college-ready.” In 2021, over 50% of NHCSB’s first graduating class earned both their high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree simultaneously.
NHCSB remains committed to its mission of serving students in grades 6–12 from the Massachusetts Metro South Region. We continue to prepare and send all our students to college.
MISSION
Our mission is to prepare our students for college.
Period.
VISION
We envision a future where NHCSB is a national model of excellence for education innovation. We will achieve this vision by focusing on pedagogy, culture, and our early college model.
Our focus on leadership, social justice education, and a culturally responsive curriculum drive our pedagogy. Our curriculum elevates our scholars’ learning beyond the traditional k-12 model, including opportunities to complete increasing numbers of college courses. Our school culture reflects our diverse student body, drawing upon our scholars’ various perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in order to galvanize our community. The NHCSB team is united in our efforts to support our scholars’ learning, together, while also engaging in continuous growth as educators, innovators, and leaders in the field of education. NHCSB is committed to our stakeholders, envisioning a school that is academically comprehensive, socially and emotionally responsive, and above all, a gathering place for agents of change. Our Early College model expands opportunity for all of our scholars by preparing them for college – socially, emotionally, and motivationally. In the future, NHCSB graduates will be entering the workforce with college diplomas and professional goals, graduating from four-year degree programs, joining graduate programs, and accepting leadership positions in their communities.
What Makes Us Different?
We Go to College Culture
The overarching goal of cultivating a college-going culture at New Heights is for all students to be prepared for a full range of post-secondary options through structural, motivational, and experiential college preparatory opportunities.
Early College Design
As a wall-to-wall Early College school, NHCSB aims to provide all high school students with the opportunity to earn at least 12 college credits. To do so, we emphasize our established PACK (Presence, Academic, Conduct, Knowledge) skills and measures to identify students’ preparedness for college.
Professional and Community Development
NHCSB fosters professional and community development through data-informed professional development to support and engage all staff, scholars, and community members.
Families and Culture
At New Heights Charter School of Brockton, the wisdom of the group is greater than that of the individual. Open and honest communication is encouraged and celebrated, and individuals understand their value and importance and that they are one part of the greater whole. Different viewpoints, creativity, and innovation are encouraged, expected, and respected.
Demographic
NHCSB Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity (2023-24)
| Race/Ethnicity | % of Student Body |
|---|---|
| Black/African American | 86.8% |
| Asian | 0.4% |
| Hispanic | 7.3% |
| Native American | 0.1% |
| White | 1.0% |
| Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.1% |
| Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic | 4.2% |
NHCSB Selected Populations (2023-24)
| Title | % of Student Body |
|---|---|
| First Language, not English | 28.9% |
| English Language Learner | 17.1% |
| Low-income | 57.4% |
| Students with Disabilities | 11.6% |
