named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Art Program
Visual arts instruction led by art educators with backgrounds in studio art and art history, fostering creativity and artistic development in students.
General Education Program
Comprehensive elementary education for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, emphasizing literacy, math, science, and social studies within an inclusive, progressive framework.
Math Specialist Program
K-2 and 3-5 math specialists provide targeted instruction and support to students across grade levels to strengthen mathematical understanding and equity in learning outcomes.
Music Program
Music education program founded and led by a long-time music educator, offering students opportunities to engage in singing, instrumental music, and creative expression.
Physical Education
Physical education program designed to promote youth development through physical activity, led by a certified physical education teacher.
Science Education
Hands-on science instruction for elementary students, taught by dedicated science teachers with a focus on inquiry and discovery.
Special Education Program
Supports students with disabilities through individualized instruction and services led by the Director of Special Education and learning specialists.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Family-School Engagement Programs 2 activities
- Conduct student-led academic and social-emotional progress conferencesHolds student-led conferences twice yearly involving students, families, advisors, and community members to review academic and social-emotional development.
- Host parent workshops on curriculum and child developmentOffers parent workshops twice yearly on grade-specific curriculum and social-emotional development, plus additional discussion-based sessions to support family understanding and engagement.
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Comprehensive K–8 Academic Curriculum 1 activity
- Deliver full-time K–8 academic instruction aligned with New York State standardsProvides a rigorous, individualized education integrating core subjects through interdisciplinary learning, including a Humanities course combining English Language Arts and Social Studies, the Illustrative Math curriculum, a 3-dimensional science program using FOSS, and Spanish instruction with high school credit opportunities. Administers regular assessments in math and reading to inform instruction and support student progress.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
- Deliver required health and social-emotional learning curriculaProvides all 8th grade students with a 12-week Sexual Health course developed in collaboration with internal staff and using materials from Planned Parenthood. Conducts annual schoolwide two-week units on six core values, including activities, read-alouds, and discussions to promote character development.
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Student-Led Community Service Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate student leadership, mentoring, and community service programsTrains 5th grade students to mentor younger students during lunch and recess. Runs an after-school service program for 4th and 5th graders involving volunteering, interviews with activists, and student-designed community projects. Matches K–2 classes with 3rd–5th grade buddy classes for shared reading and values-based activities.
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Restorative Justice and Peer Mediation Programs 1 activity
- Implement restorative and inclusive practices to support student well-being and equityUses a restorative approach to conflict resolution with staff trained by the International Institute of Restorative Practices. Implements integrated co-teaching in all classrooms and provides learning specialists and on-site therapy services to support students with varied needs. Offers counseling and family support through a dedicated social work team.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Offer family and community engagement programs to build school-community relationshipsHosts weekly evening cooking programs led by parents, adult book clubs, parent-led social events, and extracurricular workshops taught by families and staff in skills such as woodworking, cooking, printmaking, skateboarding, and photography. Conducts monthly school-wide music gatherings where elementary students perform songs learned in class.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Operate a year-long nature-based kindergarten program with outdoor learning and family supportProvides a weekly outdoor learning experience for kindergarten students split between Three Stars Garden and Fort Greene Park, supported by distribution of all-weather outdoor clothing on a sliding scale to ensure full participation. Serves 52 incoming students annually.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide daily afterschool enrichment programming for elementary studentsOffers structured afterschool programming four days per week from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm, including snack time, homework help with individualized academic support, reading emphasis, and enrichment classes in dance, music, art, film-making, writing, chess, athletics, meditation, and gardening.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide middle school extracurricular and immersive learning experiencesOffers annual week-long immersive learning experiences involving fieldwork, service, internships, and expert collaboration culminating in community presentations. Provides elective studio programs twice yearly in drumming, fencing, video art, and chorus through community partnerships. Hosts a fall play and spring musical, fields athletic teams in the Charter School Athletic League, and offers rotating after-school clubs in yoga, robotics, cooking, art, and dance.
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Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
- Support alumni engagement and post-secondary pathwaysGraduates students into diverse high schools, colleges, and post-secondary pathways and engages alumni in ongoing roles such as internships, summer camp counseling, and after-school teaching.
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Mathematics Curriculum Implementation and Enrichment 1 activity
- Support family engagement in student learning through curriculum-aligned resources and community eventsProduces and distributes Family Support Videos and printed materials for each math unit, including explanations of prior learning, vocabulary, visual representations, discussion questions, and at-home activities. Also offers resources for practicing math facts, story problems, counting, number writing, and reading and writing numbers for K–2 students, including number charts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.99M
Contributions & grants$672K6%
Program service revenue$11.13M93%
Investment income$101K1%
Other revenue$88K
expenses
Total expenses$12.51M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$11.01M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.17M
Cash$2.08M
Investments$760K
Liabilities$1.51M
Net assets$1.66M
Liquid reserves2.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +7.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA STONE | CO-FOUNDER/K-5 CO-DIRECTOR | 60 | $249K |
| ALLISON KEIL | CO-FOUNDER/K-8 CO-DIRECTOR | 60 | $240K |
| ERIN CARSTENSEN | MIDDLE SCHOOL CO-DIRECTOR | 60 | $238K |
| ANDREW NGESEYAN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 60 | $199K |
| PERREN PETERSON | MIDDLE SCHOOL CO-DIRECTOR | 60 | $199K |
| JAQUETTA BUSTION | TEACHER | 40 | $163K |
| JAYNE SOHN | COORDINATOR | 40 | $152K |
| NICHOLE LADOPOULOS-STURK | TEACHER | 40 | $146K |
| WALTER PATON | TEACHER | 40 | $130K |
| REBECCA WILLIAMS | TEACHER | 40 | $126K |
board members · 12
- CANDANCE MONTGOMERY — TRUSTEE
- CAVEL KHAN — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTINE SPADARO — SECRETARY
- DAVID MANHEIMER — TREASURER THRU 6/25
- JERRY PETITFRERE — TRUSTEE
- JOSH THOMASES — TRUSTEE
- MILAD SEDEH — TRUSTEE
- NIGEL PUGH — TRUSTEE
- SCOTT STRASSER — BOARD CO- CHAIRPERSON THRU 6/25
- SUZANNE FORGARTY — TRUSTEE
- TRACEY STRAUSS — BOARD CO- CHAIRPERSON
- TRACIE BENJAMINVAN LIEROP — TRUSTEE
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Atlantis Care Center Partner — Site for student volunteering and service-learning activities by 4th and 5th graders in the Learning through Service & Action program.
- BK Elite FC Partner — Community-based organization providing soccer programming through the afterschool program.
- Bank Street College of Education Partner — Multiple faculty members received graduate degrees from Bank Street College of Education, indicating a professional development or training relationship.
- Bard High School Early College Queens Partner — CRCS alum Maceo Thompson attended Bard High School Early College Queens.
- Beacon High School Partner — CRCS alumni including Riley-Paige Belisle and Sunyyah Fenelon-Foristall attended Beacon High School.
- Berlings Beard Productions Partner — Community-based organization providing after school programming in partnership with CRCS.
- Boston University Partner — CRCS alum Sunyyah Fenelon-Foristall earned a degree from Boston University.
- Brooklyn College Community Partnership Partner — Provides after school programming for middle school students, including classes in magazine, step, yearbook, Girls Who Code, and STEM.
- Brown University Partner — CRCS alum Maceo Thompson earned a degree from Brown University.
- Chapin Partner — Board member Suzanne Fogarty is Head of School at Chapin, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Charter School Athletic League Partner — Provides team sports programming for middle school students, including co-ed volleyball, basketball, soccer, and running.
- Committee on Special Education (CSE) Government — Collaborates with CSE to ensure students receive evaluations, updated IEPs, and uninterrupted special education services.
- Farragut Houses Partner — Public housing development included in weighted admissions lottery to ensure socio-economic diversity.
- Flipturn Partner — CRCS alum Maceo Thompson is employed as a Software Engineer at Flipturn.
- Group Black Partner — Board member Cavel Khan is Chief Commerce Officer at Group Black, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Ingersoll Houses Partner — Public housing development included in weighted admissions lottery to ensure socio-economic diversity.
- International Institute of Restorative Practices Partner — Provides training for staff in restorative practices used in conflict resolution.
- L Catterton Partner — Board Chair Tracey Strauss is Operating Partner at L Catterton, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Moelis & Company Partner — Board Treasurer Milad Sedeh is Vice President at Moelis & Company, indicating a professional affiliation.
- NYC Department of Education Partner — Board member Tracie Benjamin-Van Lierop holds a leadership role in the NYC Department of Education, indicating a professional affiliation.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Partner — CRCS alum Sunyyah Fenelon-Foristall is a Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow at NIH.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Overseeing body for charter schools, with formal complaint appeal process.
- New York State Board of Regents Government — Final appeals body for complaints unresolved by the school or NYC DOE.
- New York State Education Department Government — Required reporting relationship for annual reports and compliance.
- New York University Partner — Multiple faculty members earned degrees from NYU, and one founding staff member was recruited directly from there, suggesting an institutional connection.
- North American Association for Environmental Education Network — Follows Best Practices in Nature-Based Education from the North American Association for Environmental Education.
- Planned Parenthood Partner — Provided materials used in the co-designed 8th grade Sexual Health course.
- Saint Ann’s Brooklyn Partner — Board Secretary Christine Spadaro is a Middle School Learning Specialist at Saint Ann’s Brooklyn, indicating a professional affiliation.
- University of Virginia Partner — CRCS alum Riley-Paige Belisle is a student at the University of Virginia.
- Village Care Max Partner — Board member Abi Fenelon serves as Care Manager Supervisor at Village Care Max, indicating a professional affiliation.
+ 1 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Anti-Bias Education for Inclusive Learningmethodology: anti-bias_educationBy centering identity, representation, critical literacy, and social justice in curriculum and professional development, we produce a more equitable and empowering school environment where diverse students can thrive, because this approach cultivates awareness, activism, and belonging.
- Inquiry and Experience-Based Learningmethodology: experiential_learning_with_direct_instructionBy combining experiential learning in meaningful contexts with inquiry-based instruction across subjects, we produce deeper student understanding and engagement, because active investigation and real-life application anchor conceptual learning in students’ lived experiences.
- Integrated Co-Teaching for Inclusive Classroomsmethodology: integrated_co_teachingBy pairing general and special education teachers in all classrooms through the integrated co-teaching (ICT) model, we produce more responsive and flexible instruction, because collaborative teaching enables real-time differentiation and support for diverse learners.
- Restorative Practices for Community and Accountabilitymethodology: restorative_practicesBy building positive relationships and applying restorative responses to conflict, we produce stronger school communities and healthier student behavior, because separating behavior from identity centers accountability while promoting healing and long-term connection.
- Universal Design for Learning to Support Diversitymethodology: universal-design-for-learningBy applying Universal Design for Learning principles in brain-based, accessible classrooms, we produce deeper engagement and mastery for all learners, because designing for variability in engagement, representation, and expression enables responsive, inclusive instruction.