Evergreen named a top innovative school

An online education guide tool for parents has listed Evergreen Community Charter School along with 40 other schools as the most “Innovative Schools” in the country. This is the first time this list has been compiled and Evergreen is the first North Carolina school to be chosen for the new list. Noodle chose the schools based on demonstration of impressive results across a range of categories — beyond test scores alone, asserting that the commonality between all the schools on their list is that each of them have created new, aspirational models of what K–12 education should look like. A representative of Noodle, Karin Unger said that Evergreen was chose based on the institution’s “keen focus on sustainable initiatives, and its programs that encourage students to learn holistically.”

Evergreen was chosen from among nearly 140,000 schools. A profile for Evergreen, created by Noodle, explains its placement on the list.

Press release from Noodle:

Noodle, the most comprehensive website for education information and resources, today released its inaugural “Innovative Schools” list featuring 41 public, private, and charter K–12 schools that are inspiring students to love learning, and empowering teachers and administrators to create unparalleled educational opportunities.

In creating the list, Noodle set out to identify schools that have moved away from traditional learning environments and realized significant results for their students in the process. While innovation is at the heart of the list, the production of positive, sustainable outcomes based on the school’s objectives also had to be shown.

“This year’s top 41 institutions exemplify new ways of addressing educational challenges and encouraging students to thrive,” said Suzanne Podhurst, Editor-in-Chief of Noodle. “All of the featured schools are making a demonstrable impact on the students they serve — and on the larger education space. At Noodle, we are shining a spotlight on the schools that are redefining education and creating exciting opportunities for their students.”

For instance, schools like the The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, where 100 percent of students are accepted to college, are empowering students in underserved communities to excel in science and other fields. Others, like STAR School, have gone green, using solar panels and wind generators to generate power. Many employ revolutionary teaching methods, such as flipped classrooms (Clintondale High School) and gamified learning (Quest to Learn). A few have reconceptualized the very idea of a school by creating inspiring learning environments in unexpected places, including within a public library (e3 Civic High).

In addition to their revolutionary approaches, all 41 schools have demonstrated impressive results across a range of categories — beyond test scores alone. Some (Alliance School) have created supportive, bullying-free environments, while others (Interlochen Arts Academy and Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences) graduate accomplished scholar–artists. They all share one feature in common, however: They have created new, aspirational models of what K–12 education could — and should — look like.

“Innovative schools are about opportunities rather than problems, regardless of circumstances,” said John Chubb, president of the National Association of Independent Schools. “Educators who work in innovative schools envision an ideal future and then pioneer approaches to learning, teaching, and community-building that other schools can try out in their own settings. The schools recognized through the Innovative Schools Award show that experimenting and taking calculated risks to serve their students more effectively improves education for all children.”

Each of this year’s top 41 institutions received a plaque from Noodle, along with other materials to showcase their designation as an Innovative School.

Methodology

There are nearly 140,000 K–12 schools in the U.S., and Noodle has profiles for accredited public, private, and charter school across the country. Our team of education experts culled the 41 most interesting, innovative, and impactful institutions from among tens of thousands of excellent schools. In the research process, Noodle experts consulted with education leaders; pored over state-reported test scores and other data; analyzed academic studies on the efficacy of various pedagogical approaches; read and conducted interviews with teachers, administrators, students, alumni, and parents; and tracked years of news coverage.

About Noodle

Noodle is an education website helping parents and students make better decisions about learning. Using our interactive search tools, families can find the right preschool, college, tutor, or any other learning resource. In addition, they can read expert­-authored articles, ask questions and get answers from some of the leading minds in education, and connect with others in their communities.