Ten Years In: Progress, Reflection, and What Comes Next in DC

Zakiya Sackor, Executive Director, Rocketship Public Schools DC

Last week, the DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB), the independent body that authorizes and oversees public charter schools in Washington, DC, completed its 10-year review of Rocketship DC schools. I am pleased to share that they voted to continue the charter for all three campuses: Rocketship Rise Academy, Rocketship Infinity Community Prep, and Rocketship Legacy Prep.

A 10-year charter review is a high-stakes, intensive process. Schools are evaluated on measures including academic results, financial management, and responsible governance and compliance. Throughout the process, the DC PCSB appreciated how we took ownership of the challenges we’ve navigated and validated that our trajectory is positive and our recent progress is promising. While we remain clear-eyed about the significant work required to reach our standard of excellence, our momentum is encouraging.

Our renewal reflects the academic progress we are seeing across our campuses every day.

During the 2024–25 school year, our students demonstrated the equivalent of 36 additional days of learning in reading based on nationally normed achievement measures. In other words, our students progressed well beyond what is typically expected in a single academic cycle.

All three of our DC campuses also met an ASPIRE pathway, part of the city’s accountability framework that measures charter school performance. We have seen steady improvement in attendance as well, with our average daily attendance now exceeding 91 percent—an important indicator of strong family and student engagement.

These gains did not happen by accident.

Like many schools across the country, our DC campuses faced real challenges following the pandemic. Academic gaps widened, attendance declined, and staffing changes created instability. As we worked urgently to support students and families through that period, we adjusted aspects of our instructional approach and, over time, moved away from some of the core elements that make Rocketship’s model most effective.

After we acknowledged that openly, with our staff and our families, we made a focused course correction. Internally, we refer to this renewed commitment as “DC Strong.” In practice, that meant returning to structured small-group instruction, strengthening our use of student performance data to guide daily teaching decisions, and ensuring that teachers specialize in either math or humanities—a model that allows students to learn from teachers with deeper subject-matter expertise. The progress we are seeing now is the result of that renewed focus and consistency.

I originally joined the Rocketship DC board because I believed in the impact the Rocketship model could have on DC students and families. After seeing this work from different perspectives—first on the board and now as the region’s Executive Director—that belief is stronger than ever.

The voices of our families bring that promise to life. At our recent public hearing, Gwendolyn Grier, a grandmother of a Rocketeer at Legacy Prep, shared how she moved from feeling like a spectator in her granddaughter’s education to feeling like a true partner. Andrea Diaz, a pre-k parent at Infinity Community Prep, described the confidence she saw in her son when he mastered math homework that once felt overwhelming. Annise Claude, a parent at Rise Academy, shared how her son has grown in confidence and now takes ownership of his learning.

While we are encouraged by this momentum, we are not yet satisfied. Our goal is not simply renewal; it is ensuring that every Rocketeer is on track to master grade-level standards and build the confidence and character to succeed in elementary school and beyond.

Ten years ago, we made a promise to DC families. Renewal confirms that we are on the right path. Our focus now is to build on this momentum and continue providing every Rocketeer with the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

Onward.

Zakiya Sackor, Executive Director, Rocketship Public Schools DC

Published on Tháng ba 6, 2026