Professional Development

Success Academy Charter School Launches Virtual Tours for Educators

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 08/20/15

New York City's Success Academy Charter Schools has launched a virtual tour designed to give educators a look at its design and innovative teaching and learning approach.

"Over the past decade, thousands of visitors have toured Success Academy schools," according to a news release. "Demand from educators, government officials and school administrators from across the country and around the world has outstripped the charter school network's capacity to host tours, workshops and conferences. The virtual tour provides universal access to the inner workings of its schools, with the particular aim of sharing school design, pedagogy and school culture."

The virtual tours use a Web-based application to provide an immersive experience through classrooms and also features video interviews, text explanations and images.

Since launching in 2006, the public charter school network has grown from one school to 34. Currently serving 11,000 students, Success Academy Charter Schools received 22,000 applications for just 2,300 available seats in its most recent admissions lottery.

"The schools' rigorous curriculum includes conceptual math, reading, writing and science five days a week," according to a news release, "as well as subjects often cut from traditional public schools: chess, art, dance, music, and sports."

"At Success Academy, we have reimagined public education," said founder and CEO Eva Moskowitz, in a prepared statement. "This virtual tour allows visitors to understand why our inner-city students are able to achieve such extraordinary academic results."

To take the tour, visit virtualtour.successacademies.org.