Page 33 - BusinessWest April 18, 2022
P. 33

Grade Expectations
Veritas Prep Broadens Its Reach into High School
By Elizabeth Sears
Rachel Romano certainly understands the importance of providing meaning- ful education opportunities to a com-
munity’s youth. She’s the founder and execu- tive director of Veritas Prep Charter School,
a charter-school system that uses innovative turnaround strategies to help students reach their full academic potential.
conclude at the end of eighth grade. Indeed, Veri- tas Prep High School is set to welcome its inau- gural ninth-grade class in the fall of 2022. Now scholars have the opportunity to continue with Veritas, complete essential high-school gradua- tion requirements, and even earn credits toward a college degree.
Veritas Prep Charter School started off in 2012 as a middle school in Springfield
“We never had intentions of opening a high school when we started, but year after year, our students who matriculated on to ninth grade and were in high school would come back and say, ‘why don’t we have a high school?’” Romano explained. “So given the parent and student demand for Veritas to open a high school, a few years ago we decided maybe it is time that we expand our charter to serve our students through high-school graduation.”
Course of Action
Veritas Prep Charter School was given the approval to open a high school back in 2020. Veritas assembled a diverse design team to create a high school that can effectively serve the needs of its students. The design team was comprised of more than 200 Springfield community mem- bers, including current students, alumni, families of students, and stakeholders.
“We really wanted to center the voices of our students, our alumni, our teachers, our families, to design a high school that would meet the needs of our students,” Romano told BusinessWest.
That is where the ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ was developed — something Romano is particularly proud of.
 “Most of our students come into middle school performing below grade level, and the vast majority leave us headed to high school at or above the level of their peers
holding the belief that all students have the ability to achieve at high levels if given the right opportuni- ties. It has been a decade now since the middle school opened, and since its founding, Veritas has grown more than those who created it could have imagined.
The school now serves more than 370 Springfield students and is one of the Bay State’s top-performing middle schools. Veritas also has a Holyoke middle school in addition to its flagship Springfield location. Dra-
    across the state.” “Most of our students come into middle
school performing below grade level, and the vast majority leave us headed to high school at or above the level of their peers across the state,” she said.
That transformative impact will no longer
 RACHEL ROMANO
 matic gains have been shown in student achieve- ment, with double the ‘proficient’ and ‘advanced’ MCAS scores than those received in Springfield Public Schools. With such growth and success, the enthusiasm surrounding the opening of the new high school is immeasurable.
  The Best Residential HVAC Team in the Industry
With years of experience under our belt, your home’s needs are in capable hands. Ours.
• Indoor Air Quality • Heating & Cooling
Systems
• Plumbing Services
   westernmassheatingcooling.com • 413-268-7777
      Wilbraham & Monson Academy
GRADE 6 PREVIEW NIGHT
Tuesday, April 26, 6 p.m.
Learn about our curriculum, clubs and afternoon programs.
Limited space available, RSVP by April 22 at wma.us/admission.
                                                   BusinessWest
EDUCATION APRIL 18, 2022 33
 
































































   31   32   33   34   35