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Empower Community School
Empower Community School, nominated by NewSchools Venture Fund, is a elementary/middle school in Bessemer, Alabama that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Bessemer, Alabama
Governance Public charter school
Grades Elementary, Middle
Students 403
Locale Urban
Interim Executive Director Dr. Meredith Davis
Demographics
Percentage of students*
8%
English Learners
75%
Free/Reduced Lunch
9%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 82%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian —
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 16%
White 1%
2+ Races 1%
Why Empower Community School was nominated
Empower's model focuses on personalized learning, comprehensive social and emotional support, and targeted intervention and acceleration.
Student experience design
Empower's personalized approach to teaching and learning energizes scholars to own their learning, develop social, emotional, and communication skills, and become leaders in their communities.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery |
3-4 years
|
|
Mental Health Services |
3-4 years
|
|
High Quality Instructional Materials |
3-4 years
|
|
Restorative Practices |
3-4 years
|
|
Students Access Their Own Data |
3-4 years
|
All Practices
Adaptive Learning Software
Advancement On Mastery
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Community And Business Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies
Individual Learning Paths
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
Physical Well Being Services
Reallocation Of Resources For Those Most In Need
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Tutoring
key reasons for innovating
Increase student agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.