Rooted School New Orleans

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Why Rooted School New Orleans was nominated

Rooted School stands out for many reasons, including their vision and mission: "Rooted School has the bold vision to close the academic achievement gap and the wealth gap in our lifetime. Rooted's mission is to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to compete for the fastest-growing and the highest-paying jobs in their communities either with or without a college degree." To achieve these, Rooted School has an integrated approach to academics and career preparation, which special focus on IT career pathways. They are dedicated to equity and inclusion, and social-emotional learning and supports are also integral to their model., Jonathan and the team at Rooted are specifically solving for the dearth of homegrown talent in New Orlean's growing tech industry. This high school program is launching an earned income pilot to give students an opportunity to gain real working experience while earning an income in HS that will position them to enter into the workforce/matriculate to college with a clear vision of a successful tech career., Rooted School’s curriculum, pedagogy, programmatic offerings and school environment are all characterized by constant innovation and alignment to the school’s unique mission of closing the 228 year racial wealth gap and providing all students a personal pathway to financial freedom. The opportunities provided to Rooted students often do not exist at other schools, or they are limited to few participants. Rooted believes that all students should have equal access to programs that lead to financial independence. 1. 100% of Rooted School students are enrolled in technology-centered courses that are oriented towards students earning Industry Based Credentials. Students have the option take classes in 3D-printing, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Unity Virtual Video Game Design, Comp TIA+, and others. Students can earn up to 8 industry based credentials during their time at Rooted. 2. Students participate in self-directed learning and project based learning in all classes. Self-directed learning modules give students the opportunity to move at their own pace, and for teachers to provide students individualized instruction. Students also practice time-management skills. Project based learning experiences mimic the types of challenges and projects students will experience once they graduate. 3. Rooted School uses a competency based grading system. Students are graded on their demonstration of mastery of the subject matter, and have the opportunity to resubmit assignments to earn a higher grade. This grading system mimics how students will be expected to approach their tasks once in a career. 4. Students apply the knowledge they learn in their technology courses to internal and external internships. Internal internships include a digital media internship and IT help desk internship. Students get paid to use the skills they learned in their courses, while also preparing for their future career. 5. Rooted School is facilitating a direct-cash transfer program in collaboration with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania. During the 22-23 school year, 88 students will participate in a Randomized Controlled Trial in which 44 students in a treatment group will receive $50/week for 40 weeks. The UPenn team will evaluate the impact of the cash transfers on students’ perceived financial wellbeing, attendance, and academic achievement. This program seeks to explore the structures that schools can implement that advance equity, as well as students’ well-being. The results of this study will open the door to conversations regarding larger policy and budgetary shifts within education., We exist to see our students academically prepared and financially free. Some students will arrive at financial freedom with a college next to their name, others without. Our job is not to decide how they will get there but to provide them with the options to get there. We teach students how to learn in an ever-changing world, develop their skills in the most in-demand job sectors and create technology that is transformational. Our first school offers opportunities for students across the digital sector. Many students will graduate with highly sought-after jobs in technology—paying well above the local living wage. Many students will go on to college with a sense of purpose and a relevant context for being there. All will leave with a job offer in one hand and a college acceptance letter in the other., Rooted School New Orleans stands out in how it reimagines the purpose, instructional core, and structure of 'school' by prioritizing equity and student-centered learning. It combines a rigorous academic program that offers college and career readiness, including the opportunity to earn an associate's degree and industry-based certifications. The small school size fosters a student-centered and equity-focused culture, with a strong emphasis on mental health support for all students. Additionally, its recent relocation to the Southern University of New Orleans campus provides students with access to college-level courses, further advancing equity and preparing students for success after high school., Rooted School New Orleans stands out for its commitment to equity by preparing students for high-wage careers through personalized, student-centered learning. The school’s approach includes dual enrollment opportunities via its partnership with Southern University of New Orleans, providing access to college-level coursework. Additionally, Rooted emphasizes tech certifications and career readiness, aiming to bridge wealth gaps by empowering students with in-demand skills. This model cultivates growth, community, and excellence, creating a supportive environment where all students have a pathway to economic mobility., Rooted School New Orleans (RSNO) exists to provide students with personal pathways to financial freedom. RSNO does not seek to tell students how they will achieve financial freedom, but rather equips them with the skills options to get there. RSNO teaches students how to learn in an ever-changing world, develop their skills in the most in-demand job sectors and create transformational technology. RSNO does this by providing students to earn an associates degree in high school, as well as a number of industry-recognized credentials that are connected to high-growth, family-sustaining jobs.

Student experience design

We exist to put students on a personalized pathway to financial freedom. Our students graduate with a job offer in one hand and a college acceptance (with college credits) in the other. To realize these pathways to financial freedom, we create a trauma-informed, personalized environment that consistently provides concrete college and career opportunities, preparing students for a future of financial independence.

Core Practices

Core Practices	Length of Use
Early College High School	3-4 years
Industry-recognized Credentials	5+ years
Project-based Learning	5+ years

All Practices

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Higher Education Partnerships

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Educators Have Industry Experience

Internships

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Micro-credentials And Badging

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

No Tracked Classes

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

SEL Integration School-wide

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Universal Design For Learning

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Artifacts

Evidence of Impact Resource 2023 - 1 Rooted School earned an A for School Performance School (SPS, Louisiana's school accountability framework) in standardized assessment growth and strength of diploma. Graduation rate: 96%