Brookstone Schools a
melting pot of student achievement
First graduates to head out since school’s inception
by Kathleen E. Conroy
kathleen@thecharlotteweekly.com

“Violet is a voracious reader who thinks of books as her friends. Over the years she’s been at Brookstone, Violet has enjoyed close relationships with her teachers. They have taught, coached and encouraged Violet to be the best she can be,” said Suzanne Wilson, head of the innovative school.

Violet belongs to an immigrant family, refugees who escaped six years ago from a civil war and came to Charlotte, says Wilson. “The cultural differences for both Violet and her family were huge. Thanks to Brookstone, the small classes and close supervision by caring adults around her, Violet is flourishing.”

The fifth-grader is one of four “veteran” students and a total of 17 who will “graduate” from Brookstone, which now offers kindergarten through sixth grade (but will switch to K-5 next year), this June and head to middle schools – public or private.

Teaching on a shoestring
What they face will be far different from the atmosphere at the 103-student Brookstone Schools, a nondenominational, Christ-centered church located at 2128 Remount Road in Charlotte. About 87 percent of the students who attend qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches. Brookstone’s average third-grade reading score is in the 90th percentile, while math is in the 88th percentile.

Of the 17 students currently in fifth and sixth grades, nine plan to go to Christian schools in the area. Six students are considering magnet schools, and two will be homeschooled, said Wilson.

“While we will be sad to see our students go, we trust that they will take with them some core values instilled at Brookstone – academic diligence, strong work ethic and dedication to their communities,” she said.

Brookstone’s story has been a unique one in an academic realm where schools with increased numbers of free and reduced-price lunch students – a figure often used by the federal government to determine poverty levels – don’t often fare well on standardized achievement tests. Brookstone has been the rare gem.

Wilson thinks it’s people and “visionary teachers,” not just funding, that make Brookstone unique – and its students college bound.

For the 2006-07 school year, the school’s expenses will total $658,000; at $6,388 per student, that’s $1,731 or 21 percent less than Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ per-student cost, said Wilson.

“We collect approximately 10 percent of this budget in student tuition and fees. The rest comes from donations from partners and other individuals and churches that support Brookstone’s vision.

What’s the secret?
Each Brookstone child has an adult “partner.” These partners, who currently number 47 at the school, donate annually to support their child’s education – some are Hand-in-Hand Partners that give $2,500 annually toward tuition for an individual student. These partners can develop a personal relationship with a student by participating in Partner Days held at the school four times a year. Partners may send birthday and holiday cards and notes of encouragement throughout the school year in care of the school. Silent partners – the school has 25 – give $2,500 toward tuition and expenses for an individual student but are not directly involved with that student.

“Individuals who sponsor Brookstone students are men and women who all share a desire to, in a real and personal way, touch the life of a child. Partners come from all areas of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community – businesses, churches, civic groups, etc.,” said Wilson.

Another program at the school is Friends of Brookstone for those who may not be able to contribute financially to Brookstone but would like to develop a personal relationship with a student by filling in for absent Hand-in-Hand Partners at Partner Day activities.

Wilson says she thinks the fledgling school has been successful because “we refuse to look at our students in terms of labels or stereotypes but instead focus on their potential in Christ and what they can accomplish with committed support at school and at home. We enter into a signed covenant agreement with parents that requires us all to invest ourselves in the student’s success. If a parent values education and will embrace discipline, we can achieve great things together. It doesn’t matter what obstacles are there.”

Home, (new) sweet home
She admits that current quarters are tight. The Remount Road location has served Brookstone well, but parents and administrators are on the hunt for a larger space.

“We are truly outgrowing it. Our students eat lunch in their classrooms; there is no storage space or workroom space for teachers; we do not have an onsite library or gym; and we have very little playground space. In fact, this fall we anticipate being able to accommodate only 90 students,” she said. “One of our goals is to have enough space to have two classes per grade level and to expand the program offerings through eighth grade.”

Wilson wants the school to retain its urban feel and location and continue to attract “teachers who are very skilled in both teaching and classroom management. They hold their students accountable. They expect them to live up to their expectations and to learn the social norms that create an effective learning environment,” she said. “Get great teachers in front of students and you’ll get great results.”

As for Violet, the student from war-torn Liberia, Wilson thinks she will fare just fine. “Violet wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up. She has high expectations for herself, just like her mother, who is a nurse. Like her mother and sister, Violet is grateful for the opportunity to have an excellent education at Brookstone. She knows instinctively what it takes to get ahead in life: hard work and persistence,” said Wilson.

Want more information?
Visit www.brookstoneschools.org or call 704-392-6330 for additional details on Brookstone Schools.