FAQ

General

What is the Rooted School Foundation?

The Rooted School Foundation is a nonprofit organization encompassing several public charter schools and youth programs. We partner with forward-thinking companies and research institutions to test place-based strategies that will accelerate upward economic and social mobility for America’s most underserved students. Learn more about who we are, where we’ve been—and where we’re going from here.

Where is Rooted School located?

Our headquarters is located in New Orleans, LA. We currently have schools and programs in New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Vancouver, WA.

Where did our name come from?

Our founder, Jonathan Johnson, is deeply inspired by the poem, The Rose That Grew From Concrete. Johnson believes that, with a dream, students can overcome any obstacle in their way. And when students beat the odds, Rooted asks students to remember those who made their story possible.

Mission

What is the racial wealth gap?

Rooted School defines the racial wealth gap as the difference in wealth between White households and Black and Latinx households. These differences lead to disparities in opportunities and resources.

What is the definition of upward mobility?

Upward mobility can be defined in many ways. Rooted School defines upward mobility as a child earning more than their parents. 

Programs

What are Rooted Schools?

A national network of public charter high schools getting young people into good jobs directly after high school (and college too).

What is the Green Balloon Fellowship?

A one-year, full-time job placement at a good job after high school. This program is for 18-22-year-olds.

What is the Youth Cash Transfer Study?

A first-of-its-kind study that examines what happens when you give teenagers unconditional cash.

Schools

What are public charter schools?

Charter schools are a type of public school. Like all public schools, they are:

  • Open to all students
  • Tuition-free
  • Publicly funded
  • Staffed by certified teachers
  • Held accountable to state and national standards

In exchange for higher levels of accountability, charter schools have more freedom than traditional public schools to customize curriculum, take creative approaches, and offer greater personal attention, giving students from all backgrounds the chance to go to a school that works for them.

How are charter schools funded?

Charter public schools are funded based on student enrollment, just like traditional public schools. If a student transfers from another public school to a charter public school, the costs and funding associated with educating that student follows that student to the charter school.

Like any public school, charter public schools depend on a mix of federal and state funding. However, unlike local district schools, charter schools do not receive support from local property tax levies.

What is a collegiate high school?

Collegiate high school is a broad term used to describe a high school that provides a curriculum and set of experiences that prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of postsecondary education. 

What is work-based learning?

Work-based learning describes a structured way for employers and schools to partner on learning experiences for students. Skills that students learn in these experiences are transferable to postsecondary education and the workplace. 

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