Uncommon Schools

Uncommon Schools

Non-profit K-12 charter school network

Overview

Uncommon Schools operates a network of public charter K-12 schools that serve students from low-income backgrounds. It runs 57 schools in northeastern cities such as Boston, Camden, Newark, New York City, Rochester, and Troy, serving over 21,000 students. The organization provides a structured curriculum, strong school culture, and ongoing professional development for teachers and leaders, funded by per-pupil public dollars and private donations. Its model emphasizes rigorous academics, character development, and college preparation to close achievement gaps. Compared with many competitors, Uncommon Schools reports higher SAT and AP scores and higher college-degree attainment for its graduates, especially among Black and Latinx students. The goal is to ensure students graduate prepared for college and succeed in higher education and beyond by expanding access to high-quality public education for low-income communities.

About Uncommon Schools

Simplify's Rating
Why Uncommon Schools is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Social Impact

Education

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$1.7M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2005

Get referred to Uncommon Schools

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Roxbury Prep's new 83,000-square-foot Boston campus opened for 2025-26, adding capacity.
  • Uncommon Brooklyn reported 23 schools and 2026-27 applications live, signaling resilient enrollment.
  • Eighteen Class of 2026 QuestBridge scholars validate outcomes that attract families and donors.

What critics are saying

  • Uncommon depends on concentrated philanthropy; Hollyhock supplied 66% of 2025 grants.
  • New York City's charter cap blocks Brooklyn expansion without Albany approval, delaying growth.
  • OCR accessibility complaints and stricter compliance reviews can trigger costly remediation and reputational damage.

What makes Uncommon Schools unique

  • Uncommon runs 52 schools across five Northeast cities, scaling a single operating playbook.
  • Its 2026-27 applications and Fall 2026 Camden and Newark openings show continued demand.
  • QuestBridge results and New York Times AI coverage reinforce Uncommon's college-prep brand.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Funding

Total Funding

$1.7M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Grant funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Grant Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Hours

Remote Work Options

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Gym Membership

Phone/Internet Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Professional Development Budget

Conference Attendance Budget

Stock Options

Company Equity

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Parental Leave

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

0%
SAU 70
Mar 18th, 2026
SAU 70 announces new principal for Frances C. Richmond Middle School.

SAU 70 announces new principal for Frances C. Richmond Middle School. Mar 18 2026 HANOVER, NH - SAU 70 and the Dresden School District are pleased to announce the appointment of Timothy O'Leary as the new principal of the Frances C. Richmond Middle School, effective July 1, 2026. O'Leary brings fifteen years of experience in education, including teacher development, instructional coaching, and data analysis. Most recently, Timothy served as Principal at the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, where he achieved year-over-year MCAS growth across all tested subjects for five consecutive years. O'Leary began his career at Oxbow High School, in Bradford, Vermont. "We are excited to welcome Timothy to Frances C. Richmond Middle School," said Robin Steiner, Superintendent of SAU 70. "Throughout the interview process, Timothy demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, a collaborative leadership style, and a clear vision for fostering an inclusive and engaging school environment." Timothy holds a Master of Arts from Dartmouth College. O'Leary has a deep commitment to literacy instruction, adolescent development, and inclusive classroom practice. The selection process included input from staff, families, and community members, whose feedback played an important role in the decision.

Brooklyn Paper
Nov 15th, 2023
High performing charter network opens new elementary school in Williamsburg

Uncommon Schools has opened a new elementary school on Montrose Ave. in Brooklyn to serve students from the Williamsburg neighborhood and the greater Brooklyn community.

Uncommon Schools
Jan 13th, 2023
Uncommon Schools Integrate Coding Lessons With Humanities

Uncommon Schools received a $4 million Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Business Wire
Sep 6th, 2022
Citi Launches 10Th Annual E For Education Campaign

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citi has launched its 10th annual e for education campaign, an initiative that helps raise awareness and funds for education-focused non-profit organisations that tackle childhood illiteracy and improve access to quality education. Citi Markets will donate a percentage of electronically traded business proceeds between 5th September and 31st October 2022

Uncommon Schools
Feb 15th, 2022
Uncommon Schools, Inc. hired Allison Johnson as Senior Manager of Computer Science on Jan 15th 22'.

Uncommon has recently hired Allison Johnson as the Senior Manager of Computer Science.

Recently Posted Jobs

Sign up to get curated job recommendations

Uncommon Schools is Hiring for 71 Jobs on Simplify!

Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today

Don't see your dream role? Check out thousands of other roles on Simplify. Browse all jobs →