Dr. Michael Sharpe
This year we celebrate Jumoke Academy’s 15th year as a Connecticut public charter school of excellence. We are an academically and financially sound school that has consistently performed at the upper levels of academic achievement. It was our founder, Thelma Ellis Dickerson’s, fervent belief that, “if we provided a safe, supportive but rigorous learning environment for children, staffed with high quality teachers who challenged students to learn at the highest levels, we could change the face of public education in the city of Hartford for the absolute better.”
We have been successful beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. Our students consistently score on the list of top ten performing urban schools in Connecticut according to an independent report by ConnCan, Inc. For example, more than 80 percent of our graduating 8th graders have been with Jumoke Academy since third grade or earlier. This year’s 8th grade graduating class scored 100 percent Proficient in Math on the Connecticut Mastery Test and 87.5 percent scored at Goal or Advanced. Thirty five percent of the graduating class was accepted into private or independent schools.
We are proud of our students’ CMT performance, which clearly demonstrates that an urban school with a 100 percent minority population can not only close Connecticut’s insidious achievement gap, but it can equal and often out-perform more affluent communities. However, we understand that scores on a standardized assessment are only one measure of a well-rounded student.
Jumoke Academy is committed to developing the whole child, and as such, offers programs that ensure our children become competent in the arts, humanities, civic and social responsibilities, and that they understand the value and importance of good character. Over 65 of our children participate in the strings-orchestra program, which includes the violin, viola and cello. Additionally, students are offered extra-curricular activities such as debate, cross-country/track, book club, choir, percussion/marching band, foreign language, young men’s and women’s leadership clubs, basketball, drill team, Saturday Academy, summer school and camp.
Fiscally, for the past ten years we have enjoyed balanced budgets. Audits have indicated strong management and internal controls. Our governance board has remained stable and proactively engaged in policy and best practice strategies for both our Elementary and Middle schools.
However, our pride and joy has been the exceptional quality of our staff. Guided by a strong curriculum and data-driven solutions, our cadre of excellent certified teachers is dedicated to providing our children with the best public education America has to offer.
No school can be successful without a strong parents’ association. We are proud of our parents’ association, which consistently turns out for parent meetings and school events, often times leaving standing-room-only for late comers. The parents’ association also serves in partnership with teachers and administrators, meeting monthly to help decide improvements for the school.
Whatever your reason for visiting our website, on behalf of the Jumoke Academy family, welcome! If you have never visited our school, come on down and I will give you a personal tour. In the meantime, do not hesitate to call me if I can be of assistance!
Dr. Michael Sharpe
Chief Executive Officer