Perseverance Preparatory School, a middle school charter located in San Jose could be closing its doors permanently, leaving many students and their families distraught over the possible loss of the educational institution, according to NBC Bay Area.
The school first opened on August 14, 2019, despite objections from the San Jose Unified School District, offering a unique approach to education with a focus on rigorous academics, personalized learning, and community service, as explained on Perseverance Prep's website.
Perseverance Prep's mission is to prepare scholars in grades 5-8 for a life of ethical leadership and scholarly success, building on core beliefs that include a highly structured data-driven culture, servant leadership, partnering with parents, focus on critical analysis, growing excellent teachers, and providing personalized learning to ensure every student can excel. This inspiring mission has led to many students flourishing in the school's environment, developing personal and academic resilience that may have been difficult to find elsewhere.
However, the school has faced a series of setbacks that have put its survival in jeopardy, with the most recent and potentially final blow coming when the San Jose Unified School District refused to accept late submission of required student address documentation, which in turn cost the school $180,000 in funding, as reported by NBC Bay Area. The person responsible for submitting the paperwork had suddenly resigned, resulting in the late submission, according to Lisamarie Reid, the principal and executive director of the school.
Perseverance Prep also endured other struggles, such as donors rescuing the school last fall when funding ran out and the loss of a new school site location. Additionally, the school faced staffing shortages and the tragic death of a student in May.
For the school's students and their families, the possible closure is devastating. Many have found a solid support system within the school's community, with one parent, Teri Selix, telling NBC Bay Area that her children have made friends and become familiar with the staff and projects at the school. Similarly, Alejandra Ruiz, who has a daughter with special needs, states that her child is thriving in Perseverance Prep and might have fallen through the cracks in a regular public school.
Teachers at the school are also saddened by the closure, with Levy Zamora sharing that many students are being left in limbo as they do not know where they will go after the school's closure, causing great uncertainty and stress for both the students and staff.
The San Jose Unified School District has issued a statement, shared by NBC Bay Area, stating that all charter schools must follow the same process of providing enrollment information and verification of residence for the students they serve. The district claims to give full funding allocations for every student based on the information provided according to the process and associated timelines for all charter schools, including Perseverance Prep.
Despite the mounting challenges, Perseverance Preparatory School plans to host an enrollment fair with families and other charter schools in the hope of finding places for its students to land. It is a heartbreaking reminder of the potential loss of a school that has made such a significant impact on the lives of its students and their families, demonstrating the crucial role that supportive and innovative educational environments can play in shaping young lives for the better.
