What Does Uncommon Schools Do?

Total employees2597
HeadquartersNew York
Founded2005

Uncommon Schools is a non-profit organization that starts and manages a network of outstanding public charter schools in urban communities across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Their core mission is to close the educational achievement gap and prepare students from low-income backgrounds to not only attend but also graduate from college. They achieve this through a combination of rigorous academics, a strong emphasis on character development, dedicated and talented teachers, and a highly supportive and structured school culture. Uncommon Schools serves over 21,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in more than 50 schools.

Where Is Uncommon Schools's Headquarters?

Uncommon Schools officeUncommon Schools officeUncommon Schools officeUncommon Schools office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central hub for network-wide strategic planning, curriculum development, financial management, talent recruitment and development, operational support, and advocacy for all Uncommon schools.

Notable Features:

The headquarters is located within the historic Cunard Building, an architectural landmark known for its grand Italian Renaissance style and ornate details. The office space is modern and designed for collaboration.

Work Culture:

The HQ fosters a collaborative, data-driven, and mission-focused environment. Teams work intensively to support schools, innovate on instructional practices, and ensure operational excellence across the network, driven by a shared commitment to student success and educational equity.

HQ Significance:

This central office is crucial for maintaining quality, consistency, and mission alignment across the geographically diverse network of schools. It drives innovation, disseminates best practices, and manages resources effectively to maximize student impact.

Values Reflected in HQ: The strategic location in a major city hub reflects accessibility and connection to resources, while the internal focus on efficiency, collaboration, and robust support for schools underscores their core values of educational equity and excellence.

Location:

Uncommon Schools's direct operations are concentrated in the United States, specifically in urban centers in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. They do not operate schools or offices internationally. However, their successful educational models, curriculum resources, and leadership development programs (like the Leverage Leadership Institute) are studied and adapted by educators and school systems globally, giving them an indirect international influence in the field of education reform and K-12 best practices.

Street Address:

25 Broadway, 12th Floor

City:

New York

State/Province:

NY

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Uncommon Schools Operate Around the World?

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Address: 1033 Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102

To ensure the high performance and continued success of Uncommon schools in Newark, tailoring network strategies to local needs and fostering a strong educational community.

Watertown, Massachusetts, USA

Address: 50 Hunt Street, Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472

To manage and expand Uncommon's impact in Massachusetts, adapting the Uncommon model to the specific educational landscape and student demographics of the Boston region.

Troy, New York, USA

Address: 3000 6th Ave, Troy, NY 12180

To lead and support the network of Uncommon schools in Troy and surrounding areas, ensuring high academic standards and strong community ties to effectively serve local students.

Buying Intent Signals for Uncommon Schools

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Uncommon Schools? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Uncommon Schools' leadership includes:

Brett Peiser - Chief Executive Officer
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo - Chief Schools Officer, K-12 & Founder, Leverage Leadership Institute
Laura Midgett - Chief Financial Officer
Dana Lehman - Chief Operating Officer
Zinnerford Smith - Chief Talent Officer
Julio César Rocha - Chief of Staff

Who's Investing in Uncommon Schools?

Uncommon Schools has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Walton Family Foundation
Robin Hood Foundation
Charter School Growth Fund
NewSchools Venture Fund
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

What Leadership Changes Has Uncommon Schools Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits0

Over the past 12-18 months, Uncommon Schools has made strategic appointments to its executive team, notably enhancing its financial and talent leadership capabilities to support its ongoing mission and growth. The organization has largely maintained stability within its senior leadership ranks.

New Appointments:

Laura Midgett, Laura Midgett appointed as new CFO, tasked with leading financial operations and strategy.
Zinnerford Smith, Zinnerford Smith appointed as new CTO, focusing on building and supporting a high-quality team.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byUncommon Schools?

Discover the tools Uncommon Schools uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Uncommon Schools Email Formats and Examples

Uncommon Schools typically uses a standardized email format for its staff, which most commonly consists of the employee's first initial followed by their full last name, then the @uncommonschools.org domain.

[first_initial][last]@uncommonschools.org

Format

jdoe@uncommonschools.org

Example

90%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Uncommon Schools?

TAPinto Newark • May 14, 2024

Uncommon Schools's North Star Academy Students Earn Prestigious Scholarship

Multiple students from North Star Academy, part of the Uncommon Schools network in Newark, were awarded the highly competitive QuestBridge National College Match scholarship, which provides full four-year scholarships to leading universities....more

The 74 Million • February 26, 2024

Uncommon Schools Noted in Analysis Showing NYC Charter High Schools' Higher Performance

A study highlighted that New York City charter high schools, including those managed by Uncommon Schools, generally achieve higher state exam scores, graduation rates, and college enrollment figures compared to traditional public schools, underscoring their positive impact....more

NJ.com • October 26, 2023

Uncommon Schools's New Jersey Campuses Ranked Among Nation's Best

Several Uncommon Schools campuses in New Jersey, particularly those under the North Star Academy banner, received recognition in a national ranking for their exceptional academic performance and effective college preparatory programs....more

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