100 LEGACY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL TO OPEN IN NEWARK, N.J.; APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 6th, 7th AND 8th GRADES

Online, August 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The 100 LEGACY Academy Charter School will officially open its doors next month and is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year, school officials announced today.

The co-educational Newark middle school is one of only four new charter schools to receive charter approval in the city this fall. Its unique curriculum and atmosphere, which emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) as well as college-preparedness and a student mentoring program with 100 Black Men of NJ, sets it apart.

"Our goal is simple and straightforward, but it couldn't be more crucial -- to educate, encourage, and mentor our students, thereby preparing them for college and career," said 100 LEGACY Board President Michael R. Clarke. "Our school leader and dedicated teaching staff will work tirelessly to ensure that these young men and women of Newark and Irvington have the best chance of becoming successful individuals."

The school, located at 75 Morton Street in Newark, will serve students in grades 6-8 from the Newark and Irvington school districts, and will continue to expand by a grade level each year through 12th grade.

The school's pedagogy and identity is well captured in its name, 100 LEGACY, an acronym that stands for:
Leadership Development
Entrepreneurship
Globalization
Academic Achievement
Character Development
Youth Empowerment

100 LEGACY Academy Charter School's Board works in partnership with the 100 Black Men of New Jersey. The group contracted Victory Education Partners, an educational services, management, and advisory firm, to assist in the development and launch of the school, including recruitment, enrollment, real estate, and planning. Though Victory has worked with community groups, neighborhood organizations, and nonprofits to launch more than a dozen charter schools, 100 LEGACY is the organization's first partnership in New Jersey.

"Newark is in the midst of a historic reform of its school system, and the development of high-quality charter schools is a crucial element of this turnaround," said Aquila Haynes, Victory Education Partners' Director of School Development and Partnerships. "We are confident that this partnership between the school's Board and 100 Black Men of New Jersey will result in a tremendous education for hundreds of young people in Newark and Irvington through 100 LEGACY Academy Charter School."

To apply for enrollment, please go to: www.100lacs.org.

ABOUT 100 LEGACY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
The 100 LEGACY Academy Charter School is a new public charter school that will serve students in the school districts of Newark and Irvington. The charter school is run by a charter school board in partnership with the 100 Black Men of New Jersey. We aim to educate, encourage, mentor and prepare young people of Newark and Irvington for higher education and the career of their choice. Our school will open in August 2012 with approximately 300 students in grades 6 through 8, then will expand one grade per year for each year of the charter until we are a fully articulated school, with grades 6 through 12 by our fifth year, which is also the first year of the charter's renewal. More information is available at www.100lacs.org.

ABOUT VICTORY EDUCATION PARTNERS
Victory Education Partners (Victory) advises and serves independent public charter schools and urban school districts. Its mission is to help charter school leaders and communities create great schools. The organization is unique in its collaborative approach to assisting charter schools and public school districts, and in its strong emphasis on partnerships with all public education stakeholders. Victory was established in 1999 and currently partners in the operation of schools that serve over 7,000 students, in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Chicago. For further information, Victory can be contacted at (212) 786-7900 or on the web at www.victoryep.com.

Contact: Stefan Friedman, (646) 241-7786