Press Releases

The New Roots Charter School Class of 2020 will celebrate their high school graduation with a live outdoor graduation on Friday, June 26th, thanks to Governor Cuomo’s executive order permitting outdoor ceremonies of 150 people or less.

When COVID-19 closed the doors of New Roots Charter School, the first concern was the health and well-being of students who would be missing one another, their teachers, and access to essential services and supports.

New Roots alumna Rosy Glos (Class of 2016) was one of 35 outstanding Cornell University seniors recently recognized as 2020 Merrill Presidential Scholars, honored for her “academic achievements, leadership, and potential to contribute to society.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools in March, New Roots Charter School leveraged a decade of experience with real-world learning to incorporate the coronavirus crisis into nearly every course across the curriculum.

As restaurants across the state were ordered closed this week, two eateries in Ithaca decided to donate their excess food to a free meal program offered by New Roots Charter School.

New Roots Charter School has opened its the 2020-2021 enrollment season, offering students a rigorous academic program that focuses on entrepreneurial thinking to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges and opportunities young people face in the 21st century.

An anonymous donor has pledged $200,000 to New Roots Charter School to help it address the fiscal and enrollment issues that led the SUNY Board of Trustees Charter Schools Committee to place the high school on probation in December.

New Roots Charter School and Finger Lakes ReUse are partnering on a hands-on educational fundraising opportunity for New Roots seniors in the Sustainable Entrepreneurship class.

On September 9, 2019 New Roots celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a community meeting presentation from local leaders of the Sunrise Movement, who are inviting students to join their youth-led climate justice movement with a nation-wide school strike on September 20, 2019, three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC.

In public education, charter schools are the drivers of innovation. We are proud to play a critical role in leading the way forward into the 21st century.

New Roots students and staff joined 4 other schools to collaborate and develop a cohesive four-year sequence that integrates meaningful mission-driven fieldwork and projects while emphasizing college and career preparation and community engagement.