Icahn Charter School 7

Established in the fall of 2013, Icahn Charter School 7 started with grades K-2 and will add one grade per year until it has reached full capacity as a K-8 school. It offers small class size, a longer school day and extra help for those who need it most. It shares a building with PS 93 Albert G. Oliver.

ICS 7 is modeled on the original school of the same name, which opened in 2003 in the Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx and is supported by billionaire financier Carl Icahn.

The days are long, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and classes run into mid-July. Children with low skills spend 45 minutes a day in small groups and must spend Saturday mornings at school. Classes have only 18 students, much smaller than a typical public school, and attendance and test scores are high.

Principal Laura Longobard is a former Icahn teacher and staff developer who started an after school program featuring dance, cheerleading and Girl Scouts.

The high-performing Icahn schools are based on the work of educator E.D. Hirsch who wrote books outlining a base of Core Knowledge he believes every well-educated person needs to know. Starting young, children have many lessons in geography, history and science.

Special education: Teachers are usually able to give children personal attention because of the small numbers. Icahn staff pride themselves on their low referral rates to special education.

Admissions: Admission is by lottery. Priority is given to District 8 residents. (Lydie Raschka, May 2013)