The Academy of Hope (HOPE)
was conceptualized by Founder, Joseph E. Washington, in the summer of 2009. He envisioned a school focused on closing both the race and class achievement gaps in the United States and the achievement gap between the United States and the rest of the world. By the spring of 2010, Mr. Washington had recruited a six-member Planning Committee who together conceived of this mission:
The mission of the Academy of Hope is to maximize the potential inherent in every student by building character, promoting critical thinking, encouraging intellectual curiosity, cultivating entrepreneurship and instilling a sense of global responsibility.
In order to realize its vision, HOPE has instituted three primary goals, which are to:
- Cultivate international business acumen in its students
- Sharpen student critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Improve student aptitude in the assessment and communication of information
The strategies through which HOPE intends to achieve these goals include following a year-round academic calendar, implementing single-gender math and science classes, instituting a mandatory school uniform, and offering an International Business Program, which will focus on developing foreign language and entrepreneurial skills in its students.
HOPE began its first academic year with grades Kindergarten through 4 and continues to grow a grade annually to eventually accommodate grades Kindergarten through 8.