About Us

Welcome to Propel - a Western Pennsylvania success story

Propel Schools is a not-for-profit, federation of public charter schools based in Pittsburgh, PA, dedicated to the mission of catalyzing the transformation of public education so that all children have access to high performing public schools

Ten years ago, we circulated a bold plan for proactively building an organization with the capacity to transform public education in the Western Pennsylvania region. It was a plan fraught with risks. Would it be possible to secure charters? Was there really parent demand for this kind of school choice? Would it be possible to secure the talent the ambitious plan required? How would effective governance work in such an organization?

Today, those questions are answered. Propel is serving nearly 3,000 children in nine school locations: Homestead, Turtle Creek, Montour, McKeesport, Munhall, Braddock Hills, Northside, and Pitcairn (2012-13). These schools serve a diverse student population that brings with it the full range of challenges that urban public schools face. Parents across the county (from over 20 different school districts) are signing their children up, and all seven schools have waiting lists. A talented education team with significant leadership depth is in place. A strong pool of trustees anchors a durable governance framework. And evidence of student results is rapidly accumulating. Our schools have the highest levels of student achievement among high poverty schools across the state of Pennsylvania. Propel has become both a regional asset and a national model, providing measurable evidence of how innovative public schools can expand opportunity for children and families and can revitalize communities.

The need for new schools and the challenge involved in creating them is already familiar to those who have been funding and running these efforts. But we continue to see a need for new schools where innovative educational arrangements can flourish, and we continue to believe that having institutions independent from the school districts creates a competitive dynamic that is in the long term best interest of our region. Having a strong viable Propel makes it more likely that school boards will select strong superintendents and then stick with those they select through the challenging task of remaking the region's schools.