About Foundation Academies
Our Purpose, Story, Beliefs, and Approach Define Us
Our Mission
To ensure that all of our students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation's finest colleges, and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a wide range of intentional learning experiences in a joyful, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment so that all our scholars can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their purpose.
Our Story
Foundation Academies was founded in 2007 with one middle school. Since then, we have grown to serve more than 1,000 students, operating with four schools on two campuses. We are proud to be the largest and highest-ranking K-12 free public charter school in New Jersey’s capital city, Trenton. We were founded with the vision of a world where every child, irrespective of race, gender, or socioeconomic background, has access to a high-quality public education—and we work relentlessly to live up to this promise.
Learn More About Our Schools
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12
We are a team of experienced and mission-driven urban educators who value growth mindsets, lifelong learners, and individuals who believe that every child deserves an excellent education.
Our schools are just a quick car ride to downtown Princeton, a 45-minute SEPTA ride to Center City Philadelphia, or a hop on the NJ Transit Express to New York City.
At Foundation Academies, We Are
Committed
From kindergarten through high school and beyond, we pair high expectations with an all-hands-on-deck dedication to challenge, support, and cultivate the next generation of leaders.
Compassionate
We are receptive caretakers who empower and lead from the heart with kindness and empathy to nurture the social and emotional wellness of our students.
Outspoken
We are bold and direct, and just like family, we put the needs of our children first. We instill honorable values, hold each other accountable, and enthusiastically embrace the journey of growth with fierce honesty.
Welcoming
With our inviting, family-first culture, we provide an accepting, inclusive environment and a sense of belonging to students, parents, and the greater Trenton community.
Our Core Beliefs
Family First
We believe strongly in relationships. We love our students, our families, and the Trenton community. Even when we do not agree, LOVE is at the root of what we do and how we do it. As we have grown as an organization, we have intentionally kept our schools small so that relationships stay at the forefront.
Growth-Focused
We believe in the importance of humility, recognizing that constant growth is necessary for all people. The Foundation Academies faculty and staff are working together to embody an ever-evolving organization committed to continuously providing a better education for our kids. We want them to embrace lifelong habits of adapting and growing by accepting that learning never ends. To accomplish this, we need to constantly reflect, learn, and challenge each other to be better.
Excellence Always
We believe in the pursuit of excellence in everything that we do. Our classroom instruction, our string concerts, our facilities: all of them should exude excellence. Our children deserve to be raised in that environment so they can thrive and reach their potential.