Zoe Nightingale

Introducing Natalie Cooper. The founder and principal of Uncommon Schools in Camden NJ. Camden has long suffered from poverty, high incarceration rates, and lack of opportunity for its residents. However, it is a city of tremendous resilience, character and love, and it’s a city working hard to improve the quality of life for its residents. There are many ways in which this city is rising, and one of them is with the help of the Uncommon School Camden Prep. Uncommon schools is a network of 55 charter schools across the east coast. Four of those schools, Camden Prep, are located in Camden, NJ. Camden Prep serves over 800 students in grades K-9, and will grow to serve grades K-12 by 2023. Even though 98% of the student population qualifies for free or reduced price lunch, Camden Prep has proven that circumstances do not determine destiny – in 2015, Camden Prep was ranked the highest performing public or Renaissance school in the city of Camden and has retained that title ever since. During these challenging tim