The
Icahn Charter School network in the South Bronx has been quietly registering
extraordinary test results for years, while nurturing its students in an
atmosphere of "unconditional love," as its emotive leader, Jeff Litt, puts it.
"These kids are like my flesh and blood, and I would do anything for
them," says Litt, who walks the halls of his schools reminding students with
motherly consternation to take off their warm coats, tie their shoes, and not to
come to school without socks to avoid blisters.
Though you'll rarely read
or hear about, Icahn is the second highest achieving charter network in New York
City, after the much larger and more heralded Success Academy. While critics of
Success Academy have attributed its remarkably high test scores in part to the
excessive pressure they say it puts on kids, those same critics rarely pay
attention to Icahn, which has a more relaxed atmosphere and yet also posts
exceptionally high test scores.
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