Summary of Our Strategic Plan
We will overcome key challenges with focus on initiatives that drive positive change.
- Academic progress for our students will result from principals being instructional leaders, teachers trained in data-driven instruction and implementation of our new math and literacy curricula, and teacher leaders trained to help other teachers improve instruction.
- Teacher retention, a major driver of academic quality, will improve as we raise salaries and benefits to more competitive levels. Compensation that is closer to market rate will likewise help with teacher recruitment.
- Student retention will improve with more streamlined and transparent processes for families, greater attention to high school readiness, proactive family engagement, and upgrades to school buildings.
- Fiscal stability will result from centralizing and staffing a robust fundraising operation, shifting to more reliable funding streams such as tax credits and endowment income, and ensuring families pay what they can afford.
- High-quality governance will result from increasing the board’s size and diversity, and shifting the board’s focus from managing a start-up to supporting the professional management team as a strategic partner.
Our Top Strategic Priorities
Best in Class Academics
- Significant increases in national achievement percentiles for math and literacy
- 85% teacher retention
Financial Sustainability
- Raise $17M to meet Strategic Priority program needs
- Raise $33M in permanent scholarship and facilities support
- Double the tax credit allocation per student
Exemplary Student & Family Experience
- 10% increase in students attending a high-quality high school
- All schools meet baseline facilities quality standards
- 85% student retention
Model Governance
- Add 10 new board members addressing high-need areas: fundraising, diversity, advocacy, and facilities
While we are incredibly proud of our achievements, it is also important to consider areas for improvement. Key existing challenges include pace of academic progress, teacher retention, student retention, balancing fiscal stability and mission, and shifting from start-up to high-quality governance.
These will drive our network strategy over the next five years as we transition IMS from a solid school choice option to a top-tier academic destination for students in and near Philadelphia by 2026.