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The Propel McKeesport elementary charter school on Versailles Avenue has been named the best in the United States by a national rating organization, officials announced today.

The award from the group New Leaders for New Schools validates the philosophy of teachers and administrators, who stress a climate of mutual respect and "no excuses" for pupils and parents, says Tina Chekan, principal since 2005.

The facility, which started in the former St. Nicholas parochial school, Downtown, is offering kindergarten through eighth grade for the first time this year. It's now in the former St. Mary Czestochowa parochial school, which has been expanded.

Propel Superintendent Carol Wooten says the Pittsburgh-based non-profit is "absolutely thrilled" with the award.

"We have something truly valuable to contribute about how schools in struggling urban communities can do more for children," Wooten says. "We look forward to sharing our best practices with other schools in Western Pennsylvania and across the country."

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Propel McKeesport was chosen the top school among 89 competing for the Effective Practice Incentive Community, or "EPIC," Gold Award from New Leaders, a New York City-based non-profit funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Last year, the city school was one of 21 receiving EPIC awards. The awards use the results of standardized reading and math tests to measure the impact of a school on students over a period of time.

During the most recent round of testing, 100 percent of Propel McKeesport fifth- and sixth-grade students scored "proficient" or "advanced" in math.

Propel McKeesport's fourth- through seventh-graders scored more than 71 percent "proficient" or "advanced" on standardized reading tests.

Nearly three-quarters are minority students and more than 85 percent are receiving free or reduced-cost student lunches because of their family income, says Anne D'Appolonia, Propel spokeswoman.

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The charter school, which by state law is paid for by the local school boards whose students attend, draws about 55 percent of its pupils from McKeesport Area, 30 percent from Duquesne and the remainder from South Allegheny and other nearby school districts.

According to state Department of Education statistics, 73 percent of McKeesport Area School District fifth-graders, 77 percent of those at South Allegheny, and 19 percent at Duquesne scored "proficient" or "advanced" in math. The average across Pennsylvania is 73 percent.

Chekan, a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and the University of Pittsburgh, says Propel tries to instill a "climate of urgency" in its 385 pupils, constantly reinforcing the idea that academics are important --- and that only they and their parents can ensure that they get an education.

"Students are given ownership in many ways," she says, "it's first and foremost in their learning process. The fifth-graders have a saying: 'In order to be the best, they have to beat the best.'"

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As a result, Chekan says, many students arrive for school more than a half-hour early in apparent eagerness to get started.

"I think when children enjoy coming to school, that makes a difference," she says. "I think we've truly established a positive culture in the building."

Although Propel McKeesport does offer extracurricular activities such as a musical, yearbook club and intramural sports teams, it stresses academics over athletics, she says.

Propel also demands that all parents or guardians meet with teachers regularly. If a parent misses two scheduled teacher conferences, Propel sends a school representative to the pupil's home instead.

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Chekan acknowledges that at least some of Propel's success is due to the fact that parents have taken an active interest in the education process, and selected their children to attend. There is currently a 1,200-student waiting list for Propel McKeesport.

But Chekan argues that much of Propel's success comes from the ability of teachers to share best practices across all six of its schools in Allegheny County, which serve 1,700 students, mainly in the Mon Valley but also in the Coraopolis-McKees Rocks area.

The school year is slightly longer --- 190 days versus 180 days in most local districts --- and the day is slightly longer, too, running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"More important than the additional time is how you use the time," Chekan says. "I think Propel is proving that all children can achieve despite challenging circumstances."

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