Our Work

Sankofa Independent School Design is actively developing the academic framework for Chosen Preparatory Academy, an independent college preparatory secondary school being designed in Houston.

Our work is currently focused on what matters most: creating an exceptional educational experience for future students. Through a series of intensive Curriculum Design Retreats, interdisciplinary teams of accomplished educators, consultants, and school leaders are designing an academic model that cultivates intellectual authority, Christian formation, and purposeful leadership.

Phase 1: Foundational Frameworks (February)

Our inaugural retreat brought together thirteen experienced educators to establish the philosophical and academic foundation for Chosen Preparatory Academy. Working collaboratively, participants laid the groundwork by:

Defining Community Profiles
Developing holistic success profiles that articulate the qualities, dispositions, and aspirations of the Chosen Prep sixth grader, graduate, and educator.

Evaluating Advanced Academic Pathways
Examining the long-term implications of Advanced Placement and Honors curricular models to determine the academic framework best aligned with the school's mission and vision.

Establishing Standards of Excellence
Defining the principles of excellence, innovation, and rigor that will guide every aspect of the academic program, informed by enduring traditions of Black intellectual thought, cultural scholarship, and academic excellence.

Phase 2: Curriculum Development & Institutional Planning (June)

Building upon the philosophical foundation established in February, our summer retreat shifted to the detailed work of curriculum development and institutional design. Participants evaluated and refined the systems that will shape students' daily educational experience, including:

Academic Schedule Design
Reviewing the rotational schedule to optimize instructional time, student engagement, interdisciplinary learning, athletics, and opportunities for deep cognitive development.

Course Catalog Development
Evaluating early course descriptions, sequence maps, and curriculum plans to ensure the academic program reflects the level of intellectual challenge expected of leading college preparatory schools.

Integrated Specialist Teaching Model
Designing a collaborative instructional approach in which subject specialists work across disciplines to strengthen conceptual understanding, encourage meaningful connections between fields of study, and provide a more cohesive learning experience for students.

Institutional Design in Motion

Building a school requires thoughtful collaboration long before students enter the classroom. Every retreat brings together experienced educators who challenge assumptions, refine ideas, and contribute their expertise to shaping a distinctive academic program.

As the educational framework continues to evolve, it is being developed alongside governance, operational planning, financial sustainability, and campus planning so that every element of Chosen Preparatory Academy reflects a unified vision of excellence. This deliberate and integrated approach is helping lay the foundation for an institution designed to serve students and families with distinction for generations to come.

Designing institutions worthy of the students they serve.

Educators gathered to begin the work of designing Chosen Preparatory Academy's academic foundation — 026, Houston, TX

BY THE NUMBERS

18

EDUCATORS

2 of 3

One additional curriculum design retreat is planned for 2026 as the academic framework for Chosen Prep continues to be refined and integrated.