Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School

Our Mission

It is the mission of the Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School to create a safe and nurturing community of learners where students earn the Seal of Biliteracy (English and Spanish), learn to advocate for social justice and are prepared to enjoy and access what the world has to offer.

Our Vision

If a child cannot learn the way we teach, then we will learn to teach the way the child can learn.

Our History

In 1998, Julio Vázquez, as the President and CEO of Ibero American Action League, saw the Charter School Legislation as an opportunity to improve the educational alternatives for city students. Through Mr. Vázquez’s leadership, Ibero American Action League agreed to sponsor the development of a charter school. Ibero American Action League is a non-profit, grassroots organization. Its mission is to empower and enable the Latino community and others to reach for a better life. It carries out its mission through the following programs: Family Services, Development Disabilities, Residential Services, Project Link, Early Childhood Services, Education and Training, Centro de Oro (Senior Citizens), Emergency and Volunteer Services. The charter school legislation provided another avenue for Ibero to carry out its mission. ​

Mr. Vázquez brought together Dr. Miriam Vázquez, who was a principal in one of the schools within the Rochester City School District, and Mr. Eugenio Marlin who was the Vice-President for Development and Communications at Ibero, to discuss the possibilities of submitting an application for a charter school. In addition, parents, the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, YMCA, Hochstein School of Music and several area colleges were asked to be involved. They proposed a bilingual school to the State University of New York (SUNY) Charter School Institute. The following people became the founding members for the development of the school application: Mr. Julio Vázquez, Dr. Miriam Vázquez, Mr. Eugenio Marlin, Mr. George Romell (President YMCA Greater Rochester), Ms. Maribel Maldonado (Parent), Dr. Mark LaCelle-Peterson (State University College at Geneseo) and Dr. Margaret Quackenbush (President Hochstein School of Music). Upon consensus, the group agreed to name the school Eugenio María de Hostos. The name, Eugenio María de Hostos, was chosen because Mr. de Hostos is an excellent example of the importance of people helping others, as well as how one person can positively impact the lives of so many. ​

In March of 2000, SUNY approved the application and a charter was issued authorizing the establishment of the Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School. The school welcomed its first group of 120 Kindergarten through second-grade students in September 2000. During its first charter, the school grew to include grades K – 6. The middle school grades were added in September 2010. During its third renewal, the school was authorized to expand from 2 sections to 4 sections per grade level and to add the high school grades.

We are a public charter school located within the Rochester City School District. We educate students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade in the city as well as the surrounding suburbs. We instill PRIDE in all of our students every day.

PRIDE

Perseverance – I have put forth my best effort without being asked to do so.

Respect – I have worked cooperatively with others and respected their voices by listening and not speaking out of turn with no reminders or cues.

Integrity – I have consistently followed classroom norms without being reminded or cued.

Dedication – I have completed all my classwork and contributed to classroom discussions without prompting.

Excellence – I have been a role model for my peers and am proud of myself. I have set my own goals and reached them this week.