In order to dramatically affect the performance of apprentices within the school day, Citizen Schools builds a campus culture of achievement, in which apprentices are inspired to work hard to attain success, and to collaborate with their teammates to bring the whole team to higher levels of achievement. Our staff know that they determine what their students will value within the four walls of the school. They are purposeful about the ideals they promote among students, and they package those ideals in ways students will understand.  As a result of these efforts, campus teams create an environment where learning is considered cool and students begin to identify themselves as achievers.

All our program elements unite to reinforce this culture, signaled with visual, verbal and behavioral rituals like Circles, Team Time and Speak Up Club. Within small, diverse teams of students led by a Citizen Schools-trained Team Leader, apprentices develop self-knowledge, identity and pride.