COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Posted August 28, 2026

Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy Earns GREEN on the 2025–26 School Performance Framework

Highest Performance Rating in the History of the School

Dear Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy Community,

It is with tremendous pride and gratitude that I share some extraordinary news: Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy has earned the highest performance rating—GREEN—on the 2025–26 School Performance Framework (SPF).

This achievement represents far more than a rating. It is evidence of significant academic growth and equally significant achievement. It is a reflection of what can happen when students, educators, families, and a community commit themselves to a shared vision of excellence.

This journey has not been easy by any means. Over the past several years, we have faced obstacles at every corner—challenges that tested our resolve, our patience, and our belief in what was possible. Yet our scholars continued to demonstrate grit, tenacity, resilience, and courage. Most importantly, they made the courageous decision to place their academic futures at the center of their focus and work to remove the outside factors that could distract them from their education.

To our scholars: this accomplishment belongs to you. You showed us what happens when determination meets opportunity. You stayed the course, embraced the challenge, and proved that your circumstances do not have to define your destination.

To our exquisite educators and staff, this GREEN rating is also a direct reflection of your professionalism, expertise, commitment, and tenacity. For four years, you have ridden a roller coaster of emotions, navigated uncertainty, embraced difficult conversations, and continued to show up for our scholars. You taught, encouraged, challenged, supported, and believed. This achievement is a testament to the extraordinary educators who serve Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy every day.

To our parents, families, and community partners, thank you for standing with us. Your partnership, encouragement, advocacy, and belief in our scholars have been instrumental in this journey.

Let this achievement serve as a community announcement and a reminder that even in the face of opposition and adversity, the powers of good, truth, courage, and perseverance in education still reign supreme.

There are no shortcuts to high achievement.

There are no easy routes to excellence.

Excellence must be experienced, taught, modeled, practiced, and cultivated—every single day.

Our GREEN rating is not the finish line. It is evidence that the work is working—and an invitation to continue reaching higher.

Congratulations to our scholars. Congratulations to our families. Congratulations to our phenomenal staff. Congratulations to the entire Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy community.

We earned this moment.

Now, we build on it.

With tremendous pride and gratitude,

Dr. Fernando M. Branch
Principal
Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy