Several teachers agree that the school still faces problems of retention.

Accordingt to Sheppard-Brick, “that’s always going to be a problem with a school that has higher standards.”

“We need to make sure that we’re retaining students. It’s a really rigorous environment. Some students are not ready to rise to the expectations,” Connell says. “[But] I’ve seen what happens when they stay with us.”

—Staff writer Rediet T. Abebe can be reached at rtesfaye@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Linda Zhang can be reached at zhang53@fas.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: November 1, 2010

An earlier version of the Nov. 1 news article "Charter School Promotes High Expectations" incorrectly stated that the Community Charter School of Cambridge is the city’s only charter school. In fact, it is one of two charter high schools in Cambridge. Prospect Hill Academy Charter also has a high school campus in Cambridge.