The Lighthouse
Newsletter
Dear CLF Community,
As we begin a new academic year, I am filled with pride and optimism for what lies ahead. During our opening visits, I had the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions, welcome our dedicated educators back, and share in the excitement of our students’ first day. The enthusiasm across our schools was a wonderful reminder that our strength begins with our people.
This year marks another important milestone with the opening of our newest facility, Chesapeake Science Point Middle School, an essential part of the CSP Middle and High School expansion. This growth was further supported by federal grant funding, enabling us to expand educational opportunities and serve more students and families.
We also begin the year celebrating CLF’s systemwide Cognia accreditation. This national recognition reflects the quality, consistency, and commitment to continuous improvement found across all CLF schools. Our schools have once again earned four- and five-star ratings on Maryland’s State Report Cards, while demonstrating continued growth in academic performance. In addition, our high schools have again been recognized among the nation’s top high schools in the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings.
We are equally grateful for our strong and renewed partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools. I extend my sincere appreciation to district leadership, our Board, school communities, families, and all stakeholders whose collaboration and support continue to strengthen our shared work on behalf of students.
These accomplishments belong to our entire community, our teachers, administrators, staff, students, families, board members, district partners, and supporters. As we celebrate how far we have come, we remain focused on the future and committed to providing every student with an outstanding education.
Thank you for being an essential part of the CLF family. I wish everyone a joyful, productive, and successful academic year.
Warm regards,
Yilmaz Zayn Ak, Ed.S.
Chief Executive Officer
Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation
Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) announced today that it has earned Cognia® Initial Accreditation across all of its CMIT and CSP public charter schools. Cognia is a nonprofit school improvement organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers worldwide.
Although Maryland charter schools are not required to pursue independent accreditation because they operate within local school districts, CLF voluntarily undertook Cognia's rigorous accreditation process to demonstrate its commitment to educational excellence, strong organizational practices, and continuous improvement.
"Initial Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission gives Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to building a strong foundation for improvement and enacting meaningful change based on our initial evaluation and feedback," said Mr. Ak, CEO of Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation. "This achievement belongs to our entire CLF community — our administrative teams, teachers, staff, students, and families — whose dedication made it possible."
Cognia recognizes schools and systems across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Initial Accreditation, institutions must show evidence of meeting Cognia's Essential Requirements, demonstrate commitment to the accreditation process, and host an Initial Accreditation Review.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, "Cognia Initial Accreditation is a rigorous, but flexible process where we work with schools and systems at every stage — from pre-launch to fully operational — provided they meet our nine foundational Essential Requirements. These institutions undergo an initial review to ensure they are committed to improvement, and in their two-year initial accreditation period, they can leverage Cognia's improvement resources to prepare for their Accreditation Engagement Review. We commend Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation for beginning their improvement journey with initial accreditation and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning."
CLF encourages families and community members to join in celebrating this milestone, which reflects both the strength of its STEM-focused schools today and its ongoing commitment to strengthening the educational experience it provides in the years ahead.
About Cognia
Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 100 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Learn more at cognia.org.
About Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation
Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) is a nonprofit charter school operator serving students in Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, through its network of CMIT and CSP public charter schools. CLF is committed to providing a rigorous, STEM-focused education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Learn more at clfmd.org.
Chesapeake Science Point Middle School opened its doors this fall as a school of its own ; a milestone three years in the making!
When the Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved the merger of CSP Elementary with CSP Middle/High in May 2023, it came paired with a multiyear expansion plan. That plan guaranteed CSP fifth graders a seat in middle school without re-entering the lottery, and prioritized new seats for students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, students with IEPs, and multilingual learners.
Delivering on it meant building. Construction began in May 2025, framing went up that September, and after final inspections in May, the building was turned over to CLF in June 2026. The result at 7320 Parkway Drive South is our middle schoolers having their own gymnasium, cafeteria, classrooms, and a dedicated robotics space just across from the high school.
Under Principal Casandra Andrew, CSP MS begins its first year grounded in PRIDE — Preparedness, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. Welcome to your new home, Tigers.
Be on the lookout for information regarding the grand opening next month!
Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation is excited to welcome four new Extended Learning Program Coordinators to our CMIT campuses this year: Sinan Bilgen at CMIT North Middle, Zehra Dundar at CMIT North High, Lenora Felder at CMIT South Middle, and Tonya Feaster at CMIT South High. In this new role, our Coordinators are the driving force behind everything that happens beyond the school day: organizing and growing clubs, tutoring, Saturday programming, boot camps, and STEM competitions, while building partnerships with families and the community to expand opportunities for our students. Please join us in welcoming them to the CLF family as they help light the way for excellence in learning at every campus!
Our schools have once again demonstrated exceptional academic performance, strong graduation rates, and outstanding college readiness in the latest U.S. News & World Report 2026–2027 Best High Schools rankings.
Highlighting their excellence within their respective districts and across Maryland, here are the top achievements of our schools:
Chesapeake Science Point (CSP)
Scorecard: 96.33
#16 in Maryland High Schools
#2 in Anne Arundel County Public Schools High Schools
#10 in Baltimore, MD Metro Area High Schools
Chesapeake Math and IT Public Charter (CMIT North)
Scorecard: 81.42
#67 in Maryland High Schools
#4 in Prince George's County Public Schools High Schools
#73 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools
Chesapeake Math and IT South Public Charter (CMIT South)
Scorecard: 80.73
#69 in Maryland High Schools
#5 in Prince George's County Public Schools High Schools
#76 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools
Additionally, all three schools maintained an outstanding graduation rate of 95% or higher, reaffirming our dedication to setting students up for future success. Congratulations to our incredible students, teachers, administrators, and parents for making these achievements possible!
CSP Elementary
CSP Middle
