Charter school in Englewood gets all seniors admitted to college

This Tribune article was crossposted @ The Sixth Ward

I think this is wonderful news that should be lauded.

The entire senior class at Chicago's only public all-male, all-African-American high school has been accepted to four-year colleges. At last count, the 107 seniors had earned spots at 72 schools across the nation.

Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman surprised students at an all-school assembly at Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Englewood this morning to congratulate them. It's the first graduating class at Urban Prep since it opened its doors in 2006.

Huberman applauded the seniors for making CPS shine.

"All of you in the senior class have shown that what matters is perseverance, what matters is focus, what matters is having a dream and following that dream," Huberman said.

The school enforces a strict uniform of black blazers, khaki pants and red ties -- with one exception. After a student receives the news he was accepted into college, he swaps his red tie for a red and gold one at an assembly.

The last 13 students received their college ties today, to thunderous applause.

This is something I think is key and wished I had when I was in high school. It might have helped me immensly.

College is omnipresent at the school. Before the students begin their freshman year, they take a field trip to Northwestern University. Every student is assigned a college counselor the day he steps foot in the school.

The school offers an extended day--170,000 more minutes over four years compared to its counterparts across the city--and more than double the number of English credits usually needed to graduate.

I wonder what other English do those students take other than composition or literature?

And I like the idea of assigning a college counselor to every student. Of course I wonder if I would take advantage of such access. Perhaps back then I wouldn't of, but if I knew now what I didn't know then. Of course if that was the mission of my school then the outlook would be much different.