WATCH VIDEO OF HIGH SCHOOL WITH 100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE
Shot, reported and edited by Lana Schupbach.
Today's education statistics are sobering. While test scores
continue to gradually improve, many ask if that is happening at a fast
enough rate? According to the New York State Education Department,
"Statewide, almost 72 percent of the students who started 9th grade in
2005 had graduated after 4 years, by June 2009." However, among
African-American students, "The 4-year graduation rate increased from
45 to almost 56 percent between 2005 and 2009." In New York City the
graduation rate for all students rose from 56.4 percent in 2008 to 59
percent in 2009.
However, there are schools that are bucking this trend and providing
students with the educational opportunities that they need and deserve.
One such school is The Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem.
It's one of five schools in The Young Women's Leadership Network. Other
locations in the system include: Jamaica, Queens; Astoria, Queens;
Brooklyn and Rhodes, which is located in Philadelphia.
The flagship East Harlem school was opened in 1996 and follows an
all-girls public education model. According to officials associated
with the school, the concept of this single-sex focused school for
young women was met with criticism in the beginning on why it was going
to focus on just one sex, and whether or not it could be successful.
However, the proof is in the numbers.
Since their first graduating class in 2001, the East Harlem school
has had a 100 percent college acceptance rate in each successive class.
Furthermore, it has been rated as being in the top 4 percent of high
schools in New York City. Beyond the numbers there are four priority
areas the school hones in on that may produce the aforementioned
results: Math, Science and technology; Leadership, Health and Wellness
and College preparation.
This network also supports a program known as CollegeBound
Initiative, which is a school-based college guidance program for coed
and single-sex public schools. From the moment a young woman enters TYWLS,
as it's affectionately known amongst students and staff, college
preparation is a major focus. According to college counselor Chris
Farmer, "When they started TYWLS they
created a mission statement and part of their mission is to prepare
young women for college and everyone at the school, every single person
genuinely believes in that. It's at the core of the soul of the school
so everything we do is preparing young women for college."
The success of the East Harlem School can also be attributed to its
regimented daily approach and the culture of responsibility that has
been created according to Principal Althea Bradshaw-Tyson. "They might
not admit that we care about them in the beginning because we're very
strict with certain things. You must get your homework done; you must
be in school on time. If you're not here we're calling your parents.
But come 11th and 12th grade, they realize we're doing it for their own
good."
It's not just the school's administrators who see the benefit of
their approach but students as well. "They need a small school so the
students can feel like they're interacting with what the school is
trying to give us. I think the small environment is good for everyone.
And I think the fact that the school is so focused on getting girls to
college and getting us to be successful really helps," according to
senior Crystal Civil who is set to attend Hunter College in the fall.
And with students and administrators on the same page it's a win-win situation for all.
By Shanta N. Covington
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