100 Percent of Urban Prep graduates are college-bound

CHICAGO, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Prep has accomplished what some thought would be impossible—especially in Chicago, which has been in the national spotlight recently for tragic news about its youth. All the seniors from Urban Prep's Englewood campus and the seniors from the inaugural graduating class from its West campus, 167 African-American males, have been accepted to a four-year college or university. (85% of Urban Prep students come from low-income families, and many start Urban Prep at least two grade levels behind.) 

This student body continues to exceed expectations in a city where fewer than 40 percent of African American males finish high school. This 100 percent achievement has become a tradition that Urban Prep is proud to continue and today, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hailed the students and the school.

Today, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Urban Prep Academies' founder and CEO Tim King, students, faculty and parents for a special assembly recognizing seniors who have received their acceptance letters and exchanged the red uniform ties they have worn since their enrollment at Urban Prep for red-and-gold striped ties signifying their college-bound status. In addition to the entire student body of Urban Prep's Englewood and West Campuses, students from Urban Prep's Bronzeville campus attended the assembly to honor their "brothers."

"The students of the Urban Prep Academies have not only cleared the academic bar, they have raised the bar for all of us," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Their accomplishment today is a ringing example that when you have a teacher in the classroom that is committed, a principal in the school who is accountable and adults at home that are involved, any student from any neighborhood or background in Chicago can achieve the dream of graduating and going to college." 

As of today, the members of Urban Prep's class of 2013 have been accepted to over 115 different four-year colleges and universities, including: Connecticut College, Cornell University, Morehouse College, Howard University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This year, for the first time, students have also been admitted to Dartmouth College, Kenyon College, The University of Notre Dame, and The University of Pennsylvania.  Students are still awaiting decisions from many other colleges and universities.

In total, this year's seniors have been awarded more than $6 million in scholarships and grants to date, and seven students are Gates Millennium Scholar finalists (winners will be named in April).

At the event, Urban Prep also announced a $150,000 donation from the Citi Foundation for Urban Prep's Alumni Affairs program, also known as Project GOLD, which works to support Urban Prep's approximately 300 graduates enrolled in college. Specifically, through the program, dedicated Urban Prep staff members connect alumni with resources on their college campuses, such as academic advisors, minority affairs offices and financial aid resources; and provide auxiliary academic counseling, such as help with class selection, as well as provide social-emotional support.

"Entering college is an exciting and also a challenging time in anyone's life," said Helen Hammond-Redding, senior vice president and Illinois state director, Citi Community Development. "However, many high school grads, like those from Urban Prep, are the first in their families to do so and many of them, especially African-American males, do not receive the ongoing support they need to ensure successful college careers. Project GOLD will train and support them as they strive to earn their college degrees." 

Additionally, Urban Prep's Alumni Affairs Office tracks the number of alumni from its graduating classes who enroll in college. Urban Prep alumni from the classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012 have a 96 percent college enrollment rate—the highest of any Chicago Public School (CPS) – that exceeds national averages. Urban Prep alumni are also persisting or, staying in, college at record rates: 83 percent of Urban Prep graduates persisted in college compared to only 70 percent for CPS and 42 percent for African-American males nationally.

"When we founded Urban Prep, we wanted to increase the number of African-American males earning college degrees," said Tim King, founder and CEO, Urban Prep Academies. "Our record college acceptance, college enrollment, and college persistence rates demonstrate that we're changing the game. Consider this fact: one in twenty Black males from CPS enrolling in college since we graduated our first class is an Urban Prep alumnus—and that's just when we had one campus, now we have three. Our schools, our teachers, and our students are making a real difference in how Black males are perceived in our country. I couldn't be prouder."

Urban Prep will host commencement exercises for this year's graduating seniors on June 7, 2013 at the UIC Forum.

About Urban Prep
Urban Prep Academies was founded in 2002 by Tim King and a group of African-American education, business and civic leaders who wanted to improve the educational opportunities available to urban boys. In 2005, this nonprofit organization was approved to open Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men – Englewood Campus. Urban Prep is the country's first charter public high school for boys. Since accepting its first class in the fall of 2006, Urban Prep has been recognized internationally for its success in improving the academic, social and emotional development of urban young men. Urban Prep now operates three schools in Chicago. 100% of Urban Prep's graduates have been admitted to college. The Urban Prep Motto is We Believe.    

SOURCE Urban Prep