Lottery to Select Southland College Prep, Only Public Charter High School in Chicago Suburbs, Class of 2015

RICHTON PARK, Ill., April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A public lottery will be held Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. to select Southland College Prep Charter High School's class of 2015.

Many of the 272 elementary school students who have applied to enter the first and only public charter high school in Chicago suburbs and their parents are expected to attend.

"This public lottery is another Southland College Prep milestone, for the students selected at this event will be the first class to complete all four years of their high school education in a totally rebuilt state-of-the-art 21st century school," said Dr. Blondean Davis, Superintendent of Matteson Elementary District 162 and volunteer CEO of Southland College Prep.

Southland's next freshman class of approximately 130 students will be selected using a lottery machine containing numbered ping pong balls drawn at random. By law, an Illinois public charter high school may use only residency in the school's district to select students.

Currently, 121 freshmen are enrolled in Southland College Prep, which opened in August 2010 in Huth Middle School in Matteson, Illinois. Earlier this month, Southland students, faculty and staff moved into an 85,000 square foot three-story building, a former insurance company call center which was completely rebuilt into a secondary school.

Over the next three years, classes of approximately 125 students each will be added to reach Southland's enrollment cap of 500 students set by the Illinois State Board of Education.

"Southland Charter offers a choice for students and a hope for the future.  Every child has a right to learn and can achieve the 21st century skills needed for success—to think critically and to problem solve," Dr. Davis said. 

Southland's students have 21st century classroom tools: an electronic portfolio of work, a blog for each subject, technology-based collaborative learning with fellow students, access to video conferencing and technology assisted home-school communication to keep parents informed.

Southland has a 20:1 pupil teacher ratio with an emphasis on foreign languages and the arts.  During the final 90 minutes of their nine-hour school day, students participate in art, debate, dance, chorus, student council, yearbook, speech, creative writing, poetry or future business leaders of America sessions.

Physical education focuses on fitness and health offering aerobics and cardio exercise plus games and activities requiring stamina and agility.

SOURCE Southland College Prep