Washington Heights High School Seniors Plan March to Post Office to Mail in College Applications

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, N.Y., Dec 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's graduating class from the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) in New York City will march to the local post office on Wednesday, December 14, at 12:30, to mail in their 2012 college applications, while 500 of their fellow students, faculty, family and friends cheer them on.  

The students, most of whom will be the first in their families to attend college, are marching to raise awareness of the value of a college education and to inspire other students to obtain a higher education.  The WHEELS students are applying to numerous colleges, including schools in the City University of New York system, the State University of New York system as well as private colleges and universities.

The students are also the first-ever graduating class of WHEELS, which was established in September 2006 as a public school in Community School District 6, one of the most overcrowded districts in New York City.  The school's approximately 600 students are 97 percent Latino and all qualify under federal guidelines for free lunch. While nationally almost half of all Latino students never graduate from high school[1], WHEELS projects that 100 percent of its seniors will have applied to more than one college.

"We're incredibly proud of the first graduating class of WHEELS, they have worked very hard to prepare for the next phase of their academic journey," said Brett Kimmel, Principal, Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School. "At WHEELS, our goal is to equip our students academically, emotionally, intellectually and socially for success in college and beyond." 

The WHEELS school is part of NYC Outward Bound's network of Expeditionary Learning schools, which Kimmel says has a lot to do with its success.  The NYC Outward Bound and Expeditionary Learning model challenges students to become self-motivated learners, think critically and to take active roles in their classrooms and communities. This approach results in higher achievement and greater engagement in school, Kimmel says.

"This is a proud day for the entire WHEELS school community, especially for this year's seniors and their families," said New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott. "Creating a successful new school is not easy, so it's truly remarkable to see every student apply to college in this very first graduating class. Congratulations to Principal Brett Kimmel and all the WHEELS teachers and staff."

Chancellor Walcott, along with other community leaders, will attend the event to help honor the WHEELS senior class.

Among local businesses supporting the march, Capital One Bank volunteers will serve lunch to the students at the post-march celebration, in addition to other forms of assistance. Capital One Bank's support is in association with a larger partnership with WHEELS, in which the bank has donated more than $175,000 to the school's work with NYC Outward Bound and matched that financial commitment with a range of volunteer efforts such as repairing the school's library, purchasing books for students, helping to expand financial literacy education at the school and advising school administrators on capacity building efforts.

About WHEELS

Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) opened in September 2006 as a public school in Community School District 6, one of the most overcrowded districts in New York City.  It is part of NYC Outward Bound's network of Expeditionary Learning schools. WHEELS' mission is to work with families to prepare each sixth-twelfth grade student academically, emotionally, intellectually and socially to succeed in a college of her/his choice and beyond.  WHEELS is rated as an "A" school by the Department of Education and has been recognized as a "Transformational School" by Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp in her book A Chance to Make History (2011).  The approximately 600 students are 97% Latino and all qualify under federal guidelines for free lunch.  The class of 2012 is WHEELS' first graduating class and 2012 is also the year that WHEELS alumni will begin succeeding in college. 

[1] "Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth are Being Left Behind by the Graduation Rate Crisis," The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University and The Urban Institute. 2004  

CONTACT:  Paola Vita, NYC Outward Bound
718.706.9900, [email protected]

[1] "Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth are Being Left Behind by the Graduation Rate Crisis," The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University and The Urban Institute. 2004

SOURCE Outward Bound