NEW YORK — Three exceptional high schools have been named 2010 College Board Inspiration Award winners for improving their academic environments and helping underserved students achieve equitable access to higher education. Each winning school will receive a $25,000 award, and each of the six honorable mention schools will receive $1,000 to apply toward programs that encourage students to attend college.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, commenting on today’s announcement, said, “The President has set a goal that by the end of the decade America will once again lead the world in college completion. We need to prepare our students for success in college and careers. Schools throughout the country are stepping up to that challenge and those who are succeeding should be rewarded and recognized. Our nation’s economic future depends on their continued success.
The 2010 Inspiration Award–winning schools are:
- Medgar Evers College Preparatory School, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Green Run High School, Virginia Beach, Va.
- Hogan Preparatory Academy, Kansas City, Mo.
The College Board will honor each of the schools at special inspirational assemblies attended by administrators, faculty, students, parents and local dignitaries. On April 19, College Board President Gaston Caperton will present a 2010 Inspiration Award to Medgar Evers College Preparatory School. On April 27, College Board Senior Vice President Peter Negroni will present an Inspiration Award to Green Run High School. Then on May 13, he will present the third Inspiration Award to Hogan Preparatory Academy.
The Inspiration Awards celebrate America’s most improved high schools. These schools help their students acquire self-confidence and the skills necessary not only to gain admission to college but also to succeed on campus. Winning secondary schools demonstrate significant and consistent growth across the entire student population in the number of students taking rigorous courses and the percentage of graduates accepted to institutions of higher education.
In announcing the winners, Caperton said, “We are delighted to honor the 2010 Inspiration Award winners. Through their dedication and commitment, the teachers, administrators, students and community partners have created high-quality, innovative programs that are helping students graduate from high school and go on to college.”
Medgar Evers College Preparatory School
Medgar Evers College Preparatory School is a neighborhood school for students in grades six through 12 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The school serves a student population that is underserved and economically disadvantaged, and is committed to providing every student with a superlative college-preparatory education.
In 2001, when a new principal took over, Medgar Evers had a graduation rate of 60 percent, and less than 15 percent of its students received New York State Regents Diplomas. Low standards were the norm and only a basic curriculum was provided. The new principal recruited effective and motivated teachers and instituted a curriculum that emphasized academic rigor. Today, students can choose from among 17 AP® courses, and a dual enrollment program with Medgar Evers College CUNY was established.
Now, all students are immersed in academically challenging course work. They must complete at least one AP course in English, mathematics, science and the social sciences. Enrollment in credit-bearing college courses and research internships at Medgar Evers College begins in the 10th grade, and students may earn up to 11 college credits each semester beginning in the 11th grade. Student creativity, character development and social responsibility are cultivated through individualized guidance and college advisement, athletics, clubs, fine and performing arts events, community service, and mentorships.
The college culture of the school is emphasized as parents learn about AP and dual enrollment classes. Parent–teacher meetings and Leadership Team meetings draw parents into the school. Counselors begin to talk to students and parents about college in the sixth grade. Parents of seniors and juniors are invited to participate in the school's annual college fair, and financial aid workshops are offered to parents at the school and through Medgar Evers College.
In 2009, the graduation rate at Medgar Evers College Preparatory was 95 percent, and more than 90 percent of students graduated with Regents and Advanced Regents Diplomas. Additionally, Medgar Evers College Preparatory students were accepted to more than100 colleges and universities in the United States.
Commenting on the success of the school, New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said, “I congratulate Principal Michael Wiltshire and the students of Medgar Evers College Preparatory School for winning the College Board’s Inspiration Award. Since 2006, Medgar Evers has made improvements throughout the school community, earning its title as one of the nation’s most improved secondary schools. Brooklyn, and all of New York City, should be proud of this achievement.”
Green Run High School
Ethnically diverse Green Run High School has an enrollment of 1,661 students with many facing barriers in reaching college success. Yet, in cooperation with students, families and the community, the school is dedicated to fostering educational excellence in a safe and nurturing environment.
Because many students do not have family members who have attended college, nor a peer group that encourages academic pursuits, Green Run has created several programs to create an academic environment that allows students to acquire the information they need to consider college a possibility.
The Green Run Minority Achievement Committee (GMAC) and the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program motivate students to go on to college. GMAC assists at-risk male African American students in college preparation. Both programs empower students to excel academically and instill in them a moral responsibility to society. GMAC students are divided into “houses,” and each house is assigned local mentors who monitor each student’s progress and provide guidance throughout high school. The principal is an active mentor in the program. Counselors encourage students to challenge themselves by taking honors and AP courses.
Parental participation also is helping to create a college-going culture. Parents are encouraged to attend Junior/Senior Night to learn about the college application process. AP Potential™ workshops are held, and seminars include grade-level timelines for the college bound, an explanation of the NCAA process and financial aid information. AVID and ACCESS programs also provide families with college information.
Graduation rates continue to grow at Green Run. In 2009, 79 percent of seniors indicated their intent to attend a two or four year college or university and students earned approximately $1.9 million in college scholarships.
Green Run High School Principal George Parker III said, “Without all of the Green Run educators who are willing to take the lead and manage programs that require a lot of time and effort outside of the classroom, none of this success would have been possible.”
Hogan Preparatory Academy
Hogan Preparatory Academy, a small charter school in Kansas City, Mo., provides a high-quality, individualized, values-based college-preparatory education for students who, through the school’s programs, become dedicated to personal achievement and academic success, and are committed to the community.
At Hogan, 98 percent of the students are African American, and 80 percent come from low-income families. Most will be the first in their families to go to college. Although a typical student enters Hogan with academic skills more than two years below grade level, all students complete a college-preparatory curriculum and go on to college. Eighty percent of Hogan’s graduates from the classes of 2007 and 2008 have matriculated to and persisted in college. All 2009 graduates were accepted to college.
Hogan has worked to increase the involvement of parents in the education of their students. It has particularly focused on trying to increase the involvement of adult males in students' lives. The school’s Parent Center, which serves as a welcome space, provides parent education classes. In addition, Hogan has organized events such as Mornings for Moms and Donuts for Dads to increase the presence of parents in the school.
Hogan has been recognized in Newsweek's “Best U.S. High Schools” for its high AP participation rate, and credits its AP program and other interventions for the improved postsecondary success of its students. The school is affiliated with the University of Central Missouri.
Hogan Preparatory Academy Principal Danny Tipton said, “There is a common understanding among the community and students that if you want to go to college, Hogan Prep will prepare you to get there.”
Awards Reflect Importance of Access to Higher Education
“The 2010 Inspiration Award winners show that school innovation can help close the achievement gap,” said Caperton. “Through their example, many more students will graduate ready to participate in a competitive global economy.”
A distinguished panel of Inspiration Award judges selected this year’s winners based on the schools’ success in increasing the number of students (from all school demographic groups) being prepared for college.
The 2010 Inspiration Award judges included:
- Brian Cashman, general manager, New York Yankees
- Edwidge Danticat, award-winning author and professor
- Mike Marriner, Roadtrip Nation
- Roy Romer, former Colorado governor and former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District
College-preparedness gains were measured based on a variety of factors, including the percentage of students taking college-preparatory core curriculum courses; the percentage of students accepted into two- or four-year colleges; and growth in student participation in rigorous classes such as AP. Beyond meeting basic eligibility requirements, the Inspiration Award–winning schools were selected for their innovative ability to inspire student success.
The following schools are recipients of the College Board 2010 Inspiration Award Honorable Mention, and each school has received a $1,000 award:
- Dysart High School, El Mirage, Ariz.
- George Washington Carver Magnet High School, Houston, Texas
- Johnny G. Economedes High School, Edinburg, Texas
- Metropolitan Learning Center for Global and International Studies, Bloomfield, Conn.
- South Webster High School, South Webster, Ohio
- Thurgood Marshall Academy, Washington, D.C.
More information about the College Board Inspiration Awards is available at www.collegeboard.com/inspirationawards.
The College Board
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid and enrollment. Among its widely recognized programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®), SpringBoard® and ACCUPLACER®. The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Topiel, The College Board, 212-713-8052, communications@collegeboard.org