Dear Friend,
The 37 high school students who attend LYDIA Urban Academy are a diverse bunch. Some test below a sixth-grade reading level, others do well academically but need one-on-one instruction to stay on task. Some students come from broken homes, while others benefit from a solid family life. We have former gang members, teenage moms and kids whose parents don't speak English. Not to mention those who are dealing with anxiety disorders, past drug use and poverty.
In the midst of all this diversity is one common thread: these students want to graduate from high school. Dropping out would be so much easier. But they know that the key to long-term success is education. Our teachers are determined to help them achieve their goals and, slowly but surely, these students are succeeding.
In May, four students graduated from LUA campuses in Chicago and Rockford, and we expect four more to graduate in December. One May grad, Bianca, has come a long way. Before enrolling at LUA-Rockford, Bianca was a D student who had already spent time in juvenile detention for fighting. Within a few days at LUA, something "clicked," and she began to learn and succeed as never before. Bianca is now attending classes at a local technical college. CLICK TO READ MORE |
