Kudos From Teach for America Founder
“Today, there are dozens of communities with at least one and in many cases growing numbers of schools that are putting whole buildings of kids on track to graduating from college at a pace similar to that of children in much more privileged communities. Here in Milwaukee, Milwaukee College Prep is a public charter school serving 480 students, 99% of whom are African-American and more than 80% of whom receive free and reduced priced lunch. Milwaukee College Prep has reversed the achievement gap, scoring above suburban averages on statewide tests. Just as is the case in Kalyn’s experience, what is clear about the success of Milwaukee College Prep and the growing numbers of high-performing schools in low-income communities is that what accounts for its success isn’t elusive. As Linnaea Thomas, a Teach For America alumna who is Milwaukee College Prep’s elementary dean, told me, “In a lot of ways it’s not as complicated as I thought it would be.” The school has a dedicated, driven leader and staff members who believe in kids, it provides students a rigorous curriculum at the grade level above where they are supposed to be. It provides lots of extra support, with extra teachers in classrooms to help meet students’ extra needs and an extended school day. Just as is the case in any high-performing institution, there is a strong focus on building a strong culture around clearly defined values.
“A few weeks ago, the researchers who analyzed Milwaukee’s performance on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress shared publicly that they couldn’t tell from the test results that the eighth graders had been in school. In the face of what Milwaukee College Prep shows is possible, this is unconscionable. Milwaukee College Prep shows us that it doesn’t have to be this way.”
— Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America MU Commencement Speech,
May 23,2010
Super Scholars’ Success
Another indicator of success that best describes Milwaukee College Prep’s success is the high school acceptance letters our 8th grade scholars receive. Our 8th graders continue to be accepted at high-profile high schools. One of our graduates is attending the Thacher School on a full $40,000 a year scholarship! Every student at Thacher gets a great education in their pristine setting in the mountains outside of Santa Barbara, CA, and also gets their own horse. Students are required to get up each morning to care for their horse before heading to classes, and they ride several days a week.
Other graduates have earned admission and scholarships to Exeter Academy (NH), Piney Woods (MS), St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy (Delafield, WI),Wayland Academy (Beaver Dam, WI), Brookfield Academy, University School, Marquette, Dominican, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Pius, and Rufus King among others.
Alumni Success
Our alumni are forging ahead on the path of success as well. The University of Chicago, Marquette, Syracuse, Xavier, Howard and Savannah Institute of Art and Design are just a few of the institutions that have accepted alumni from our first graduating class. In a city where less than 40% of the African American teenagers graduate from high school and only 5% of adult African-Americans in Milwaukee have college degrees, 113 of our 115 graduates are still in high school and on track to earn their diplomas on time and 16 of the 24 graduates from 5 years ago are headed off to institutes of higher learning in the fall.
When considering these results, please remember that statistically these students have a very slim chance of success (99% black, 66% from single parent homes, 75% low income) and every child is accepted through a random selection process.
Highest Praise
Milwaukee College Prep’s reputation of excellence has attracted visitors from across the country. For example, in the past five years, we have hosted dozens of interns who have gone on to start or lead high performing/high poverty charter schools across the country. In addition, Milwaukee College Prep was invited to a meeting in the summer of 2009, along with about 10 other high performing charter schools from across the country, by NYC Chancellor Joel Klein in his efforts to recruit the best schools to come operate in NYC.
