Chicago Charter School in the Top Ten Again

North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School sends the most students to college

CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School (NLCP) lives up to its name and meets the goal of preparing students for college. NLCP has the highest college-going rate of any non-selective (open to all students) school in Chicago, and it was the only non-selective high school in the top ten. A recent study by the National Student Clearinghouse found that NLCP students have shown a steady rise in the college-going rate since 2004, and the study reports that 78.3 percent of graduating seniors in the 2009 cohort were in classes after graduating. The student body at NLCP is 95.0 percent low income and 98.3 African-American.

"We get all of our alumni's transcripts from college," said John Horan, CEO of NLCP, "and I can say that 78.3 is a little low compared to the number we have calculated because not every college participates in this study. But, even for a conservative estimate, this result speaks very well of our school and of the charter system in Chicago."

The college-going rate of NLCP seniors is nearly twice that of the neighborhood schools the students would have attended — the neighborhood schools range from 34.6 to 47.4 percent. The average for Chicago Public Schools District 299 is 54.4. The most recent year for which the data is available is 2009.

"There are many factors which make a milestone like this possible," said Andrew Broy, President of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. "If you look at the other schools in the top twenty, Noble Street Charter School, Chicago International Charter School Northtown Campus, and Perspectives Charter School are also grouped with the highest performing high schools in Chicago. The victory for North Lawndale is a victory for the entire Illinois charter sector, but more importantly it is a victory for the students we serve."

NLCP made headlines last year for getting an A in peace, which Horan defines as 90 percent of the school calendar having no physical fights or altercations. This achievement was commemorated by a peace march through the North Lawndale neighborhood which is known, in part, for its high gang population.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is dedicated to improving the quality of public education by promoting and invigorating the charter school concept. The voice of the state's charter schools, INCS advocates for legislation to strengthen charter schools, educates the public about the value of charter schools, and supports the dissemination of best practices throughout the system.

CONTACT: Jim Publicover, +1-312-235-0798 x14, [email protected]

SOURCE Illinois Network of Charter Schools

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