2010 Graduating Class of Urban Prep Academies, 100% Went to Four-Year Colleges!
In the city of Chicago it is said the public school system my undoubted be one of the worst in the country for black boys. With only 2.5% of all graduating black males attending college and high school dropout rates hovering around 60% education it seems was lost for many of our young men. But there is hope, with the drive and determination of Urban Prep founder Tim King his first two graduating classes of all black males, have all went to four year colleges! When I first had the opportunity to meet Mr.King and hear him speak I was in awe of his mission, his impetus to change the statistics in a city where most were writing off our young men of ever succeeding and showed that with passion and determination, anything was possible. I had the distinguished opportunity to interview Mr. King about the Urban Prep Academy of Chicago, Il.
BCG:Tell me more about Urban Prep? How did it get started? What drives your passion behind your cause?
Tim King:The circumstances and negative statistics surrounding urban young men have reached crisis level. The Centers for Disease Control cites the leading cause of death among African-American men between the ages of 15 and 24 is homicide. The Justice Policy Institute found that the number of college-aged Black men in prison is 30% higher than the number of Black men in college. The Schott Foundation reported that 60% of Black male Chicago Public High School students drop-out. Additionally, the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research reported that only 2.5% of Black male students starting as Freshmen in Chicago Public Schools can be expected to complete a 4-year college degree by age 25. These harrowing statistics in combination with my previous experience leading an all-boys private high-school in Chicago prompted me to question how a similar model could be replicated in a tuition-free setting; thus Urban Prep Academies was born.
Urban Prep Academies is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002 by myself and a group of educators, business people and civic leaders. Our mission is to provide young men with a high-quality, college-preparatory education that results in graduates succeeding in college. To do this, we operate the nation’s first network of public charter high schools in high-need communities in the City of Chicago. Urban Prep’s schools are non-selective/open enrollment and students are admitted via lottery with no evaluation of test scores, grades or special needs. Almost 100% of our students are African-American males; 85% are from low-income families and about 85% begin Urban Prep reading below grade level.
Many of our students are graduates of the district’s (Chicago Public Schools) chronically poor performing public elementary schools, thus they enter high school performing well below state standards in the core subject areas. We’ve developed an innovative curriculum that addresses both the academic and socio-emotional issues plaguing urban young men.
BCG: I find what you’re doing amazing, what annual events does Urban Prep host to bring awareness/fund raise?
Tim King: Thank you, Charter high schools in the City of Chicago, on average, receive fewer funds from government sources than their traditional public high-school counterparts. Therefore, Urban Prep engages in aggressive fundraising efforts each year to close this deficit. In addition to our annual appeal, and funds we receive from various foundations, we sponsor an Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament and an advanced screening of a blockbuster movie; this year it was the final installment in the Harry Potter series of films. All proceeds from these events benefit Urban Prep Academies.
BCG: How can others get involved with your cause within the local Chicago community?
Tim King: Log-on to our website at www.urbanprep.org to find out what’s happening at Urban Prep. Here you will find information about the schools, upcoming activities and events, and other major announcements. To find out more about education reform in Chicago and the State of Illinois, the Illinois Network of Charters Schools is a great resource. You can find them at: www.incshools.org.
BCG:What final words of wisdom would you’d like to share with our readers?
Tim King: The Urban Prep motto is We Believe. It’s important to always have faith and believe in people, but also you have to believe in your ability to positively affect the lives of others. Places like Urban Prep are what happen when WE BELIEVE.
BCG: Our motto is: “Giving Back is Good for the Soul,” mean does that mean to you?
Tim King: My favorite movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life.’ In that film, Clarence the Angel tells George Bailey “No man is a failure who has friends.” When you give to others, you’re ensuring your own success as well as that of the folks benefitting from your largesse.
About Urban Prep
Urban Prep Academies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a network of all-boys public schools including the country’s first charter high school for boys. Urban Prep’s mission is to provide a high-quality and comprehensive college-preparatory educational experience to young men that results in our graduates succeeding in college. The schools are a direct response to the urgent need to reverse abysmal graduation and college completion rates among boys in urban centers. While most of Urban Prep students come to the schools from economically disadvantaged households and reading 3 or more years below grade level, Urban Prep remains committed to preparing all of its students for college and life.
To further connect with Urban Prep Academies:
Website: www.urbanprep.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UrbanPrepAcademies
Twitter: @UrbanPrep100
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/upacademies
