Urban Prep Englewood
Opening Year: 2006
Entry to USI Network: 2006
Type of School: Charter
Grade Levels in 2009-2010: 9-12
Student Enrollment: 575
Address: 6201 S. Stewart Ave, Chicago, IL 60621
Neighborhood: Englewood
Co-Principals: Dennis Lacewell, Ben Blakeley
Website: http://www.urbanprep.org
Overview:
Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men—Englewood Campus is the country’s first charter high school for boys. The Urban Prep ethos can be summarized by the school’s simple, but powerful, motto: “We Believe.” School administrators and teachers believe in the potential, talent and future of urban young men and work tirelessly to instill these convictions in their students. Within this framework, stereotypes about and low expectations about young men of color are unacceptable. The Urban Prep approach provides a comprehensive education for young men by integrating public service, extracurricular involvement, and college and professional exposure with a rigorous academic curriculum emphasizing the language arts. The positive Urban Prep school culture which emphasizes student support, extracurricular participation, summer programs, and appropriate conduct, make this unique vision a reality. At Urban Prep, everyone dedicates their time and efforts to creating a strong, united community in which high student achievement is the norm, not an exception.