West Town Academy (WTA), located near Damen and Fulton on Chicago's near west side, is an alternative high school for young men and women who are not enrolled in a traditional high school or GED program. WTA's target population are young men and women who have dropped out of their home school. WTA recruits and re-enrolls these former Chicago Public School (CPS) dropouts from over 25 Wards throughout Chicago.
As part of the Greater West Town Community Development Project (GWTP), West Town Academy "has come to be considered by community and education leaders, as one of the City's most effective dropout retrieval programs, successfully re-engaging and graduating over 70% of the former dropouts it serves".
According to WTA, the "...Greater West Town Community Development Project has helped inspire a growing public awareness of the scope and impact the dropout crisis locally and across the country. They are committed to addressing the dropout crisis through community education and advocacy". As stated by GWTP, "West Town Academy graduates receive a high school diploma recognized by Chicago Public Schools and the State of Illinois. Former CPS dropouts that WTA re-enrolls and graduates count to lower the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate of Chicago Public Schools".
West Town Academy has helped so many students from low income families to achieve their goals, which may have otherwise been lost. Some of WTA students had been out of school for more than two years. WTA has not only provided these students with the academic education needed to graduate, but it has also taught them important leadership skills. One of the more meaningful programs (which is also a CPS requirement) is the Service Learning requirement. Each student at WTA completes 10 hours of volunteer work per semester (double that which is required by CPS) in order to receive their diploma. It is fair to say that the programs and course work that WTA has developed has also had another benefit; it has nurtured a sense of value and positive attitude inside and outside the classroom.
The attached websites will provide more in depth information about these two organizations and their amazing work in re-engaging at-risk students by creating an effective alternative educational program that also prepares them to more effectively address life's challenges.
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