Urban School Raises The Bar For Students
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Violence on Chicago high school campuses seems to be a growing problem. But not at one inner-city school.
CBS2's Mike Parker reports on what appears to be an amazing success story.
There are no metal detectors, no police officers stationed outside or in the halls. The 592 students, mostly minority from low-income backgrounds, wear neat uniforms. There's no boisterous horseplay between classes.
This is Rauner College Prep, a city charter high school, where there's never been an arrest or a gang fight.
Seventeen-year-old junior Mario Picon describes it as a "completely safe environment," and says he never feels threatened.
Principal Mindy Sjoblum says teachers and administrators run a tight ship and that they "sweat the small stuff." Chewing gum is banned, healthy foods are required, students must get to class on time.
"We insist that those things happen and all the adults in this building are on the same page," Sjoblum says.
But Rauner is no reformatory. They mean it when they call it college prep. From the day the kids get off the waiting list and walk inside, their goals are clear.
"It's become a school where kids can come and focus purely on being students," AP Calculus teacher Jacob Lessem says.
"They know that every single teacher here wants them to go to school, to college and it's their only option," another instructor, civics teacher Jennifer Reid, says.
Last year, every member of the graduating class was accepted at a college or university.
There are similar success stories in the nine other charter high schools, like Rauner, run by the Noble Street group. They're all privately run but are also funded by Chicago Public Schools as an experiment. CPS is keeping a close watch on their techniques and results.
