Record Numbers Graduate From King Drew Magnet High School
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An extraordinary high school located in gritty South Central, Los Angeles, King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science is a force with which to be reckoned. A magnet school devoted to preparing kids for success in high-level scientific and medical careers, 89 percent of King Drew's students come from low-income families living in South Central and nearby communities.
A unique, success-centric formula and caring educators consistently catapults 90 percent of King Drew's graduating students to college. Many of these students will benefit from merit-based scholarships and university grants to some of the country's most prestigious universities, and this is how they do it.
A Success Story Starts Small
Founded in 1982 through the help of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant, King Drew's goal was to level the playing field and support greater numbers of minority students entering health-care professions. The founders were a small group of doers, comprised mostly of parents, physicians, university leaders and community activists.
Believing that every student can and will learn, their stated philosophy is: "To promote scholarly habits of mind that lead to our students becoming life-long learners who communicate effectively, think critically, and envision themselves as active participants in a humane society."
Coupled with school-provided opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning in the field, a powerfully winning formula for success was created, and word started to get around. The school's enrollment numbers slowly increased and so did its criteria for admissions and objectives. As the years progressed, King Drew's curriculum diversified with special, college-level programs and expectations far exceeding the typical high school.
Believing in Kids and Creating Success
Students at the school are powerfully motivated by educators who know how to speak to their potential, while letting them still be individuals. Students are expected to live up to high standards and a level of self-generated excellence.
A dress code and strict standard of behavior is enforced, so as to maintain a safe environment conducive to learning and maturing. A moral code requiring honesty, high attendance rates, and respect for individuals and property is followed. The rules are based on the need for self-respect and respect of others. It frees the students from distractions and provides a basis for deep concentration and the acquisition of skills.
The original curriculum, which centered solely on hospital occupations, has expanded to embrace broad-based medicine and science careers. Opportunities are given to students to access boots-on-the-ground learning across multiple medical and scientific venues such as hospitals, clinics, research laboratories and universities.
Students may spend extensive amounts of time in school working, learning and contributing within these types of facilities. Understanding the ways of the real world, a strong focus is placed on students creating and maintaining relationships with top leaders in the fields they wish to pursue, both locally and internationally. Students are also provided an opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and classwork.
A Whole World Vision Cements Success
Students who need added support get it through mandated programs such as Ladders of Success, an intervention and tutorial program. There are also multiple voluntary college support programs and peer counseling.
Understanding that parental and community support can provide added sustenance to the mission, the school actively strives to bring in parent volunteers and a myriad of community agencies. Managed by the school's original founders, they all work together to create a framework of broad-based activity and support for the students.
Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
