This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Our school admits students from all over Baltimore City, which results in a wide array of socioeconomic backgrounds, family situations, and support systems. Because of this variety of students, we have a holistic approach to education. Through social and emotional learning and help from a strong school support system, our students learn to develop a strong sense of self, sisterhood, compassion, and ethical decision-making. Our girls are involved in a wide array of activities and clubs, such as a STEM robotics, Step team, Future Business Leaders of America, National Society of Black Engineers, and Student Government.
Class of 2016, our founding and first graduating class, had a 98% graduation rate, an SAT score that was 200 points higher than the Baltimore City average, and 100% of graduating students were accepted into a college or university.
Class of 2017 is currently in the college application process, and has already had a 100% acceptance to college, been offered over $600,000 of scholarships, and 398 acceptances and counting. Our college counseling office strives to best support these amazing young women in their pursuit of higher education and contributing to their communities.
My Project
The majority of our students are first generation college attendees who do not have the support or guidance needed at home in order to successfully complete the college application process. Because our students do not have access to a computer at home and do not have internet, it creates stress and discouragement for students which results in not completing college applications.
A typical college admission requires a FAFSA application, letters of recommendation, SAT/ACT scores, and a personal statement: all of which require a computer.
Because most girls use the resources at our school due to the lack of access to them at home to complete these pieces, it would be beneficial to have multiple laptops on site for our students to use. Currently, we go to a local university for all our girls to complete a FAFSA application, more laptops would allow us to complete it at school. Our students also must find a computer to register for SAT/ACT tests, so having laptops would ease their stress in trying to register for such tests.
By having more laptops readily available to complete the multiple requirements for college applications, our students will have the resources they need in order to ease stress and anxieties about finding these resources.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. W. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.