SLAM! a new day in High School
A few weeks ago, I watched the second episode of Marcus Lemonis’ new show, Streets of Dreams. It is a spinoff of The Profit, which turns around failing businesses with a focus on the three Ps- People, Processes, & Product. I am a fan of The Profit. I think I will be a fan of Streets of Dreams, too.
In this episode, Marcus returns to Miami where he grew up, specifically to Calle Ocho, the heartbeat of the vibrant Cuban community there. The entire show features history, culture, entrepreneurs, and of course, some very famous people. One of them is Armando Christian Perez’, better known as the megastar, Pitbull. Marcus meets Pitbull at a public charter school called SLAM!, which Pitbull founded and helped fund in North Miami Beach. While there, Pitbull dropped some incredible statistics. He stated over 80% of students attending qualify for free lunch, but OVER 92% graduate from that high school. That’s right- 9 out of 10.
This caught my attention.
Why is this important? There is a pandemic of a different kind among young men and its’ impact is already being felt. Young men are disengaging from education AND Higher Education. As a cohort, they are drifting towards the twin icebergs of Unmotivation and Underachievement. It was evident 15 years ago and has worsened since. For an interesting book about this phenomenon, check out Boys Adrift, by Dr. Leonard Sax. Currently, the ratio of females to males in college is consistently 10+ points in favor of females. While I am an advocate for women developing all their skills and gifts I want the men to do the same! Our world needs all the talent it can muster regardless of gender. And we need to grow it!
This is NOT a pitch for or against public charter schools. It is merely an example of education success in a difficult socio-economic environment. Everyone should be studying it for ideas. Here’s what stood out to me from the television story and my subsequent research.
FIRST- They wrap the required High School curriculum around career fields that interest teenagers. Below is SLAM’s self-description as pulled from their website.
SLAM prepares students for careers in Sports Medicine, Business, Marketing, Health, and Communications through electives coursework in the following career academies:
- Sports Medicine
- Digital Television & Sports Media Production
- Sports Marketing, Entertainment, & Management
SLAM provides students with unique access to career mentors, athletes as role models, and executive internships through educational partnerships with local and national sports franchises. By fostering these and other long-term relationships, students at SLAM benefit from real-world learning experiences within all facets of the sports industry.
Doesn’t sound like our neighborhood high school. Probably doesn’t sound like yours, either.
SECOND- Their counselors are deeply engaged with each student to keep them motivated, attending classes, and connecting their studies to real-world employment. How refreshing! They face the same issues counselors see in the public sector. So, how do you get 92% of students to graduate? It must be their intentional system of lasering in on their at-risk student body. That’s a secret sauce, and the community wants it! The first year SLAM! opened, there were 3,000 applications for 1,000 openings. I understand the waitlist continues. Apparently, the community feels this is valuable and the parents and neighborhoods are willing to support the processes. Imagine that.
THIRD- They have mastered Meaningful Community Involvement. I will never forget a volunteer assignment in my daughter’s high school. I was asked to coach one-on-one with a student who had one foot out the door. Really? I tried, but seriously, I was too late. She did NOT want to be there. She had given up. Nothing I said meant anything to her. Sadly, I’m pretty sure she never graduated high school. SLAM! offers programs that pique students’ interest, then partners with nearby businesses to mentor them in real-world experiences. It sounds like a school-business partnership that is less window dressing and more substantial. How awesome is that?
Why bring this up about a school 800 miles away? Because we need to know it CAN be done. Frankly, it must be done. Our students need to see real opportunities and have educational coaching and support to achieve them. Anything less is the failure of the community as a whole. We can and must do better.
I urge all parents to regularly review their education decisions for their own student(s). Be sure they have the skills and tools to succeed. Be sure they are in the best programs in their current school, or look for options in your school system. Never, ever, stop being your student’s advocate for getting what they need. They can’t figure it out on their own. They need YOU to lead the way! In return, they need to do their best work. It is, and always will be, a partnership between parents, students, and the education system. When any leg on that three-legged stool isn’t strong enough, the student takes a bad fall. Some never recover.
To help you stay out of crippling debt trying to pay for higher education, I wrote the book, ENOUGH! The College Cost Crisis. It offers ways to cut costs, discover your student’s gifts, and map out a cost-effective education path. Take a different path. Learn the secret of getting two years of college for under 15% of the cost of a one-year traditional college. Or, let the military pay for your college degree. There are lots of possibilities and options to get a quality education for pennies on a dollar.
Next week, PROOF you have the POWER to reduce YOUR college costs.
Until next time,
All my best,
Bonnie Burkett
