Charter school pays college costs for graduates who agree to help city

November 10, 11:12 AMEducation ExaminerDonna Gundle-Krieg

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University Preparatory High School is a charter school in Detroit that has been very successful.
Photo from University Preparatory High School

A charter public school in Detroit will pay nearly the full cost of the first year of college for any of its 124 seniors who are eligible, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The program is a reward for seniors who pledged four years ago to return to Detroit to help rebuild after they graduate from high school and college, according to officials at University Preparatory High School.

Eligible students must also meet specific academic standards, write a senior thesis, and complete a college readiness lecture series.

Calling themselves Detroit's Great Hope, members of this year's graduating class already have mentored younger students and produced a video about the benefits of education.

The school will pay all but $2,500 in costs for one year at any public Michigan university. Parents must agree to pay $2,500 through a subsidized loan. Students who choose a private or out-of-state school will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

“The scholarship program is privately funded,” explained Doug Ross, chairman of New Urban Learning, the non-profit organization that manages the school.

University Preparatory High School, one of 174 charter schools in the metropolitan Detroit area,  was founded by the Thompson Education Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

Former businessman Bob Thompson, who heads The Thompson Education Foundation with his wife, Ellen, once offered up to $200 million to create 15 charter high schools in Detroit, but was turned down.  Since then he has supported a series of charter school initiatives, including University Prep High School and new science and math schools.

Charter schools, which are tuition-free public schools, provide parents and students educational options, often with specific missions or themes.

For more information, see:

All off to college, and first year free!

Detroit billionaire works with new mayor Bing to open charter school

University Preparatory High School

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