On June 1, dozens of the school’s sophomores took part in a special half-cap graduation ceremony that commends them for academic performance thus far, and encourages them to continue to work toward their senior year graduation.
Fenger High School on the South Side made national headlines when one of its students, Derrion Albert, was killed in a September 2009 after school melee.
But long before that, the school had an academic reputation for low performance, poor graduate rates and high dropout and truancy.
But the school’s new principal, Liz Dozier, said she is committed to turning Fenger’s image and performance around.
On June 1, dozens of the school’s sophomores took part in a special half-cap graduation ceremony that commends them for academic performance thus far, and encourages them to continue to work toward their senior year graduation.
In front of their classmates, parents and teachers, students accepted praise, encouragement and certificates for making it through their first two years of high school.
School officials say it’s symbolic of the school district’s efforts to address reduce the drop out rate, increase the graduation rate and send students successfully off to college.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
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