May 5, 2010

Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan has been selected the winner of the 2010 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.  The school, associated with Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, was chosen out of more than 1,000 applications.  From that pool of applicants, the White House Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education narrowed it down to six finalists. 

Over a four day period, more than 170,000 people weighed-in on short videos and essays from the finalists.  The three semi-finalists with the highest average ratings were then turned over to President Obama for the final decision.  On Tuesday, Kalamazoo Central High was chosen as the winner of the challenge.  President Obama will speak to the school’s graduating seniors at the commencement ceremony on June 10, 2010. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students of Kalamazoo Central High School and for all of us in Kalamazoo, including Communities In Schools,” said Communities In Schools Kalamazoo Executive Director Pam Kingery. “For the President to recognize our students, our school district and a community that is very engaged in supporting education is just remarkable.”

The Obama Administration is now working to provide a Cabinet secretary or senior administration official to speak at the commencement ceremonies for each of the five other finalists.

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in more than 3,400 schools in the most challenged communities, in 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.3 million young people and their families. Communities In Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.