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In a step to further diversify its enrollment while maintaining academic quality, Lafayette has become the first college to enter into a partnership with Achievement First, a community-based nonprofit that operates 22 public charter schools in Connecticut and New York. The announcement was made by Greg MacDonald, dean of admissions and financial aid.
Achievement First educates more than 7,000 students in grades K-12 in historically low-performing and underserved neighborhoods in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven, Conn., and Brooklyn, N.Y. Its mission is to close the achievement gap and deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all children. Achievement First seeks to create a school culture where it is “cool to be smart” and character education and higher education are valued.
Read more about Achievement First
MacDonald said, “Lafayette is honored to be the first college to join with Achievement First. Given our shared values and goals, the partnership promises to be productive and mutually beneficial.”
“We are thankful for Lafayette’s leadership,” said Doug McCurry, who co-founded Achievement First in 2003 and serves as its co-chief executive and superintendent. “This partnership will enable our scholars to attend a top institution that offers the academic, social, and financial support necessary for first-generation, low-income students to achieve their aspirations of obtaining a college degree.”
Lafayette also has partnerships with the Posse Foundation in New York City and Washington, D.C., in addition to Philadelphia Futures. These organizations work with students in city high schools to prepare them for admission to highly selective colleges and universities.