Miami Herald, The (FL) - June 15, 2008
Author: Miami Herald Staff Report
Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens is celebrating the dual graduation of 13 students from the school and from Miami Dade College.
Several of the students, who are children of Hispanic immigrants, were the first in their families to attend college, a Mater Academy statement said.
For several years, the school's graduation rate has exceeded 95 percent, which is substantially higher than the national average for Hispanics, estimated at between 61 percent and 74 percent, and for the overall state average of 71.9 percent, the school said.
The high graduation rate, along with the school's Dual Enrollment and Advance Placement program, make this largely minority Title 1 Mater Academy school a model of excellence.
During the 2007-08 school year, around 100 Mater Academy students enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes offered at the school in partnership with Miami Dade. Thirteen earned enough college credits to receive an associate's degree.
The graduates are Alexandria Alfonso, Dalay Alfonso, Nicole Barroso, Lourdes García, Juan J. Gonzalez, Shelly Gonzalez, Zhenia Lopez, Sheila Lorenzo, Luis Macho, Natalia Paguaga, Dyana Pena, Catalina Potes and Stephanie Vazquez-Ruiz.
Six Mater Academy seniors graduated simultaneously from high school and the college in 2007.
"You're not stuck in the standard at this school. The ambience makes you want to work more and from that you gain maturity," senior Shelly Gonzalez said in an school statement.
"I finished all my high school science requirements two years ago and now I'm taking advanced science courses," said Gonzalez, who is the first in her family to graduate from college.
Mater Academy 's principal Judi Marty credits the school's counseling program for students' academic achievement.
"Starting in ninth grade, counselors check each student's academic progress and attendance weekly so we can catch deficiencies way before senior year and it's too late," Marty said. "We make sure all our students stay on track and we encourage them to take Advanced Placement classes and the dual enrollment courses offered right on campus."
The graduates said the personalized attention works.
"Ms. Marty calls all the kids into her office, she constantly visits our classrooms, everyone knows her and she knows everyone," said Luis Macho, 17, who will attend the University of Florida in the fall.
Silver Knight nominee Juan Gonzalez agreed.
"Ms. Marty expects you to succeed, so you begin to expect it of yourself," said Gonzalez, who will attend Dartmouth College, which he described as "a small community and a lot like Mater."
From a class of more than 300 students, nearly half of them received Bright Futures Scholarships and are going on to a university.
Several of the students, who are children of Hispanic immigrants, were the first in their families to attend college, a Mater Academy statement said.
For several years, the school's graduation rate has exceeded 95 percent, which is substantially higher than the national average for Hispanics, estimated at between 61 percent and 74 percent, and for the overall state average of 71.9 percent, the school said.
The high graduation rate, along with the school's Dual Enrollment and Advance Placement program, make this largely minority Title 1 Mater Academy school a model of excellence.
During the 2007-08 school year, around 100 Mater Academy students enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes offered at the school in partnership with Miami Dade. Thirteen earned enough college credits to receive an associate's degree.
The graduates are Alexandria Alfonso, Dalay Alfonso, Nicole Barroso, Lourdes García, Juan J. Gonzalez, Shelly Gonzalez, Zhenia Lopez, Sheila Lorenzo, Luis Macho, Natalia Paguaga, Dyana Pena, Catalina Potes and Stephanie Vazquez-Ruiz.
Six Mater Academy seniors graduated simultaneously from high school and the college in 2007.
"You're not stuck in the standard at this school. The ambience makes you want to work more and from that you gain maturity," senior Shelly Gonzalez said in an school statement.
"I finished all my high school science requirements two years ago and now I'm taking advanced science courses," said Gonzalez, who is the first in her family to graduate from college.
Mater Academy 's principal Judi Marty credits the school's counseling program for students' academic achievement.
"Starting in ninth grade, counselors check each student's academic progress and attendance weekly so we can catch deficiencies way before senior year and it's too late," Marty said. "We make sure all our students stay on track and we encourage them to take Advanced Placement classes and the dual enrollment courses offered right on campus."
The graduates said the personalized attention works.
"Ms. Marty calls all the kids into her office, she constantly visits our classrooms, everyone knows her and she knows everyone," said Luis Macho, 17, who will attend the University of Florida in the fall.
Silver Knight nominee Juan Gonzalez agreed.
"Ms. Marty expects you to succeed, so you begin to expect it of yourself," said Gonzalez, who will attend Dartmouth College, which he described as "a small community and a lot like Mater."
From a class of more than 300 students, nearly half of them received Bright Futures Scholarships and are going on to a university.