Public high school seniors who participated in an innovative afterschool program created by Exelon, ComEd and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago achieved a graduation rate of 97 percent for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Since its inception in 2005, the program has served approximately 23,000 students ages 11 and up.
This is the seventh consecutive year that participating seniors' graduation rate topped 90 percent. Students in this mentoring program had a grade promotion rate of 94 percent in the 2014-2015 academic year. Other highlights:
- 98 percent of students stayed in school and in the Stay in School program.
- 81 percent of students increased their level of involvement in their communities.
- 79 percent of students participated in leadership-based activities, such as peer mentoring or serving as team captains.
The program paves a path to graduation in areas of Chicago with the highest dropout rates.
"The
Stay in School Initiative is taking an innovative approach to student success," said Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval. "It brings new resources into areas with the highest dropout rates in the city. Programs like this one reinforce the idea that at-risk students can achieve academic success with the community's support."
"The communities we serve can only thrive if youth have an opportunity to succeed, and that begins with education,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of corporate relations at Exelon. “For 10 years, Exelon and ComEd have been working with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and other effective nonprofits to give thousands of students the additional support they need to finish high school and continue their educations. We’re so proud of what this collaboration has achieved."
Employee volunteers from Exelon and ComEd provide one-on-one mentoring to the students.
Exelon and ComEd have contributed nearly $3 million to fund the Stay in School Initiative since its creation.
