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Overtown

The 2014 expansion into Overtown was funded by a $1 million seed investment from The Lennar Foundation, and focused on promoting 100% graduation, improving college and career readiness, and increasing the engagement of parents and the community. Special emphasis was placed on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), including enhancing the school’s existing Engineering Academy.

The Program’s Successes Include:

  • Supporting Booker T. Washington Senior High School (BTW) in achieving a “B” grade, up from a “D” grade (2014).
  • BTW’s graduation rate improved from 70.9% (2013) to 73.5 % (2015).
  • Engaged over 1,700 students from Phyllis Wheatley Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, Jose De Diego Middle School, Paul Laurence Dunbar K-8 Center, and Booker T. Washington Senior High in visits to FIU and community engagement.
  • Assisted 42 students in applying and being accepted to FIU since the beginning of the partnership in 2014.
  • Created a network of more than 20 community partners to address school and community needs.

Please click here for the 2016 Impact Report.

Initiative

  • Support Engineering and Astronomy Magnet at BTW through an integration of dual enrollment courses, programming for advancing STEM education and career pathways, in collaboration with the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and the College of Engineering & Computing.
  • Expanding opportunities for BTW students to take college courses for college credit while in high school through Dual Enrollment.
  • “Panther for A Day” College Visits & Advising: strategic early college exposure and advising interventions for students from Miami Northwestern and feeder middle schools.
  • College exam test preparation.
  • Family involvement and community engagement.
  • The LEAD Project (Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development): middle school program focused on college awareness, civic engagement, and leadership.
  • Miami PREP: Pre-college Summer STEM Program.

Testimonials

The Education Effect provided me with the necessary skills to pursue higher education. The impact for me was tremendous. It opened the doors to FIU and offered me many opportunities to take advantage of all that is offered! The Education Effect helped broaden my horizon.

Morgan BenoitBooker T. Washington Senior High School, Class of 2016

In my 27 years in education, The Education Effect is one of the most powerful programs I have ever witnessed. I believe that the goal of education is to create young men and women who are motivated and capable of doing new things, not merely repeating what others have done before them. The Education Effect not only helps close the persistent achievement gaps and improve student attitudes about school and higher education, it opens doors to a world of opportunities.

William AristidePrincipal, Booker T. Washington Senior High School