Detroit (WWJ)
-- The new University Prep Science and Math High School will be built
on Detroit's riverfront. The Community Foundation for Southeast
Michigan and Thompson Education Foundation announced the new school
will be supported with $15 million in initial commitments.
The school will be located on Franklin Street in the old Franklin
Furniture Building and will represent the second attempt for one of its
founders, Bob Thompson, to contribute to education in Detroit. Several
years ago, Thompson was rebuked when he tried to donate $200 million
for charter schools. Thompson said about his latest effort, "I just
hope it turns out well. We need a better school system. We want to make
sure Detroit’s students are on that list of the best prepared young
people in the world."
The school will focus on math and science as it prepares its
students for college. Margaret Trimer Hartley, principal of the new
school, said, "We are committed to graduating at least 90 percent of
our students, and then sending at least 90 percent of those students to
college with ACT scores above the national average of 21." Hartley also
said, "We want our kids to go beyond Algebra II. We want them doing
higher level trigonometry and calculus before they hit the college
campus."
The school plans to open its 9th grade to 108 students in 2010. All four years of the high school will be filled by 2013
