Since 2008, North Lawndale College Preparatory High School and Collins Academy High School have shared the same campus. And while Chicago Public Schools combined the schools to save space and funds, the dual school has caused an ongoing controversy in North Lawndale.
Helen Loving, secretary at North Lawndale College Prep, said that having two schools share the campus at 1313 S. Sacramento Ave. “has created a segregated building and encourages negative behavior among the students.”
North Lawndale students have classes on the 3rd floor, while Collins Academy students are on the 2nd floor. Both high schools share the same gym and auditorium, but each school has its own lunch room.
The two schools under the same roof has created a sense of chaos in the realm where students are expected to achieve, students say.
During a typical school day, a student from North Lawndale may hear the bell sound downstairs for students at Collins to end class. When entering the building at the end of the school day, it’s quite confusing to see students scattered from both schools with separate colored uniforms: North Lawndale students in burgundy and khaki and Collins students in purple and gold. The two schools combined have a total enrollment of 1100 students.
Students and parents worry the combined school structure is impacting their social and academic welfare.
“Since my school has combined with Collins, I have trouble getting to class on time,” says Shanera Wilson, a junior at North Lawndale College Prep. “My teachers tend to mark down my grades if I’m always tardy.”
North Lawndale isn’t the only community dealing with this issue. Due to recent city budget issues, several Chicago Public Schools were forced to combine as a way to operate more cheaply, especially with dropping enrollment at some schools.
Some schools facing dropping enrollment and academic issues have found it more beneficial to combine with another school in hopes of boosting enrollment and improving academic performance. For example, Perspectives-Calumet Charter School at 8131 S. May Street is actually a combination of two schools.
The combination has had some positive effects for North Lawndale students as well, even with the chaos. Student enrollment at Collins Academy was at an all-time low in September 2007, with only 140 students. Combining with North Lawndale has attracted more students to Collins, which now has 116 freshmen and 121 sophomores. The plan is to add one grade every year until the school reaches a capacity of 500 students in grades nine through 12.
LaCael Palmer-Pratt, principal at North Lawndale College Prep, said sharing a campus with Collins has had a positive impact on students.
“North Lawndale students as well as Collins students are encouraged to help build unity for both schools,” said Pratt. “I realize that it is very difficult to find facilities right now across the city. I welcome Collins Academy and their students. Both schools have one mission–to strive for success.”
Staff hope the situation will continue to improve in the future, as they get used to their dual set-up.
“This has been a very difficult situation to adapt to,” says Dr. Joyce Cainn, principal of Collins Academy. “However, as time goes on, it becomes less difficult to maneuver around both campuses.”
Malon Edwards, a spokesman for Chicago Public Schools, said there are various reasons why several schools share the same roof.
“These schools have to go somewhere,” said Edwards.
Edwards said that CPS makes an effort to get parents involved when deciding to combine two schools as one. He admitted that for an outsider looking into a lot of the combined schools, it can appear to be a bit chaotic.
Be First to Comment