Firebaugh High School sophomore Elijah Arch always imagined the college experience as a stressful one, full of exams, assignments and little else. Arch has revised his thinking after attending the District’s seventh annual Black Teen Summit where he met college students who shared enriching experiences that transcend any midterm. Arch was one of nearly 250 students from Lynwood Unified’s high schools who learned about college life, entrepreneurship, and job and career resources during the Feb. 18 event, which was themed “Proud to be me - From Struggle Comes Strength.”
Lynwood Unified to Host 7th Annual Black Teen Summit
Lynwood Unified will partner with the District African American Advisory Parent Council (DAAAPC) to host the 7th annual Black Teen Summit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Bateman Hall, 11331 Ernestine Ave., Lynwood. The event aims to boost high school student academic achievement, college-going rates and access to career resources.
Lynwood Unified will provide Firebaugh High School students with a new state-of-the-art STEM lab beginning in fall 2021 after receiving a donation of $225,000 from the W. M. Keck Foundation, which will inspire young learners to pursue success in science, engineering and medical fields. The new lab will allow Firebaugh to double enrollment in its biomedical science and nursing program, along with its advanced manufacturing and engineering program. Those programs currently share a space that limits activities and projects.
Firebaugh High School senior Cheyanne Roberts moved a step closer to her dream career in dentistry when she was offered a $92,000 scholarship to Benedict College during the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Caravan Tour Jan. 31. Roberts was one of nearly 400 Lynwood Unified Students who filled the gymnasiums at Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools to meet with HBCU recruiters, who presented them with on-the-spot acceptance and, for some, full-ride scholarships.
Lynwood Unified Students Receive College Acceptances at HBCU event
Lynwood Unified High School students received nearly 400 college acceptances and more than $5.8 million in scholarships at the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Caravan Tour on Jan. 30. Hundreds of Lynwood students filled the gymnasiums at Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools to meet HBCU recruiters, who presented them with on-the-spot acceptances and, for some, full scholarships.
Lynwood Unified High School students will have the opportunity to earn on-the-spot acceptance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and get their college application fees waived when a caravan of college recruiters and admission counselors visit District campuses. The Lynwood Unified Equity Department has worked with seniors to ensure they have prepared transcripts and test scores for the caravan, which will include Tuskegee University and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Lynwood Unified received a $50,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center that will allow the District to increase college readiness through new programs, award scholarships to students and provide additional financial support to inspire success in higher education. The grant is a part of the Healthcare Scholarships & College Completion Initiative, which provides support for students pursuing college. The program allows the District to combat barriers to higher education success, such as affordability, lack of access and limited learning tools.
Burning Calories and Crime Volunteer Group Helps Keep Schools Safe
Parent volunteers are helping keep Lynwood Unified schools safe through the Burning Calories and Crime program. Volunteers walk campuses in groups to ensure safety while promoting health and fitness. For more information, or to volunteer, contact the District’s Student Services department.
Lynwood Unified Gives Away Books at Childhood Literacy Event
Early Childhood Education hosted a literacy event on Dec. 20 in all ECE classrooms that sent each child home for the holiday break with a new book. Parents and students made crafts and sang seasonal songs before each child selected a book of their choice to develop their home library.
Lynwood Unified has increased its District graduation rate by more than 6 percentage points through programs that focus on college and career success and build on the achievement culture of the District.
Lynwood Unified’s graduation rate has surged to 90.8 percent for the 2018-19 school year, up from 84.6 the previous year, according to recently released California data.
