MPS’ Class of 2013 earns more than $17.7 million in scholarships

The seniors of Milwaukee Public Schools’ Class of 2013 have earned more than $17.7 million in scholarships, the district announced Friday at an event honoring MPS’ “Senior Scholars.”

The total – $17,791,814 as of May 31 – is expected to grow but already tops the June total for the class of 2012.

Hundreds of MPS seniors won scholarships to attend colleges and universities across the country, including Alverno College; Carroll University; DePaul University; Howard University; Illinois Wesleyan; Marquette University; Milwaukee School of Engineering; Mount Mary College; Stanford University; the United States Military Academy (West Point), the University of Chicago; the University of Pittsburgh; the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Milwaukee and other campuses; Valparaiso University and Yale University.

“This incredible total – $17.7 million – is reflective of the hard work of our students, their families, their teachers, their counselors, their school leaders and staff throughout the district,” MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said. “This is a number we expect to grow as we continue to build college and career readiness efforts throughout the district.”

MPS has already seen the percentage of its students going onto college within a year and a half of graduation grow by eight percentage points over the last five years – and its graduation rate grow by 14 percentage points since the class of 2000.

The district’s college and career readiness efforts include:

– Comprehensive Literacy and Math/Science plans that align with the Common Core State Standards to prepare students to succeed after graduation

– Securing a GEAR UP grant worth $30 million to bolster college and career readiness

– Growing the number of students taking college-level Advanced Placement courses

– Planning for the expansion of International Baccalaureate offerings

– Opening two College Access Centers to demystify the process of applying to college and get students thinking about higher education

– Strengthening high school options

– Bringing the College Board’s SpringBoard pre-AP program into five schools

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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