Jalen Rose Leadership Academy – Detroit, MI
September 28, 2010
~ A charter high school at the forefront of an entire urban educational transformation
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy will be a charter school designed to provide a rigorous, nurturing college-prep experience for Detroit students who will have real-world, project-based experiences organized around themes and career opportunities in leadership, sports management, and entertainment industries. This 9-12 college-prep high school will ensure students receive extensive college exposure and course opportunities through a partnership with University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). The Academy is committed to ensuring 100% of its students graduate from high school, 95% enroll in college, and 90% of those enrollees will graduate from college. The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy will soon finalize plans for acquisition and remodeling of an existing school site in the City of Detroit with plans to open in Fall 2011.
The unique brand identity of Jalen Rose is designed to attract students who may otherwise be lost in the shuffle of a large traditional school. Every adult in the school and its support community will be focused on supporting student success. The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy is committed to creating a culture devoted to school, life, and college success, not only for students, but for their families as well. The school is being designed as a family-friendly location with a health clinic, a student-operated credit union branch with financial seminars, legal support and entertainment opportunities for school families.
Detroit native Jalen Rose is an ESPN/ABC studio analyst and 13-year NBA veteran who has assembled a team of community leaders, educational experts, and organizations on a national scale to establish this Academy to ensure the achievement of underserved young people in Detroit. A partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy will provide Academy students with college-going exposure and mentoring beginning in the Ninth Grade modeled after the UDM STAR student mentoring and college success program. In addition, students will be able to take dual enrollment courses at UDM as juniors and seniors.
The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy curriculum is being developed in alignment with Michigan Merit Curriculum standards and benchmarks with a strong focus on project-based data-driven learning with leadership strategies incorporated throughout the curriculum. Multi-layered staffing of the administrative leadership team includes an Educational Entrepreneur/Superintendent who will develop and implement an innovative instructional program; plus a School Leader of Academics and a School Leader of Operations, all experts in instructional leadership with experience in high-performing urban high schools.
Michigan Future, Inc. has awarded Jalen Rose Leadership Academy a planning and technical assistance grant in the amount of $800,000, funding the planning year and first three years of operation.