MATH ANYONE?
PITTSBURGH–100 percent.
This figure has remained constant at Urban Pathways Charter Schools. For the past three years, one hundred percent of Urban Pathways’ seniors have graduated and been accepted into mostly four-year colleges and universities. This consistency is not a stroke of luck, but the result of a carefully calculated educational experience, where the pathway to college begins from the moment Urban Pathways’ five-year-old kindergarten students walk through the door.
Urban Pathways Charter Schools, located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown cultural district, include both a K-5 and a 6-12 school. Both Urban Pathways schools provide a free education for more than 580 students from various Allegheny County school districts. Teachers and staff members at Urban Pathways are committed to creating a learning environment where each student is provided with the necessary support to achieve his or her full potential.
From the very beginning, each Urban Pathways student is equipped with a personal education plan. Starting in kindergarten, students use portfolios to track their learning. The portfolios contain completed projects and test scores. These materials are later reviewed during parent/teacher conferences, also called learning partnerships. Additionally, each kindergarten student is introduced to both short- and long-term goal setting early on.
“College preparation begins by students learning to set goals,” said Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School principal David Gallup.
He notes that Stephen R. Covey’s seven habits from his best-selling book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” play a large role in the curriculum. Specifically, habit number two: begin with the end in mind. “Students make goals and focus on their ‘end.’ The students then make a plan on how to reach their goals,” Gallup said.
The emphasis on these habits caught the attention of parent Tinisha Hunt. “I was excited when I learned that Covey’s seven habits were a part of the daily curriculum. This shows that the school is about more than just academics and that helped solidify my decision to enroll my son,” she said.
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