Keyana Gage enrolled in an all-girl’s charter school at the recommendation of her former school because the endless opportunities to excel were unmatched, she said.
Keyana Gage enrolled in an all-girl’s charter school at the recommendation of her former school because the endless opportunities to excel were unmatched, she said.
Little did the aspiring pediatrician know she’d get hands-on experience during her sophomore year. The Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago requires all sophomores to participate in the school’s internship program. Gage is currently interning at nearby Mercy Hospital.
“I’ve seen three live births. I’ve cut the umbilical cord, drew blood from the cord, took babies’ footprints and wiped babies down after birth. Who else gets to do that, get this experience, at such a young age?” asked an enthusiastic Gage.
She is one of the 355 students at Young Women’s Leadership, a school for grades 7 through 12. It’s the city’s only all-girls public school and is nestled between Drake Elementary School and Mercy Hospital in the Bronzeville community. The predominantly Black school recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The school was founded by Joan Hall and a small group of friends after a visit to an all-girls public school in New York, according to Young Women’s Leadership’s co-director Chandra Sledge. “There was a need for young women of color to have the same benefits of a private school education, but free of charge. This type of school shouldn’t be reserved just for the wealthy,” Sledge told the Defender, emphasizing the school’s focus on math, science and technology, fields underrepresented by minority women.
There’s no residency requirement or entrance exam for the school. However, admittance to Young Women’s Leadership is based on a lottery system, and there’s currently a waiting list of about 500 for 9th grade.
The school’s primary entrance grades are 7th and 9th grade. Most transfer students are allowed in 8th and 10th grades. The school does not admit students beyond the 10th grade.
For the 2008-2009 school year, 100 percent of the seniors graduated, and 89 percent were enrolled in a college or university, Sledge said.
Young Women’s Leadership offers the students programs exclusive to the school and gives them exposure to areas outside their respective neighborhoods.
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine offers a 12-week, two-year science and medical program – Oncofertility Saturday Academy – for upperclassmen. The program allows the students to explore cancer biology and oncofertility, reproductive science and fertility options in cancer patients.
The university is also developing a cardiology program for girls, said Sledge.
The Friends of the Chicago River has a partnership with the all-girls school, offering them full use of the river for research, experiments and service projects.
“Since we’re a small school, we really try to use the city as a classroom,” said Sledge.
Sophomore Alexus Bassett experienced a co-ed education environment and wanted to see how different an all-girls school would be. She’s been pleased.
“I’ve been on many college tours already and the teachers give you tons of support. It’s met my expectations,” said Bassett.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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