AUBURN GRESHAM — Perspectives Charter School CEO Rhonda Hopps says she’s excited that her students will have a new building come fall 2016.
Students from the Auburn Gresham location will begin next fall in what was once the headquarters of Soft Sheen Products Co. It was sold in 1998 to L'Oreal by its founders, Edward and Betty Gardner. Perspectives currently serves students in sixth through 12th grades at 8131 S. May St.
“It’s really just a better facility,” Hopps said. “We really want to bring a vision of a 21st century environment to our students, and we have a chance to customize that space in this building.”
The site at 8522 S. Lafayette Ave. in Chatham will allow school officials to add better technology rooms, engineering labs, art and music areas. Right now there are about 1,000 students at that campus, but the new building will allow them to grow to about 1,400, Hopps said.
There are three campuses total. The other two are in Bronzeville, 3663 S. Wabash Ave., and the South Loop, 1930 S. Archer Ave.
The Perspectives curriculum uses the "disciplined life" model, Hopps said, which gives students instructions in life skills like self-discipline, perseverance and good communication. The social-emotional learning helps prepare them for the world, she said.
They learn how to communicate effectively, how to solve conflicts peacefully, how to be punctual, how to demonstrate a strong work ethic and more, Hopps said.
“We actually teach them how to do it and give them the language and tools that they have for the rest of their lives,” she said.
The students participate in college prep curriculum, and many are taking college credit courses. All students who apply to college are accepted each year, Hopps said.
“At least 90 percent enroll in college, and our retention rate in college is higher than it typically is for the nation at large, so we’re excited about that part,” Hopps said.
Though Perspectives is moving its Auburn Gresham location to Chatham, “It’ll be accessible to our families and staff and new families that we’ll get over time, so we’re excited,” Hopps said.
Parents can enroll students year-round. The application is online www.perspectivescs.org.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
