Parents Ecstatic As Some Lucky Kids Win Entrance Into New Bronx Charter School
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Many New York City parents were especially elated Monday after finding out their child had made it into a special charter school in the Bronx.
Out of 510 applicants, only 126 children were chosen by lottery for the first kindergarten and 1st grade classes at the College Prep charter school in Morrisania, which will be operated by the Children's Aid Society.
1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon Reports From The Bronx
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Jessica Ortiz got the good news Monday that her 5-year-old got into the school.
"Children's Aid [has] always been a part of our lives as far as summer camps, after-school programs and me being a single mom, that's a very important thing and I need that support in my life and I am so happy we were chosen," Ortiz said.
The Children's Aid Society helps children below the poverty line with after-school, summer and social services programs. However, this is the first time it is integrating all those elements into its own school.
"In the Morrisania community, only 7 percent of kids wind up graduating from college and those numbers are way too low. It didn't really reflect our value to the society," Richard Buery, CEO of the Children's Aid Society, told 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon.
Ife Lenard will be the principal of the school and is already anticipating the type of impact the school will have on its students.
"Charter schools offer a difference, they offer high accountability and they offer an opportunity for them to be able to say 'My child can be able to succeed and compete to be a 21st Century global scholar,'" Lenard said.
"I can't believe we got picked -- it's very exciting and I'm glad that he can go to a school where his needs can be better met," said Ortiz.
The College Prep charter school will open its doors in late August.
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