Lawrence Prospera believes that every student has the ability to learn when placed in an environment supportive of their needs. However, it takes more than hard work and above average grades to achieve a top-notch education. It also requires a serious financial commitment and an understanding of how the system works. Socio-economics too often dictates who has access to the top secondary schools in the country and can present major barriers for students from certain zip codes. Lawrence Prospera’s LFDCS Scholarship Fund has made a commitment to help remove those barriers for some of Lawrence’s most promising eighth graders through the LFDCS Opening Doors program. Working closely with the admissions offices at some of New England’s most exclusive private schools, Opening Doors provides the technical assistance with the private school admissions process to Lawrence Family Development Charter School eighth graders and their families. In FY’20, twenty-three graduates of the LFDCS Class of 2020 received $1.57 million in financial aid and scholarships for the next four years. The LFDCS Scholarship Fund contributes to the $1.57 million and helps cover the gap between what a student has received and what a family can afford so that once accepted, these exceptional students will be able to attend the school of their choice. During FY’20, the LFDCS Scholarship Fund dispersed $77,130 in scholarships to graduates of the LFDCS Class of 2020 and alumni from the Classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019. LFDCS Class of 2020 graduates are attending: Central Catholic High School Clark School Darien High School Deerfield Academy Glastonbury High School Lowell Catholic High School Miss Hall’s School Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School Phillips Academy Andover Pingree School Ridgefield High School St. John’s Prep The Academy at Penguin Hall Ashley began working with the Opening Doors program as a 6th grader at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School. In 2016 , Ashley, a graduate of the LFDCS Class of 2016, was accepted to St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA . St. Mark’s has provided Ashley with opportunities that would not have been available to her in Lawrence. She joined the Sculpture Club and was in charge of the Los Leones Club, a on-campus Hispanic group that educates students about culture. She was the coxswain for the girl’s crew team and was able to travel around the country for competitions with the team. Ashley was also named a dorm prefect her senior year and was in charge of her residence hall and responsible for helping freshman adapt to campus and dorm life. As an admissions prefect, she worked with the admissions office providing tours and speaking with parents of new and prospective students. Her favorite subject at St. Mark’s was advanced biology which developed into an interest in studying genetics and cancer. Ashley will be attending Babson College starting in the Fall of 2020 where she hopes to study business. For more on Ashley’s story, visit our website. LAWRENCE PROSPERA FY’2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 12
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