overview for admissions counselors
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School Leadership Team
Mr. Samuel Finkelstein Co-Founder & CEO sfinkelstein@legalprep.org Mr. Joseph Williams Principal jwlliams@legalprep.org Ms. Heather Davis Director of Instruction and Special Education shenry@legalprep.org |
College Counseling Department
La Norra Dennis Alumni Support & College and Career Counselor DD: 773-922-7811 P: 773-922-7800 Ext. 206 ldennis@legalprep.org |
High School Profile 2019-2020
CEEB 141332 4319 W Washington Blvd, Chicago IL, 60624-2232 773-922-7800 |
Visit Legal Prep Charter Academy
Visits are scheduled between 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8:00 - 1:00 pm on Wednesday. You can schedule directly online via RepVisits. Representatives will meet with the college counselor and one-on-one with students. There are no lunch visits.
Legal Prep Charter Academy Mission
The mission of Legal Prep Charter Academy is to use its unique law-themed college prep curriculum and culture of high expectations to cultivate compassion, self-motivation, and reflection in young adults who will be prepared to succeed at outstanding four-year colleges and universities. While we do not expect all of our graduates to pursue a career in the legal field, they will graduate with the skills all great lawyers possess: excellent communication skills, analytical skills and advocacy skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.
School
Founded in 2012, Legal Prep Charter Academy maintains open admissions and is a legal-themed college preparatory education for students in West Garfield Park and Chicago’s West Side. Legal Prep has graduated two classes as of 2018. 100% of our students have applied and been accepted to four and two-year colleges. Charter schools are publicly funded and are held to the same academic standards as Illinois’ public schools.
Currently there are approximately 300 students enrolled at Legal Prep. Fifteen percent of our students have learning differences.
Demographics
Community Background: West Garfield Park
The West Garfield Park neighborhood is 5 miles west of downtown Chicago. The community abuts beautiful Garfield Park, home to the celebrated architect Jens Jensen’s botanical conservatory. The area is easily accessible via both green and blue elevated train lines, as well as the Eisenhower Expressway. Currently 18,000 residents call West Garfield Park home. Economic decline has been a reality since the 1960’s. Less than 15% of adults have attained a B.A., the median annual household income reported in 2016 was $23,500, and Garfield Park’s current unemployment rate is 25%. Legal Prep was founded to be a voice of strength and positive change in the community.
Program Highlights
Curriculum
Based on a strong, liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes extensive writing, oral communication, critical thinking, analysis, and deep research, Legal Prep Charter Academy creates a foundation for college success for each student. The academic year is divided into two semesters with official grades reported in late January and mid-June. Legal Prep uses a block schedule, and offers colloquium (enrichment) programs on Wednesdays, where students can explore a variety of academic enrichment opportunities from art, cosmetology, music, technology and more.
English
Graduation Requirements
At Legal Prep, each yearlong course is equal to one unit and each semester course is worth one half unit. Students take classes totaling 8 units each year and must earn at least 26 units to graduate. These credits must include:
Official Grading Scale
GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale and calculated each semester. Transfer grades are not included in the LPCA cumulative GPAs. Repeated courses are noted on transcript. Pass/Fail classes do not factor into grade point averages. These are noted on the transcript.
A+: 97-100 A: 93-96 A-: 90-92
B+: 87-89 B: 83-86 B-: 80-82
C+: 77-79 C: 73-76 C-: 70-72
D: 60-69 F: 0-59
Honors courses are weighted +.5 points and Advance Placement and Dual Enrollment/Credit courses are weighted +1.0 points to reflect academic difficulty. Please contact the Director of College Counseling for progress grades if necessary.
Class of 2019 Average SAT Scores
Class of 2019 6th Sem. GPA (weighted)
Student Conduct Policy and Discipline
It is school policy to not report disciplinary infractions to colleges, but we work with students to portray candidly their academic and disciplinary history through the application process.
Wildcat Extracurriculars
When reviewing the applications of Legal Prep students it is important to realize many of our students work 10-20 hours per week in support of family needs. This is one reason many of students seem “light” in extracurriculars. We do offer the following, depending on student interest:
Visits are scheduled between 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8:00 - 1:00 pm on Wednesday. You can schedule directly online via RepVisits. Representatives will meet with the college counselor and one-on-one with students. There are no lunch visits.
Legal Prep Charter Academy Mission
The mission of Legal Prep Charter Academy is to use its unique law-themed college prep curriculum and culture of high expectations to cultivate compassion, self-motivation, and reflection in young adults who will be prepared to succeed at outstanding four-year colleges and universities. While we do not expect all of our graduates to pursue a career in the legal field, they will graduate with the skills all great lawyers possess: excellent communication skills, analytical skills and advocacy skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.
School
Founded in 2012, Legal Prep Charter Academy maintains open admissions and is a legal-themed college preparatory education for students in West Garfield Park and Chicago’s West Side. Legal Prep has graduated two classes as of 2018. 100% of our students have applied and been accepted to four and two-year colleges. Charter schools are publicly funded and are held to the same academic standards as Illinois’ public schools.
Currently there are approximately 300 students enrolled at Legal Prep. Fifteen percent of our students have learning differences.
Demographics
- 100% African-American/Diverse
- 100% on reduced or free lunch
- 95% First generation
Community Background: West Garfield Park
The West Garfield Park neighborhood is 5 miles west of downtown Chicago. The community abuts beautiful Garfield Park, home to the celebrated architect Jens Jensen’s botanical conservatory. The area is easily accessible via both green and blue elevated train lines, as well as the Eisenhower Expressway. Currently 18,000 residents call West Garfield Park home. Economic decline has been a reality since the 1960’s. Less than 15% of adults have attained a B.A., the median annual household income reported in 2016 was $23,500, and Garfield Park’s current unemployment rate is 25%. Legal Prep was founded to be a voice of strength and positive change in the community.
Program Highlights
- Legal-Themed Curriculum
- Negotiations, Mock Trial, Debate, and Mapping Your Future (Teambuilding)
- Advisory
- Community Service
- Alumni Support
- Law- Career and Technical Education Certification
Curriculum
Based on a strong, liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes extensive writing, oral communication, critical thinking, analysis, and deep research, Legal Prep Charter Academy creates a foundation for college success for each student. The academic year is divided into two semesters with official grades reported in late January and mid-June. Legal Prep uses a block schedule, and offers colloquium (enrichment) programs on Wednesdays, where students can explore a variety of academic enrichment opportunities from art, cosmetology, music, technology and more.
English
- English 1, English 2, English 3, English 3, and English 4
- Dual Credit: Composition (101) and Into to Literature (111)
- Integrated Math Concepts, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus (Honors offered at each level)
- Biology, Physics, Chemistry, AP Biology (Honors offered at each level)
- World History, US History, Government, Economics
- Dual Credit: Intro to Business (111) and Entrepreneurship (216)
- Law and Literature, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Law Theory
- Dual Credit: Intro to Criminology (250) and Issues in Criminal Justice (202)
- Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III
- Dual Enrollment @ Chicago City Colleges.
- These are noted on the transcript for students who need additional academic supports.
- Physical Education, Art I, Junior Collegiate Scholars, Senior Collegiate Scholars
Graduation Requirements
At Legal Prep, each yearlong course is equal to one unit and each semester course is worth one half unit. Students take classes totaling 8 units each year and must earn at least 26 units to graduate. These credits must include:
- English (4 Units)
- Science (4 Units)
- Math (4 Units)
- Social Studies (3 Units)
- World language (2 Units)
- Law (4 Units)
- Electives (4 Units)
- Physical education (this requirement can also be met with two seasons of a sport) (1 Unit)
Official Grading Scale
GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale and calculated each semester. Transfer grades are not included in the LPCA cumulative GPAs. Repeated courses are noted on transcript. Pass/Fail classes do not factor into grade point averages. These are noted on the transcript.
A+: 97-100 A: 93-96 A-: 90-92
B+: 87-89 B: 83-86 B-: 80-82
C+: 77-79 C: 73-76 C-: 70-72
D: 60-69 F: 0-59
Honors courses are weighted +.5 points and Advance Placement and Dual Enrollment/Credit courses are weighted +1.0 points to reflect academic difficulty. Please contact the Director of College Counseling for progress grades if necessary.
Class of 2019 Average SAT Scores
- April SAT Middle 50% Composite: 800 – 930
- English: 390-470
- Math: 390-490
- April SAT Composite Avg: 876
- English: 438
- Math: 439
Class of 2019 6th Sem. GPA (weighted)
- Top Decile: 4.13-3.88
- Top Quartile: 4.13-3.48
- Second Quartile: 3.46-2.93
- Third Quartile:2.92-2.18
- Fourth Quartile: 2.14-
Student Conduct Policy and Discipline
It is school policy to not report disciplinary infractions to colleges, but we work with students to portray candidly their academic and disciplinary history through the application process.
Wildcat Extracurriculars
When reviewing the applications of Legal Prep students it is important to realize many of our students work 10-20 hours per week in support of family needs. This is one reason many of students seem “light” in extracurriculars. We do offer the following, depending on student interest:
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Basketball
- Track & Field
- Peer tutoring
- Mentor Program
- Volleyball
- Art Club
- Debate
- Student Government
- Mock Trial