Philadelphia’s housing authority bought a high school. It hopes the institution can help reverse the fortunes of one of the city’s poorest areas. (The Hechinger Report)
David Hardy believes every young man at Boys’ Latin is “the architect of his own fortune.” But to build that future, students must first pass inspection. The high school also embodies Hardy’s vision of getting more boys, particularly African American boys, into college, an uphill battle. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Deion Barnes is ranked as the sixth-best defensive end in the country, and he has narrowed his choices of big-time football programs. With football season fast approaching, he faces his biggest challenges and decisions, some right outside his front door. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
As he prepares for the arduous journey of college, Steven Vaughn-Lewis is humbled by thoughts of what if? What if his grandma hadn’t taken him out of foster care? What if he hadn’t been guided to his top high school? What if he didn’t collide with a series of mentors? “I don’t know where I’d be now.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer).