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Chicago’s Urban Prep Academy proves that the Windy City has more to offer than tragic news about gang violence and young lives gone too soon.

For the fourth year in a row, 100 percent of graduating seniors from the all-male charter school are college bound to four-year universities.

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“The students of the Urban Prep Academies have not only cleared the academic bar, they have raised the bar for all of us,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Their accomplishment today is a ringing example that when you have a teacher in the classroom that is committed, a principal in the school who is accountable and adults at home that are involved, any student from any neighborhood or background in Chicago can achieve the dream of graduating and going to college.”

Despite the fact that 85 percent of Urban Prep’s students come from low-income families and start at least two grade levels behind, the class of 2013 have been accepted to 115 different colleges and universities. According to a press release, these schools include Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Morehouse College, Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

“What this 100 percent proves beyond a doubt is that it need not be the exception but it should be the expectation for every child in the city of Chicago,” Emanuel said.

During the commencement ceremonies on June 7th, each of the 167 seniors are set to wear a red-and-gold striped tie to signify their college-bound status.

We salute the young men of Urban Prep Academy and wish them the best during their next chapters in college.

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