UNDER CONSTRUCTION

LETTER SENT TO CANDIDATES

Dear Abbott Family,

You are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at Abbott Middle School to learn more about the Schuler Scholar Program (SSP).  The SSP was created six years ago and currently operates a high school scholarship program at Waukegan and Round Lake High Schools.  Through enrichment programs, guidance, and scholarships, the program prepares high potential students to succeed at selective colleges.

Early this year the Schuler Scholar Program developed a partnership with Abbott Middle School to create a pilot middle school program. The purpose of the program is to identify bright and motivated middle school students who will benefit from a variety of academic and enrichment programs and upon entering Waukegan High School, qualify for the Schuler high school program.

Working together the SSP and a team from Abbott identified 6th and 7th grade students with an above average GPA, high class rank, high ISAT scores.  These students are now eligible to apply for the middle school program that will begin the summer of 2008.  Qualified and interested students may complete an application and participate in an interview process during which representatives from the SSP will evaluate each applicant's motivation, character, and commitment to academic excellence.  After the interview process is complete the Schuler Scholar Program will invite a group of Abbott Middle School students to join the middle school pilot program.

We urge you and your child to attend a family informational meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 6.00 pm at Abbott School.  At this meeting you will learn more about the program, have an opportunity to ask questions, and receive an application.  Enclosed with this letter is an overview of the Schuler Scholar Program.  We look forward to seeing you next week.

Sincerely,

Executive Director                           Middle School Program Director

Schuler Scholar Program Overview

The Schuler Family Foundation Scholar Program was founded in 2001 with the mission of coaching and preparing high potential yet underrepresented students for matriculation to and successful graduation from selective 4-year colleges and universities.

Students who have earned at least a 3.2 grade point average their freshmen year of high school are eligible to apply to the Scholar Program.  The rigorous selection process consists of careful review of students' academic record, including GPA, class rank and past test scores, teacher recommendations and a personal essay.  Both parents and students are interviewed in order to confirm support and commitment to the program.  Students are selected based on demonstrated academic performance, need for guidance, motivation and character, educational and career plans and financial need with attempts to reasonably mirror the community ethnicity and gender makeup.

Once enrolled in the Scholar Program, scholars make the commitment to maintain their academic record and participate fully in all events.  They must be enrolled in a collage preparatory curriculum taking honors and Advanced Placement courses while maintaining their GPA.  Scholars are required to participate in a variety of enrichment programs designed to increase their admissibility to highly selective colleges.  These programs include academic tutoring, reading and writing advancement, leadership advancement, career exploration, social and cultural events and college counseling.  The college counseling program includes collage tours, summer college courses, ACT/SAT preparatory courses, college application assistance and financial aid workshops.  A team of counselors provides one-on-one and group coaching to ensure admission into the best colleges and universities possible given each scholar's academic background, career interests, learning style and cultural and socio-economic fit.  Parents are required to attend many of the programs and are encouraged to chaperone events, as they are the cornerstone of the support structure we build.

Once in college, scholars receive $5,000 per year for a total scholarship award of $20,000.  College scholars must remain in good standing with their institutions in order to maintain the scholarship.  During college, scholars are provided with counseling support in order to ensure a successful transition from high school.  College scholars are expected to give back to the community by assisting high school scholars with their college and career decisions.

Currently, 182 scholars enrolled at three partner high schools: Waukegan High School, St. Martin de Porres High School and Round Lake High School.  All are highly diverse student bodies.  67 scholars are enrolled in various highly selected colleges and universities across the country.

The demographics of our scholars are as follows:

Hispanic/Latino	42%	Female	65%
Caucasian	37%	Male	35%
African American	11%
Other	10%

Low income students account for a majority of our scholars.  The average GPA of all our high school and college scholars is 3.5  Over 75% of our scholars will be the first in their families to graduate from a 4-year college or university.  The average ACT composite score of our scholars from 2004 through 2007 is 25.