News > Immigration In Minnesota
Global students succeed in St. Paul’s LEAP High School
Posted on Mar 30 2017
LEAP High School, based in St Paul, has been dedicated to working with new immigrants, aged 15-20 years old, for 23 years. Earlier this week, Minnesota Women’s Press reached out to LEAP’s principal, Rose Santos, to talk about the challenges and rewards surrounding LEAP.
The high school based in St Paul, aims to provide educational opportunities for students whose needs cannot be met at traditional high schools. LEAP works with over 200 students enrolled from more than 20 countries.
Despite LEAP’s commitment to helping the Twin Cities’ new members, their goal is a difficult one felt by the staff and students alike. The truth is Many LEAP students age out before they can graduate. The Principal of LEAP High School, in a Minnesota Women’s Press interview, said “Time is not on our side or the students’ side. They have to learn 12 years of education before they turn 21 years of age in order to get the diploma.” In addition, “about 60 percent of LEAP students have never gone to school before, so they need to learn how to read and how to study, [on top of] learning a new language and the regular high school curriculum.”
These students have to surpass many hurdles. However, many are able to move forward. According to Rose Santos , “Some 85 percent of LEAP graduates go on to college. LEAP graduates include nurses, medical technicians, social workers and teachers.”
Minnesota Women’s Press reports on LEAP’s students, principal and programs: