Eric.ed.gov – Pathway to Success: Citizens Leadership Academy Develops Strong Citizens and Scholars

Citizens Leadership Academy (CLA) in Ohio is preparing its middle schoolers for success in high school, college, and life. CLA is second among all public schools in the city on student growth. The school’s eighth graders reach and surpass proficiency at a rate that is more than three times that of their peers across the city. Reading and math proficiency rates at CLA are more than double those of Cleveland’s. The school’s model–as captured in its name, “Citizens Leadership” Academy–prioritizes and cultivates broader attributes and mindsets necessary for long-term success. As demonstrated in this profile about one student, Keith Lazare Jr., CLA asks students to consider what it means to be active, engaged citizens and community members. Students are asked to grapple not only with tough math problems or reading passages–strengthening the stick-with-it-ness known in education circles as “grit”– but also to develop a sense of responsibility, ownership, and persistence in all aspects of their character.