Ronald McDonald House Charities Supports Private School For High Potential Children in Harlem

Online, November 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Tri-State Area awarded Harlem Academy $20,000 to launch a challenging seventh-grade program for high potential students in Harlem.

Harlem Academy works closely with families to prepare its students for success at top secondary schools. It offers need-blind admissions and generous tuition support so every admitted student can afford to attend.

"Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Tri-State Area is proud to support Harlem Academy as it endeavors to bring quality education to its students," said Linda Dunham, Ronald McDonald House Charities board chair. "I have had the opportunity to experience the intensive curriculum in action and I remain inspired."

Harlem Academy has grown by one grade level every year since it was founded in 2004, and the school will graduate its first class in 2012. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Tri-State Area's gift helped make this growth possible as Harlem Academy welcomed its inaugural seventh-grade class in September. The grant will directly support evidence-based curriculum development, implementation of a rigorous, extended-day program, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and curriculum revision.

Head of School Vincent Dotoli said that receiving such generous new funding makes an enormous difference in helping the school meet its mission. "We know that our plans for annual growth are ambitious, and we're honored that Ronald McDonald House Charities is supporting our vision with funding for the creation of our seventh-grade program."

Excitement about the school's growth is best described by seventh-grade student Destiny Stewart: "I'm in the first-ever graduating class for the school. We know we started this, and seeing the way the school has grown from a one-classroom school into seven grades is just ... wow."