CPS Plans to Open Carver Military Academy

By Lindsey Miller in News on Oct 19, 2009 9:45PM

In an effort to quell further violence between students from different communities who attend Fenger High School, the Chicago Board of Education announced it may open up Carver Military Academy on the Far South Side to interested students. Board President Michael Scott told parents of the Altgeld Gardens public housing complex this morning that 120 of their students could choose to go to a "dual school" within Carver, which is closer to their house. Mayor Richard Daley and Rev. Jesse Jackson also attended the meeting.

Officials hope that by separating students from Altgeld Gardens and students from communities closer to Fenger, violence of the type that killed 16-year-old Derrion Albert a few weeks ago may be eliminated. Chicago Public Schools officials announced a similar plan last week, but said interested students would still have to meet the test-score, attendance, grade, and interview requirements for Carver. Scott said CPS will make a final decision on how to proceed once they figure out how many students from Altgeld Gardens attend Fenger, including those who haven’t been going to school out of fear.