Reed Middle School Given 5-Year College Prep Grant

School reform activists at Walter Reed Middle School received vitamins and apples Wednesday morning to pep them up for an increased workload, the result of a five-year, $2.8-million grant to help students prepare for college.

On Wednesday, parents, administrators, teachers and leaders from education nonprofit groups celebrated the school receiving the competitive grant that allows educators to offer students mentoring programs, field trips to colleges, academic counseling and tutoring. Parents will participate in workshops to help them navigate the college admission process.

“We want them to dream big for their kids,” said Maria Casillas, president of the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project, one of the nonprofit groups working with the school.

The vitamins and apples provided for Wednesday’s celebration symbolized the extra effort the school is undertaking.

Walter Reed’s grant is part of the $30 million in federal funds that was awarded last week to the Los Angeles Unified School District for a program called Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It is aimed at increasing the number of low-income students attending colleges by forming partnerships with colleges, universities and community groups.

The program begins with incoming seventh-graders at Walter Reed and will follow them when they enter North Hollywood High School.

Julio Colindres, 12, said he was excited about the opportunities made possible by the grant. He acknowledged that he has not always studied math and English as much as he should, but he wants to improve so that he can go to college, become a movie director and make his parents proud.

“My parents say that education opens doors,” said Julio, who will enter the seventh grade this fall at Walter Reed. “My parents say that I am a mirror for my little brother.”