ABC 7
Mrs. Obama to give Anacostia’s graduation address
By Sam Ford
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Click the following link to view last night’s piece featuring The Academies at Anacostia (formerly Anacostia High School), which is managed by Friendship Public Charter School.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/714755_video.html?ref=newsstory
Transcript:
WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama is going to give this year's graduation address at Anacostia High School in Southeast Washington.
The news has students excited, particularly members of the class of 2010.
"The emotion I have is because she's like the first lady for the United States and the first black lady of the United States," said Jordan Smiley, 12th-grader.
"She could have went to any other school graduation and she decided to come here. I am happy for the 12th graders too," said Markeisha Henderson, 9th-grader.
In the recent past, the high school has had a reputation as one of D.C.'s roughest schools. Five students were taken to a hospital after a fight 18 months ago, in which three students were stabbed with a letter opener.
The school has also suffered academically. Reading proficiency for last year was at 17 percent and math was at 18 percent. Attendance was less than 50 percent and graduation was at 50 percent.
As a result, D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee gave the school to Friendship Charter Schools Chairman Donald Hense to manage and it appears the school is slowly turning around. He thinks that's why the first lady is coming.
"That's a critical part of the president Obama's agenda is turning around failing schools," Hense said.
Three out of four teachers at the school are new this year and come from programs like Teach for America. The current year's test scores have not been released yet, but attendance is starting to rebound with 70 percent of kids reporting to school.
"We can related to the teachers now, because they are not as old and they like can related to us and we love them. They are fresh off their college experience," said Charity Martin, 12th grader.
The school was so happy to get Mrs. Obama, it changed the graduation date to fit her schedule.