“I appreciate New Legacy because this school has made me feel like I can do anything, even if I’m pregnant.” – New Legacy Charter School student
In the U.S., only 51 percent of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by age 22, versus nearly 90 percent of women who had not given birth during adolescence. This is exactly the type of statistic that New Legacy Charter School is designed to change.
Located in Aurora, Colorado, New Legacy is the first public charter school in the Denver metropolitan area designed to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting teens and their children. Through a partnership with the Urban Land Conservancy, we were able to build a new facility to house both the high school and the early learning center. On August 31, 2015, New Legacy opened its doors for the first time to 80 pregnant AND parenting (yes, males too!) students. We also welcomed 45 of their children ages 0-3.
The New Legacy school year began with a two day orientation, where our students and their children worked with staff to build a strong foundation for the academic year. Through a flexible structure designed to accommodate a diverse group of students’ needs, we are excited to create a positive school culture based on student leadership, personal relationships, high expectations, and celebration. We believe this will ensure that our students can succeed even when it seems that the odds are against them.
We are also dedicated to authentic engagement and distributed leadership at New Legacy. From the writing of the charter application to the design of the school building, we have continuously engaged teen parents, community members, and educators. As we look forward to the year ahead, we are inspired by the words of one of our new students who said, “I appreciate New Legacy because I get a second chance at my dream.” Through a rigorous academic program, relentless support, and parenting education, we are all about making the seemingly impossible dream come true.
Taishya Adams is the Board President of New Legacy Charter School.
