By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Sr. Correspondent<\/p>\n
Dr. Peggy Edwards-Jones has spent much of the past two decades as a principal at the Friendship Collegiate Academy Early College Campus in the Northeast section of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Incoming freshman at Friendship Collegiate Academy are referred to as scholars.<\/p>\n
And with good reason.<\/p>\n
In an interview with National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., Dr. Edwards-Jones relayed what she called her proudest moments in education thus far.<\/p>\n
Those moments include graduating over 3,500 scholars, with a 100 percent acceptance rate to a college or university. Some of her scholars graduate with one to two years of college courses completed before leaving high school.<\/p>\n
At least 80 percent of those scholars who graduated completed their first year of college. Ninety-nine percent of the students are African American or individuals of color.<\/p>\n
“The biggest issue for minority students is an opportunity,” Dr. Edward-Jones offered.<\/p>\n
“At our campus, students can select majors like science, engineering, and computer science and take courses toward graduation,” Dr. Edwards-Jones added.<\/p>\n