Who We Serve

Like most big cities, Chicago faces significant challenges educating its poorest youth. Often, a lack of support at home makes it difficult for students to reach their fullest potential. By placing at-risk youth in a non-public high school, PEAK offers them a smaller community where they receive more individual attention and the additional safety net of caring, concerned, involved sponsors/mentors who closely monitor the students’ academic progress.

PEAK chooses to serve the academically average to below average (C to D) youth because they are more at risk for high school drop out and they often have few, if any, scholarship opportunities for a quality education because they do not typically qualify academically for other programs that serve higher performing students.

Our student population is diverse as reflected in the student demographics: PEAK’s students represent over 20 different public and private grade schools on Chicago’s near west and southwest sides; Gender: 60% male & 40% female; All students are 14-18 years of age; 50% African American & 50% Hispanic; Household: 73% live with a single parent or guardian and the average household income is approximately $23,000 a year. Students reside in near west and southwest side neighborhoods of Chicago, including West Town, Humboldt Park, United Center, Little Village, & Lawndale. Their Sponsors/Mentors reside throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.