Boyle Heights Program 14 High School Graduation Rates Demonstrate Program Results
In 2002, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles (IHADLA) sponsored a class of first graders at Murchison Elementary School. These students (“Dreamers”) graduated high school in 2013. Now, we have the privilege of watching as they journey through college. 86% of our Boyle Heights Dreamers graduated high school on time, and 96% of those students entered post-secondary education. The Dreamers achieved this in an area where high school drop out rates are high.




As the following photos demonstrate, high school graduation was a very happy time for the Dreamers of Boyle Heights Program 14. Their high school graduation rates demonstrate the effectiveness of our program.




“The best thing is that [“I Have a Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles] is always there for us good or bad … and [they] don’t judge our thoughts or who we are. They have become a second family to me.” ~ Class of 2013 student Dreamer
Preparation for SAT’s and College Field Trips with IHADLA Led to 86% of This Class Believing They Will Graduate from College
During high school, our Boyle Heights Dreamers were able to prepare for the SAT, visit college campuses, and attend the “I Have a Dream” Saturday Academy with their Dreamer cohort to prepare themselves in every way for higher education. In fact, IHADLA was the primary source of college information for our Dreamers, even more so than their teachers, families, and school counselors.

For our East LA Dreamers, college visits included trips to East Los Angeles College, Claremont McKenna, University of California – Irvine, USC, and more. Dreamers in East LA also actively participated in their community. They served food at the Los Angeles Mission and also painted playground equipment and planted flowers at Daniel Freeman for the Martin Luther King Dreamer Day of Service. Eighty-six percent of them believe they will graduate from college.

