AMAZING GRACE CONSERVATORY INC

AMAZING GRACE CONSERVATORY ADDRESSES TWO SIGNIFICANT SOUTH LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY NEEDS: (1) THE NEED FOR QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS; AND (2) THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. FIRST, DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH ARE OFTEN BARRED FROM SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS IN FAVOR OF REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION IN READING AND MATH. THIS PRACTICE CONTRADICTS RESEARCH EVIDENCE THAT QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION PROVIDES EVEN GREATER LEARNING BENEFITS TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTH THAN THEIR ADVANTAGED CLASSMATES. SECOND, SOUTH LOS ANGELES HOUSES 34.17% OF THE CITY'S 16 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS LIVING IN POVERTY (NEARLY DOUBLE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SECOND CLOSEST OF SEVEN LOS ANGELES COMMUNITIES). YET, MORE THAN 40% OF AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT THEY SEE LITTLE IF ANY VALUE IN "DOING WELL IN SCHOOL"