Providence St. Mel is an independent private school that serves a predominantly African American student population on the west side of Chicago. The neighborhood which Providence St. Mel is located is one that is not known for its educational opportunities, but Providence St. Mel is very different from the neighborhood schools. Providence St. Mel's educational philosophy is driven by the single-minded purpose, to prepare students to be admitted to and succeed in some of America’s best colleges and universities. For twenty-nine consecutive years, 100 percent of graduates have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. What’s more, since 2001, more than 50 percent of graduates were accepted to colleges and universities rated by U.S. News & World Report to be among the “top-tier” institutions in the country.
Providence St. Mel has also a demonstrated record of high performance on standardized tests. Teachers at Providence St. Mel help students build their critical thinking and problem solving skills. For the thirteenth consecutive year, PSM students advanced on the Terra Nova Standardized Test, the latest performance showing students scoring at the 77th percentile, which is twenty five points above the national norm. This score is validated by the Stanford Achievement Test. The Stanford results showed Providence St. Mel, as an entire school, scored at the 72nd percentile – well above the national norm of 50%. On the last ACT tests, Providence St. Mel had a school-wide average of 23 - three points more than the state average; this score exceeded all neighboring Chicago schools. This type of performance on standardized tests not only assures entrance into some of the best institutions of higher education; it also means that many students will attend on substantial scholarships.
Jeanette Di Bella, principal of Providence St. Mel also serves as the chief educational officer of Jay Pritzker Academy. Her role is designed to assist and help implement the Providence Model at Jay Pritzker Academy.
Jay Pritzker Academy wishes to replicate the curriculum, instructional model and the incredible results of Providence St. Mel. For more information on Providence St. Mel and the model which was featured in a documentary called the “Providence Effect” please visit the websites below
www.psmnow.com: Providence St. Mel
www.theprovidenceeffect.com: The Providence Effect