CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kim Chi Nguyen Do and Lunh Le traveled 200 miles across Vietnam for the opportunity to apply to Amerigo Education. Why? To change their lives.
Despite all-time high tensions surrounding tightening travel and immigration regulations, kids around the world still want to live and learn in the United States. In fact, according to a survey by New Oriental, students in China are seven times more likely to cite “rich life experiences” than “fewer options for good schools in China” as a reason to come to the U.S. for high school.
Amerigo Education is the only organization that invests in the entire life experience of international students - from the minute they step off the airplane to the time they graduate - to create inclusive, globally minded school communities.
According to a report from Teaching Tolerance, the presidential campaign - and subsequent election - produced alarming levels of fear and anxiety among children of color, and inflamed racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom. Amerigo provides cultural support and immersion for the arriving students and their classmates, building empathy between unfamiliar cultures.
“Imagine a 14-year-old full of excitement. He’s said goodbye to his family, he’s coming, alone, to school in Chicago, he gets off the plane at O’Hare - and there’s no one there to meet him. That’s a reality for many kids coming to America for school, but not for an Amerigo student. We provide an entire life support network so international students are cared for at all times, so they can be successful both in and out of school,” said Craig Pines, Chief Executive Officer at Amerigo. “The barriers to great education for international students are not always found in classrooms - it’s in feeling confident in their English, finding a nearby store, feeling at home in a new country, and making American friends.”
Since Amerigo launched in January, it has:
- Partnered with four schools to open campuses this fall: Amerigo Chicago (Marian Catholic High School), Amerigo Lexington (Lexington Catholic High School), and Amerigo Maryland (Archbishop Curley High School and Mercy High School).
- Driven hiring to result in 55 percent diversity with staff on three continents.
- Developed a supplemental English Language Learning and development program to help Amerigo students adjust to the English language and American cultural norms.
- Focused acculturation efforts on typical high school experiences like Homecoming and Prom, athletic events, and nights out with friends.
- Instituted a four-year university guidance program and partnership with 10 colleges and universities so every student enrolled through Amerigo will receive a letter of conditional acceptance and a direct pathway to a selective college or university.
“Filling seats in schools is not our primary focus. We’re creating life changing experiences for great students who are eager to come here and have all the potential to do great things in college and beyond - they just need people who have their backs,” said Pines. “We are so excited to meet our new students this fall.”
About Amerigo Education
Amerigo supports international students at premier U.S. high schools with a holistic and supportive approach that emphasizes excellent academic outcomes. We help international students seeking a preparatory education in the United States thrive both in and out of the American classroom. Combining a nurturing boarding environment, supplemental academic support, English language development, and an approach oriented around successful college outcomes, Amerigo prepares students with the skills, values, and care required to succeed in high school, at the college level, and beyond. For more information, visit www.amerigoeducation.com.
