Chicago public high school seniors who participated in the Stay in School Initiative collaboration between Exelon, ComEd and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago – had a 93 percent graduation rate, exceeding the 58.3 percent average for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Stay in School Initiative partner organizations work with three local agencies – BUILD, Centers for New Horizons and Youth Guidance – to provide a holistic suite of programs to students and their families, including: tutoring, social services, leadership and social engagement skill-building, parent workshops, reward and recognition, and one-on-one mentoring with Exelon and ComEd employees in a seven-month workshop.

Stay in School serves grammar and high school students from the Austin, Bronzeville/Grand Boulevard and Humboldt Park/West Town neighborhoods. These communities were selected by Exelon and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago because they have some of the highest CPS dropout and truancy rates in the city. For the full Stay in School Initiative report card, visit http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/exelon-and-united-way-stay-in-school-initiative-2011-report-card/.