Roosevelt Community Education Center helps reestablish trust in public schools

Roosevelt Community Education Center has been improving their school for years, and the graduation rate proves it.

"This is actually my second year here. It is actually like a life saver," said Senior, Louie Arreguin. "I was behind 3 credits and now I am ahead a semester. So it has changed my life in a positive way."

Arreguin credits his teachers and the school's student specific curriculum, that adapts to his needs, for helping him enjoy learning and thinking about future career goals.

"Now that I am here I am more mature. I know how to carry myself and it's like in a better mindset of it too. It's like growth," said Arreguin.

"Our graduation rate has blown up in the last few yeas. It's actually grown up 32 percent," said Morgan Gallagher, the school principal.

Gallagher says he's made a lot of improvements since becoming principal.

"We are not tied to a semester schedule per se. Instead students are able to get their credits in their courses as quickly as they demonstrate proficiency in the content and skills of a course," said Gallagher.

"It's more of a community than a school. We do a bunch of GED programs, we have early childcare learning and we have the regular high school," said Arreguin.

In addition to college courses offered at Roosevelt to help students get ahead. Teachers also incorporate real life experiences, like hosting a blood drive.

"And they get to learn about the process that goes though taking care of all that blood up until that blood is delivered to someone needing it," said Gallagher.

"We love to give the students any chance to learn in a more hands on fashion, or to just give back to their community," said Ariel Anderson, a science teacher at the school.