Kennedy Academy Focuses on College

John F. Kennedy High School has always done a good job of getting its students into universities. But starting this fall, the packaging of college aspirants will become more concentrated.

Kennedy University Prep, believed to be one of the first academically driven “academies” offered at Southern California high schools, is the brainchild of two Kennedy teachers.

Until now, the concept of an academy, a sort of school within a high school, emphasized career preparation. Some focus on travel and tourism, others on finance or printing. A space academy in the Pasadena Unified School District enjoys a partnership with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And three academies for students interested in working in the film industry are scheduled to open in the fall.

Enter Kennedy High teachers Lynne Lertzman and Sondra Levi Zeldin. They discovered that students from Kennedy, which marked its 25th anniversary this year, were doing as well as other high school students academically but were not being admitted to Harvard, Yale and other top schools as often as in the past.

“Students graduating today face fierce competition from students in private high schools,” said Zeldin, who teaches English and Spanish. In addition to good grades, she said, universities want leadership experience, community service and extracurricular activities.

“Top scholars are being turned down,” said Lertzman, who teaches English. “Through University Prep, we are undertaking more of a concentrated effort to make kids and parents aware that meeting minimum requirements is no longer enough.”

Participating students must be enrolled in honors or Advanced Placement classes, take on at least one extracurricular commitment per semester and do a minimum of 40 hours of service in the community.

Zeldin said students are quickly becoming aware of the battle they face getting into the college of their choice. She said ninth-graders are coming to her already wanting to start their community service.

“Universities today are looking for well-rounded applicants,” Zeldin said. “And the high school student who waits until senior year to find that out is too late.”

Additional information on Kennedy University Prep can be obtained by calling the school at (818) 831-8249. Registration materials can be picked up at Kennedy High School, 11254 Gothic Ave. in Granada Hills.