Revere High School, directed by Cape Verdean Lourenço, Garcia receives Gold Medal 29 September 2016

Revere High School in Massachusetts in the United States, led by Cape Verdean Lourenço Garcia, once again received the distinction of "School of Opportunity" Gold Medal. This is the second medal that the institution has received in two years, after being recognized as the best urban school in the US with a gold medal in 2014.

Revere High School is among eight US institutions to receive School of Opportunity Gold Medal recognition. It is a highly coveted designation in the United States and honors excellent public high schools that are dedicated to practices that build on students' strongest points and create supportive learning opportunities for all students.

“We are very proud of our team and students. The culture of unity and support, as well as the effort to build good relationships creates an environment where all students can achieve great things”, said Cape Verdean director Lourenço Garcia.

To be chosen, the school went through four levels of selection by evaluation teams composed of researchers, teachers, politicians and administrators. These looked across school practices included in these categories to create and maintain a healthy school culture, broaden and enrich the school curriculum, use a variety of assessments designed to respond to student needs, and support teachers as professionals.

Revere High School serves approximately 2000 students, 80% of which receive free or reduced lunch. Many of the immigrant students came with gaps in their education, which led the school to establish the Newcomers Academy.

An interdisciplinary team supports Academy students and faculty implement culturally and linguistically appropriate practices that respond to students' academic needs and level of English proficiency.

Since the beginning of the Academy's newcomer rollout in 2013, many Revere students have successfully transitioned into regular classes, and absenteeism and dropout rates have dropped considerably. The Newcomer Academy is one of several innovative programs that distinguish Revere as a Golden Opportunity School.