The LPS promise is to prepare 100% of our graduating students to succeed in college and beyond.
Student Voices
"Before LPS, I honestly never knew what college was. I had heard about it in the movies and on television, but never quite understood what it could do for me and the opportunities that came with attending college. In middle school, I was a rebel and a "wild child." Luckily, I went to LPS for high school. The principal and teachers constantly reminded us that our goal was college, and with their pushing and encouragement, it actually happened."
Jose Ortega, UC Berkeley
First in his family to attend college
The first high school I attended was one of the most dangerous in Richmond. Gangs and drug trafficking made it difficult to learn. After a year, I transferred to a smaller, more supportive school named LPS-Richmond. I started to stay after school and work on my English vocabulary with my teachers. When my teachers assigned reading assignments, I devoured them. I made no excuses because I knew that despite my disadvantages--low-income household and violent neighborhood--I could be successful if I worked diligently."
"I'm the first in my family to go to college and now my sister and brother are planning to go to college too. My parents were shocked when I got my acceptance letters, but now they like to tell everyone, 'The Ortega Family goes to college.'"
Cristian Mejia, CSU East Bay
First in his family to attend college
"Without LPS, I wouldn't be the person I am today--a person who is breaking stereotypes and changing statistics. I'm the first in my family to go to college. Before LPS, I never thought I'd get there. Now, the sky's the limit.
LPS is about more than great academics. It teaches you how to carry yourself, how to get involved and how to make a positive difference in the community. The LPS emphasis on community service inspired me to help found RYSE, a new youth center in Richmond focused on violence prevention and youth leadership."
Tankya Avington, Senior
"LPS provides a different environment from other schools. We all go to the Stanford Freshmen Leadership Retreat as 9th graders and they have us thinking about college for the rest of high school. LPS has helped me to not only realize what I wanted for my life, but what I can aim for and achieve. I have had my eye on Stanford ever since the leadership retreat.
Cristina Guttierez, UC Berkeley
I came to the United States in elementary school so I didn’t have the same level of English as the other students. It was a real challenge to overcome the language issue. You always feel you are a little behind. I wanted to go to college and I thought this school would provide me with more opportunities. They are really good about
telling you which classes you need to get to college. At a larger school, you may not have someone guiding you through that process.
I would say LPS is the right choice. They really care about you, even if you don’t believe it. The teachers are really behind you and offer you help if you need it. I am most proud of getting into college. Never in my life did I think I could go to UC Berkeley.