Teens in foster care face unique challenges with completing high school, preparing for college or gaining skills to use in the workplace. A new partnership is focusing on directly addressing these teens’ need to catch up despite changing schools, to learn despite serious trauma, and to believe they too can be a high school graduate, attend college or find employment in meaningful work.

East Valley Institute of Technology and the Heritage Academy created the Paul Revere Academy in Mesa to provide academic, career technical education (CTE) and other services supporting the unique needs of foster youth.

Stephanie Lund, Principal at Paul Revere Academy, shared students enrolled in a CTE concentrator program achieve higher graduation rate while also equipping youth with practical, relevant occupational skills and experience. Students at Paul Revere Academy explore different career and technical programs with caregivers, mentors, or counselors, and can choose a program where the youth can feel successful with the group learning environments and academic/skill level.

Equally as important, this program surrounds and supports the foster youth with trauma-informed teachers, small class sizes, transportation, dual enrollment options, and the ability to be workforce-ready upon graduation. To address the housing needs (especially for teens who age out of foster care) is a new dormitory under construction now.

Check out the Paul Revere Academy to learn more!