About Us
Brianna was born in prison and had been on her own since she was 13, due to a history of sexual and physical abuse. When she enrolled in Street School at 18, she was extremely angry and hostile when she felt staff was being “too nosy.” Her past school attendance had been erratic because she had no family support system. Street School was her last chance to graduate from high school. This is one of the stories we hear every day, and it helps us to understand why many dropout. This past May, Brianna was one of the seniors who proudly walked across the stage to receive their high school diploma.
Established in 1973, Street School combines alternative education and therapeutic counseling and is Oklahoma’s longest running and most successful dropout prevention and intervention program, serving over 6,000 students in its 42 years. Street School’s focuses on youth who are at-risk of dropping out due to academics, abuse, neglect, bullying, drugs, pregnancy, and parenting and offers them a second chance to graduate. Students are not sent to Street School, but must apply to attend. Annually we receive over 900 calls, serve an average of 140 and a waiting list of 75-100. Currently about half of the students on our waiting list are not being provided any academic services.
In May, 27 seniors graduated, 17 enrolled in college, 3 enrolled in vocational/technical school, 2 joined the military, and 5 gained full-time employment. Over the past 10 years 90% of our students, on average, have graduated.