San Miguel Schools Chicago will close its Gary Comer Campus in July 2012. San Miguel’s Back of the Yards Campus will remain open. The Gary Comer Campus will close due to the lack of funding needed to support both of San Miguel’s middle school campuses.
“This was a painful and difficult decision,” said Mike Anderer-McClelland, President and Executive Director of San Miguel School Chicago. “In the past two years, our leadership worked diligently to prevent the loss of this community asset.” The organization decreased overall operating expenses by $1.1 million, increased funding by 17 percent last fiscal year, and sought major donors or partners to ensure the long-term sustainability of the campus.
San Miguel is not tuition-driven and relies on donations for more than 90 percent of its operating budget. Its mission is to provide an innovative and accessible education to children most in need—academically underachieving students from low-income families.
San Miguel students come from inner-city Chicago neighborhoods. Through small class sizes, an extended school day and year, a low student to teacher ratio, and its unique graduate support program, San Miguel School is dedicated to each student’s success from sixth grade through high school graduation.