Embarc

Embarc is a three-year program that provides community-driven, experienced-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students to inspire and prepare them for college and career success. Embarc’s goal is to drive student success with long-term social and cultural exposure. By engaging school districts, community partners and students, Embarc triggers intrinsic motivation in students, transforms how schools educate, and creates a more aware and integrated society.

Embarc was founded in 2010 by Imran Khan and January Miller, teachers at West Englewood’s Harper High School, and was piloted with 100 students. Since then, Embarc has grown into a highly-demanded, social and cultural education program projected to serve 650 students in the 2015-2016 school year in ten Chicago Public Schools high schools located in West Englewood (Harper), Roseland (Christian Fenger Academy), Portage Park (Chicago Academy), Douglas (Phillips Academy), New City (Tilden), Rogers Park (Sullivan), North Lawndale (Collins Academy), East Garfield Park (Manley Career Academy), Uptown (Uplift Community), and University Village (Chicago Tech Academy).

Embarc’s program pairs a three-year, full-embedded, in-school curriculum with journey immersion. This ensures that all experiences are coupled with a curriculum that supports growth and drives the goal of increasing academic achievement and achieving post-secondary and life success. Embarc collaborates with nearly 200 community partners to provide these experiential learning opportunities in the areas of team building, health and wellness, arts and culture, and college and career awareness. The unique impact of Embarc’s program design is supported by Embarc’s success in transforming student outcomes as well The University of Chicago’s Chicago Consortium on School Research’s finding that developmental experiences are critical to effective urban education. Embarc students on average achieve an 89% attendance rate, 97% high school graduation rate, and 93% college enrollment.