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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie Bascom Rogers
Edina Public Schools
952-848-3957
julrogersbascom@edina.k12.mn.us
EMBARGOED – NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL SEPT. 21, 2010
Edina Named One of the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People
Competition Recognizes Communities Taking Action to Help Reduce Local Dropout Rates and Create
Brighter Futures for Young People
Edina, Minn., Sept. 21, 2010—Edina was recognized today as one of the nation’s “100 Best
Communities for Young People.”
America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to
youth and children, announced the City had been named a winner in the annual competition. Its 2010
recognition marks the first win for Edina in the competition.
The “100 Best” designation recognizes those communities that make youth a priority by implementing
programs that help keep children in school and prepare them for college and the 21st century workforce.
The competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small
towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational
opportunities, most winning communities have taken steps to facilitate improved access to health care
for its young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that
create better places for young people to live and grow.
“Through its innovative and far-reaching programs, Edina is taking bold and effective steps to help
their young people graduate and lead healthy, productive lives,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke,
America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO. “Edina serves as an example to inspire and educate
other communities across the nation to tackle the challenges facing their city and children, and to
implement initiatives that give them the essential resources they need to succeed in life.”
According to the Alliance, Edina was named one of the nation’s “100 Best” because of its community-
wide commitment to raising healthy young people, fostering youth leadership and cultivating high-
achieving students. From families and businesses to faith and medical communities, residents of Edina
work together to help support the city’s youth. Young people are also part of this collective effort.
Students are invited to develop their leadership skills while serving terms on City of Edina Boards and
Commissions where they often participate as full members. Many community organizations also act to
give young people a voice by inviting students to join their boards or participate in their steering
committees.
With a graduation rate of 98 percent, Edina Public Schools is proving that its programs focused on
helping students graduate on time are working. Starting in middle school, students create a four-year
course plan to keep them on track to graduate. Additionally, Edina High School boasts the largest
Advanced Placement (AP) test program in a five-state area and has set a goal to increase the number of
students of color taking AP classes. Its ACT composite score average is 26.2 – five points above the
national average. Promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise is another important mission targeting all of
Edina’s young people. With a special focus on the community’s students with disabilities, Edina
employs Physical Education teachers who have advanced training in Special Education to work with
students to achieve a higher level of fitness, motor skills and athleticism.
“This recognition is a tremendous honor for the City, Edina Public Schools, Edina Chamber of
Commerce, Edina Community Foundation and Connecting With Kids, among others” said Julie
Rogers Bascom, Edina Public Schools Service Learning Coordinator and award applicant.
“Collectively, we work to make Edina the best possible place for children.”
Edina and the other winners spanning 37 states were recognized today at a ceremony in front of the
Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Other Minnesota winners were
Landfall, Northfield, North Mankato and St. Louis Park. Each of the winning communities was
formally recognized with a designation on a map of the United State, illustrating the geographic and
demographic diversity of the winning 100 communities. In addition to the “100 Best” distinction,
Edina and the other top communities will receive two road signs identifying the city as one of “100
Best,” as well as a trophy to be presented to local officials later this year.
Alliance Chair Alma Powell and President and CEO Marguerite W. Kondracke revealed the list of
winners during the national celebration. They were joined by Rhonda Mims, president of the ING
Foundation and senior vice president, ING’s Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural
Affairs and Twilight’s Kellan Lutz, who both share a passion for the development of young people.
“ING is committed to children’s education and to the advancement of education initiatives that prepare
them for successful futures,” said Mims in explaining why ING sponsors the award. ”Our support for
100 Best demonstrates our goal of honoring communities like Edina that produce real, measurable
results for improving the lives of young people.”
The competition is one element of the Alliance’s Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to
mobilize all Americans to take action in their communities to end the high school dropout crisis and
prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. More than 7,000 students drop out
each school day in the United States, resulting in 1.3 million young people a year. To help decrease
these numbers, the Alliance is more committed than ever to recognizing communities – regardless of
size, location or history – that are taking real action to help more young people stay in school and
graduate on time.
The entire 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People and their accomplishments can be
found online at www.americaspromise.org/100Best.
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