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URBANA – In some ways, University Laboratory High School looks like any other public school: messy lockers, overstuffed backpacks, teenagers roaming the halls.

But, unlike most public schools, Uni is selective. Its population isn't confined to students from one town, but to students from around the area who've excelled at tests and grades and essays.

Problem is, the population of this public school doesn't fully represent the population it's meant to serve. When it comes to recruiting and retaining black students and students from low-income homes, Uni is falling short.

While 2006 American Community Survey reports about 12 percent of Champaign County's population is black, less than 5 percent of Uni students are, according to school student diversity data for 2006-07. As well, most of its students come from wealthier families than the county population would dictate; 12 of Uni's 307 students are eligible for the price waivers or reductions on registration, athletic or other fees, though Uni doesn't serve lunch or offer transportation.

"We have a very diverse population," said Uni's interim principal and director, Steve Epperson, "but there are some groups that are underrepresented. African-American students and low-income students are two of those."

With that in mind, matching the picture of Champaign County to that of the Uni student population has become a greater priority for staff and students.

Diversifying efforts

A big part of guidance counselor Sam Smith's job is looking at ways "to work with kids and families that were underrepresented here," he said. "What I've been trying to do in the last couple years is trying to develop the infrastructure to allow us to do this work."

Uni staff is starting to look more closely at diversity by targeting smart kids at a young age, preparing them for the rigorous entrance process and putting in place supports for admitted students from underrepresented groups.

A few years ago, a summer camp for younger students from those underserved populations started. Smith said one purpose of the camp – which had both academic and recreational activities, and some Uni student volunteers – was to get young kids to think of Uni as a viable option.

"You have to provide a model of what it means to be young and scholarly," Smith said. "Essentially, we're fishing, and our happy ... teenagers were the bait."

He stressed that Uni wasn't only looking to find more black and low-income students, but also Latino and American Indian students and students from rural areas, what he called "smart, bright, gifted and talented kids from all categories."

Senior Michelle Gao volunteered at the camp, and felt inspired. When she talked to the campers about Uni, she said most were excited about the idea of coming to the school – until they heard about the entrance test, the SSAT.

To that end, Gao helped start a test preparation program targeting underrepresented students – Uni applicants take the SSAT as part of their application process. Her fellow students helped in the tutoring. "From personal experience, taking the test is not a fun act," Gao said. "People wanted to help."

She'd like Uni to look more like the population as a whole, in terms of race, income, parent's profession, "in terms of everything," she said. "We do have a lot of races here, but the proportions are pretty skewed."

Smith also worked on the SSAT prep program, which was directed to students who went to the camp and other underrepresented groups, though any student could take part.

This year, the program has merged into the existing Principal Scholars Program, of which part of the academic curriculum includes test prep.

The school also has to combat the stereotype that "only professors' kids go to Uni," one Gao said isn't accurate.

"You do have to be bright, you have to take the test," she said, but many people "just don't have the information about the school, and that's why they don't apply."

Epperson said that's one aspect of admissions the school is working to improve. "We try to make the dates and the timelines ... available to the public," he said.

Deepening the pool

Along with staff and students, parents have formed the Multicultural Parent Advisory Group to address diversity, including one committee focused solely on recruitment. "We've actually trained some of the parents on this group to act as liaisons," Epperson said. "They have students at Uni, so they can answer questions about the Uni experience."

One way parents are spreading the word is by leaving Uni bookmarks around the community for kids and families to pick up. Parent Glenn Berman of Urbana said the committee is trying to reach students as young as fourth grade to let them know about Uni and its academic rigor, so that by sixth grade application time, those students have the skills to be successful at Uni.

Other committees focus on curriculum and school climate.

"Parents are trying to sensitize more the general student body ... so that the environment is not hostile," Berman said.

Last year, Uni had about 350 applications for 60 places. The school – which serves students in seventh through 12th grades – is taking applications for next year.

Assistant Director Sue Kovacs, who is in charge of the admissions process, hopes to find more students from this population to both apply and come to Uni and sees much progress in that respect since her daughter attended Uni in 1984.

"We've got more (applications) from African-Americans than I've ever seen," she said. As well, "we're getting the kids who are not as moneyed."

While Kovacs said the admissions team would not admit someone who they didn't feel could succeed at Uni, a student who's part of an underserved population might merit a closer look.

"As an admissions committee, we're very open to those types of applications," she said. For students who come in with some academic disadvantage, she said, "they have to hit the ground running, and they have to run a lot."

She added that supports, like Smith, were available for students who needed help.

Though the admissions committee looks at Champaign County demographics, "we don't have any quotas," Kovacs said. Applicants are looked at without the committee knowing the name of the student applying. "It really is blind."

Kovacs said Uni has supports in place to help students financially, like waivers for registration, athletics or trips.

"We're a public school," Epperson said. "The law is that because we do accept state aid we can't charge tuition. (Donating) is purely voluntary."

He said the aid amounts to about two-thirds of the revenue, with parent and alumni donations most of the other third.

For students without the family income for fees, Uni "can be close to free if it needs to be," Epperson said. "We try not to make money the reason why a kid wouldn't come here."

Mirrors in hallways and books

Smith said students need to "see themselves reflected in the curriculum," and sees progress in places like the English department, which has begun offering more diverse literature classes. He'd also like to develop ways for teens to experience some of Uni, even if they're not full-time Uni students.

The counselor said that though the school has a way to go in terms of long-term commitment to diversity – including a more diverse faculty – he sees progress.

"The issues that we're trying to address are long-standing and complex," he said. "I think there's been progress."

Gao says many kids would like Uni if they gave it a chance. She likes the intellectual environment and the accessibile teachers.

"People shouldn't be scared off by Uni," she said. "They aren't all geeks."

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