Lower East Side Preparatory High School
About the iMentor Partnership
iMentor’s partnership with Lower East Side Preparatory School began in 2003 with 17 pairs. Now in the eigth year with LESP, iMentor has grown the partnership to serve hundreds of students. Lower East Side Prep is a second-chance alternative high school serving a student population where more than 90% of the students are recent Asian immigrants and are between the ages of 17-21. Many mentees at the school look forward to participating in iMentor because it offers them a practical and enjoyable way to practice their English writing skills. Many students consider their mentors their “first American friends.”
In addition to engaging in a rigorous college-focused academic curriculum, students at Lower East Side Prep are actively learning English. Mentors matched here can look forward to watching students’ language and college-readiness skills improve through their regular correspondence. Emails, alongside frequent in-person meetings, can also go a long way in helping the students manage potential culture shock and better acclimate to life in New York City. Moreover, students in the program particularly enjoy learning more about American office culture and steps to employment from their mentors.
Travel Directions
By Subway:
J,M,Z to Essex; or F to Delancey
Walk two blocks North on Essex Street. Make a right on Stanton Street. Walk one block east, crossing Norfolk Street. LESP is Between Norfolk and Suffolk. Use the entrance on the corner of Stanton and Norfolk Streets.
About Lower East Side Preparatory High School
Lower East Side Preparatory High School is a safe, orderly, friendly, and multicultural learning environment. The school is a small community that provides transfer students many learning opportunities through academic programs, community support services, character building, and real world experiences.
Lower East Side Preparatory High School is a place where everyone takes responsibility for learning. Our monolingual and bilingual students share learning experiences that contribute to their academic and personal achievement. It is a professional learning community where teachers, administrators, and students all demonstrate high expectations and standards.
Fun Facts
- Most students have lived in the United States for two years or less.
- Students have the option to participate in a wide range of after-school activities, including documentary video production, ping pong, SAT prep, ballroom dance, and origami.
