LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Hundreds of students are preparing to go back to school at Brooklawn -- that's a milestone for some of the students there.
That's because Brooklawn is home to dozens of youth who have been abused or have troubled pasts. While many of them were on the verge of failing at one point, now most are succeeding and even planning to continue their education after high school.
"I plan to go to Western. And I'm really excited about going there. And I am dedicated to making sure that that happens," says Eltuan, Brooklawn Resident.
Like most high school seniors, Eltuan is preparing for the ACT and college, but his path to get here has been much different than most. He says, "Making mistakes that I should have learned from."
We can't share his full name because Eltuan is a ward of the state and lives at Brooklawn, however, we can share his story. It includes time in several foster homes and running away.
He says, "That's one of the things that contributed to me being here."
But despite all of that, Eltuan is back on track to graduate with his class and even going back to his home school, which is Senaca.
Eltuan says, "It's a great high school; I think it's actually one of the best I've ever been in, and I'm very happy to be going back there and see my old friends and teachers."
Eltuan is part of a major turnaround at Brooklawn. Monday morning, the school unveiled a banner touting a prestigious award.
Mary-Kate Poling is President & CEO of Brooklawn. She says,"We were honored as Kentucky Department of Education top ten best practice sites across the state. We were thrilled to receive that. It was for leadership and curriculum development."
"That means that they're really a model for how to meet the needs of kids," says Dr. Donna Hargens, JCPS Superintendent.
And that's quite an accomplishment for a school full of students who have already had lots of hard lessons.
Poling says," The kids that come here have had some emotional or abusive issues that have happened at their homes so they come...they live here on the campus with us."
The students live in college-style dorms at Brooklawn, and that could be a sign of things to come because guess what? In spite of their pasts, they want to go to college, too.
"Their goal and their dream is to go to college and we're bound and determined to help them get there," says Dr. Hargens.
Brooklawn houses about 130 youth, ages six to 18. The facility relies on private donations and grant money to help keep the doors open.
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