Whitehaven High School has the only classroom in Tennessee where you will hear Arabic being taught, and the class got the opportunity to show off for the U.S Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan.
“If you guys can master this you can have a job for life, you can do whatever you want,” says Duncan to the class.
Superintendant Dr. Kriner Cash says he chose Whitehaven High to show off because of its culture and expectation of success despite the challenges its students face.
“It is a majority-minority high school and yet there’s an emphasis on high college going rate, emphasis here, there’s an attitude of achievement where it’s cool to do well in school,” says Cash.
Memphis City School Board members along with Rep. Steve Cohen toured the school with Duncan. Principal Dr. Vincent Hunter says they are honored to have been chosen and believe its due to their teachers and students dedication to excellence.
“Our 30 plus club, based on ACT and Fortune 500 Club which is based on scholarship earnings, so those are two tremendous programs that we pride ourselves on and our children take great pride being part of those programs, " says Hunter.
Duncan says Whitehaven High is what every school should strive for.
“This is a school that’s demonstrating everyday what kids can do when they’re academically challenged,” says Duncan.
And like spearheading the Arabic language class for the state of Tennessee, Hunter says they’re preparing their students for the world.
“Our children are competing internationally, they’re not just competing with children across Memphis and the state of Tennessee,” says Hunter.
