Black Student Excellence: All 135 Seniors at Southland College Prep Accepted to College, Earn $54M in Scholarships

Nationwide — As graduation approaches, all 135 seniors at Southland College Prep Charter High School are preparing to cross the stage with more than diplomas. They are also leaving with college acceptance letters from across the country and a combined $54 million in merit- and need-based scholarships.

The milestone marks the 13th consecutive year that 100 percent of Southland seniors have been accepted to college, continuing a tradition that has positioned the public charter high school in Chicago’s south suburbs as a model for college readiness and student achievement.

Collectively, the Class of 2026 earned more than 1,300 college acceptances from institutions nationwide. Seven students received full-ride scholarships from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, known as Cal Poly. Four students were admitted to Washington University in St. Louis, with three receiving full-ride scholarships.

“Admissions to the top schools are important, but equally important is that every student finds a school that is right for them,” said Robert Lane, Southland’s Director of College Admissions. “That has always been the mission here – to make sure every child leaves Southland with a pathway to success.”

The graduating class also distinguished itself as a class of champions, making history across academics, the arts, and athletics. In the arts, a team of Southland seniors captured the school’s first-ever IHSA Short Film state championship with the award-winning production Soul Music. Southland’s Speech Team won its fourth state championship in Performance in the Round, while the choir earned gold recognition at the World Heritage Festival in New York.

Southland’s nationally recognized music program also took center stage this spring when the marching band and Marching Lady Eagles were selected as one of just 10 high school bands in the nation to perform in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C., representing the state of Illinois. Notably, six of the top 10 students in the graduating class are members of Southland’s band and dance programs – reinforcing the school’s belief that excellence in the arts supports excellence in the classroom. That connection between the arts and academic achievement is reflected in the class’s top students.

Valedictorian LeiLani Barnes will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she plans to pursue a dual degree in kinesiology and dance. She serves as captain of the competitive dance team and co-captain of the Marching Lady Eagles. Salutatorian Loren Rounds will attend Yale University and study political science and public health. She is a section leader in the marching band and also performs in the jazz band.

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