BUDGET: $2,649,000 RAISED: $2,149,000 NEEDED: $500,000
Bellesini’s STEAM Education Center will include a state-of-the-art Science Lab, and Art Studio/Digital Art Lab, as well as a Technology Lab where students will have access to computers in addition to working on design engineering and robotics projects. These facilities are critical to preparing our students for 21st century careers.
Bellesini admitted its first class of girls in 2015 and has grown to serve 60 girls in grades 5-8. Bellesini is offering much needed opportunities to Lawrence Girls who face many obstacles to success: The teen pregnancy rate in Lawrence is the 3rd highest in the Commonwealth 90% of Lawrence students are low-income. Only 1 in 10 lowincome students go on to earn a college degree The graduation rate for girls attending Lawrence public schools is the 10th lowest in the state Just 56% of Lawrence’s female students scored proficient on the MCAS, while only 46% were proficient in Science and Technology 91% of students in Lawrence are Latino, and Latina girls face significant challenges, including lower proficiency in math and reading, higher drop-out rates, and greater rates of obesity.