Great schools combine the power of public resources with innovation and flexibility fueled by private funds. In 2012, several members of the "Classic" Class of 1955 worked together with school administration and parent leaders to create the Myers Park High School Foundation.
Funds Raised By The Foundation Support An Array Of Critical Programs At Myers Park:
- Communities in Schools - Myers Park High School has two Site Coordinators, with the Foundation fully funding one Site Coordinator position since 2012. The Site Coordinators bring the proven Communities in Schools model to Myers Park by case managing students across a broad at-risk spectrum, from students facing traumatic or crisis-level challenges to students seeking college and career guidance. Nearly all Myers Park seniors supported by Communities in Schools have graduated.
- Graduation Coach - In 2023, the Foundation funded a Graduation Coach that is a full-time position at Myers Park High School. The Graduation Coach works with up to 90 students who are identified as academically high risk in need of credit recovery and provides graduation within cohort initiatives.
- Mustangs Matter - This after school program began in 2016, providing academic support, mentoring, recreation and life skills for ninth graders as they make their transition to high school. Going into year four, Mustangs Matter celebrated its first class of graduating seniors in June 2020. Since then, the program has grown to include students in all grades. It is focused on supporting students in achieving the required credits needed to graduate from high school in the student's cohort year by providing a supplemental tutorial environment for students to succeed in academic courses; and to increase students' self-awareness, self-worth, and future ready goals.
- Student Wellness Center - The Student Wellness Center opened at Myers Park High School in the fall of 2023. This special space, inspired by and dedicated to the memory of Jason Huff Jr., has the intention of improving the mental health of teenagers at Myers Park. The school is comprised of a mix of all socio-economic backgrounds who suffer all types of stressors from anxiety disorders and mental health disease to abusive households to non-English speaking immigrants to homelessness. Mental health diseases and struggles cut across all socio-economic strata. The Foundation was pleased to be able to provide a new Student Wellness Center that welcomes all into a home-like environment on campus.
- College Visits - Four tours are scheduled yearly to college campuses in North and South Carolina. This provides opportunities for MPHS students who may not otherwise be able to experience an official college tour and see firsthand what a campus has to offer. Tours include bus transportation, meals, and local cultural activities.
The MPHS Foundation manages the David Shannon Endowment which awards college scholarships to Myers Park students. Friends and family make donations to the fund in memory of David Shannon (Class of 2012).
The Foundation will continue to encourage and support innovative efforts to make Myers Park a model of urban educational excellence.
Student Body Profile for 2024-2025:
Total Students - 3238
Diverse - 51.5% White, 22.7% African American, 19.8% Hispanic, 2.7% Asian, 3.3% Other
Socioeconomically Stratified - Students in all income brackets; nearly 25% of MP students live below the poverty line or receive some form of public assistance.
Homeless Students - Fluctuating population approaches 100+ per year
