For most of us, high school is straightforward. At that age, the primary focus is education, and graduating is often seen as a given rather than a milestone. But for children removed from their homes, completing high school can be an uphill battle.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 57% of Florida students in foster care complete high school in four years. This figure is a sharp drop from the 90% of all Florida students who earn a high school diploma in the same timeframe. It’s easy to see why teens in foster care might struggle to prioritize finishing high school. What may be simple tasks for some students become nearly impossible for children being moved from home to home with no true space to call their own. The lack of stability and uncertainty about what tomorrow holds can make tasks like algebra homework and reading Shakespeare feel insurmountable—and perhaps even pointless.
If you thought high school graduation rates were staggeringly low for children in foster care, you may be shocked to learn how few former foster kids earn college degrees. A study by the National Foster Youth Institute found that just 3% to 4% of former foster youth obtain a four-year college degree, and between 2% to 6% receive a two-year degree.
With statistics stacked against them and lives that can feel chaotic and out of control, a youth in foster care must be proactive and self-motivated to succeed academically. Louvenson Manasse statistically should not be doing as well as he is. With a 3.56 GPA and applications submitted to major state schools like Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and Florida Atlantic University, he is beating the odds.
Louvenson has been in the foster care system since he was 13 years old, after being removed from his mother’s care. After being moved from home to home and shelter to shelter—three different placements in just three years—he could have easily given up. But for Louvenson, academics are important. He has dreams of going to college and earning his bachelor’s degree.
LSF Oak House Program Director Softin Miller believes he will do just that. “Even with all of the adversity he has faced, he continues to be a self-starter,” Miller shared. She described Louvenson’s drive and work ethic: not only is he exceeding graduation requirements, but he’s also up and out the door at 6 a.m. to attend varsity basketball practice each morning. Miller described Louvenson as quiet, respectful, and a strong advocate for himself.
Louvenson has found a safe space at LSF Oak House. He meets with his counselor, who works with him in Creole, a connection that brings him joy. Oak House staff have helped ensure he stays on track to complete high school and have taken him on college tours, encouraging him to apply to as many schools as possible so he has options. Oak House is one of seven residential homes that make up LSF Grace Place in Palm Beach County. Upon admission, services are designed to help youth strive toward improved behavioral, relational, and educational outcomes, equipping them to become self-sufficient and healthy adults. Louvenson is a prime example of why these programs are essential. Without support and the opportunity to succeed, it would be easy for teens like him to fall through the cracks. At LSF, we truly believe that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have the ability to achieve greatness. Louvenson will continue to do great things after graduating high school and our program, becoming part of the 57% of foster youth in Florida who earn a high school diploma.
To learn more about our programs serving teens like Louvenson, visit LSF Family Focus. To get involved and help us further this work, join us in making a difference.
