Our Program

A Better Chance National is the oldest and only national organization of its kind changing the life trajectory for academically talented youth of color via access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities.  Our mission is to develop future leaders by providing minority high school students who show strong academic and leadership potential and are from underserved communities, with a home away from home while attending Lower Merion High School.

ABC – LM was founded in 1973. Our program is an all-male boarding program, with a house that can fit up to eight scholars. All of our graduates have gone on to graduate from highly ranked colleges/universities and over 95% have graduated in four years.  Our scholars attend Lower Merion High School, a nationally ranked public high school.  Students are supported by their guidance counselors within LM High School as well as academic advisors, college advisors, and tutors to maximize their future opportunities for higher education.

There is mandatory study hall five nights a week, supervised by staff tutors, all college graduates. Weekends are supervised by a tutor or resident director. There are monthly house events such as movies, paintball, and local sports. The school district provides laptops for use at home and in school to complete academic assignments. We provide private SAT and ACT tutoring for all sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In addition, each ABC scholar has a host family to provide family support outside of the house, including the scholar in monthly family dinners. Our scholars consistently attend competitive, high ranking colleges and universities such as Georgetown University, Tufts University, and Bowdoin College. 

Staff

Leann Ayers
Bryn Mawr College
Resident Director

Olu Adetiba
Gettysburg College
Resident Tutor

Perry Mattero
Widener University
Resident Tutor

Carlos Buenaflor
LaSalle University

Maria Cruz
Bryn Mawr College

Christopher Williams