Tomorrow's Builders Youthbuild Charter School

Through the Tomorrows Builders Charter School, youth who have either been expelled or have dropped out from East St. Louis School District #189 can re-enter high school and earn their diploma. The youth, who range in age from 16-21, find at the Tomorrow’s Builder Charter School an environment suited to their individual needs aimed at helping them succeed in a rigorous academic setting.

All youth who enter our Charter School are required to successfully complete six months in the construction program, and participate in community service projects, as well as satisfy the Illinois State Board of Education’s requirements for graduation.

While the construction and community service requirements make our program unique, our instruction methods are also considered to be unconventional, as they are individualized to address the needs of each student. We utilize the PLATO Learning lab in our 24 station computer lab. We provide credit recovery classes for those who need to “catch up” in their academic classes. We work to service the entire family unit of our students and assist them in connecting to all services offered for them within our community.

If you are interested in enrolling in the Tomorrows Builders Charter School or have additional questions, please contact: (618) 874-1671, ext. 100

ANTHONY NICHOLSON “If I hadn’t come to YouthBuild, I would probably be in jail or hanging out on the streets selling drugs,” says Anthony Nicholson. Instead Anthony now builds pallets at the American Pallet Company in East St. Louis. He got this job through YouthBuild, where he graduated in 2004. Anthony says YouthBuild not only taught him a craft, but also changed his way of thinking, “I thought that people would not help you without wanting something in return.” Anthony plans to return to school to get his truck driving certification. In the meantime, he is busy working full-time and raising his five-year-old daughter as a single parent. Nevertheless, Anthony says he always makes time for EPDC, “I visit EPDC every day on my lunch break just to say ‘hello’ and to help out where needed.”