Our Mission

Offering and Alternative Education

The Academy's mission is to provide educational opportunities to students who do not wish to attend traditional schools and to provide these students chances to learn about the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

You can read more about the specifics of our academic program and the students we serve on our "students and guardians" page.

If you are interested in supporting the mission of the Academy, whether financially or otherwise, please visit our "how you can help" page.

Encouraging Vocational and
Professional Skills

Cornerstone Academy offers outside-the-classroom work and community service experiences designed prepare students for their vocations or college.

Through Vocational Try Outs, students have the opportunity to work in a professional setting for a full 40-hour week under the guidance of a mentor. Students have worked i n settings ranging from law offices to church-based ministries.

Our graduation requirement of five consecutive months of part-time employment ensures that students are prepared for the demands of a work environment.

We encourage students to give back to their neighborhoods through a variety of community service activities. We also help students who may wish to attend college by connecting them with area schools.

Our Identity

History

Cornerstone Academy was founded in 1994 in Chicago's Austin neighborhood in response to the increasing number of low-moderate income students who were dropping out of area high schools each year.

Our calling was then - and still is - to support and educate chicago students who are at risk of failing to complete high school.

Staff

The staff of the Academy represents a number of evangelical denominations and independent churches, with many of the founders coming from LaSalle Street Church in Chicago.

Funding

Cornerstone Academy is an independent, not-for-profit organization. Our operations are funded by the donations of individuals, corporations, churches and foundations.

LaSalle Street Church
Ministry Partner

The Academy is an official Ministry Partner of LaSalle Street Church. We are housed in Cornerstone Center, a modern day "settlement house" owned and administerd by LSC, along with several other LSC Ministry Partners and many additional not-for-profit organizations.