School Pride
Encyclopedia
School Pride is an American reality television series which airs on NBC
, from executive producers Cheryl Hines
and Denise Cramsey. The 7-episode series follows the renovation of a different public school each week. The aired from October 15, 2010 to November 26, 2010. The premiere episode earned 2.90 million viewers.
several years ago, in which a community came together to restore the dilapidated school. Executive producer Cheryl Hines volunteered during the renovation. Afterward, there were positive and lasting effects on the community, with an increase in property value and test scores. Hines felt this would be a good subject for a reality show. She teamed up with Denise Cramsey, a former executive producer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
, and pitched the idea to NBC.
In January 2010, NBC announced a two-hour special was in the works for Fall 2010. Enterprise Middle School in Compton, California
was renovated over 10 days during the school's spring break. The special served as a backdoor pilot, and NBC green-lighted a series in mid-May. The additional episodes were filmed during renovations of the schools over July and August, 2010.
Each school received approximately $2 million in upgrades and repairs.
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
(LACES) in Los Angeles, California
Lanier Elementary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Kingston Springs Elementary in Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Communication & Media Arts High School
in Detroit, Michigan
Needles High School
in Needles, California
Hollenbeck Middle School
in Los Angeles, California
writer Steve Lopez
discusses the initial hesitance of
the Los Angeles Unified School District
in allowing two of its schools (Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
& Hollenbeck Middle School
) participate in the show. District officials expressed concerns regarding the quality of work performed and products donated, the costs of repairs and maintenance of the renovations, granting 24-hr access to the schools, and the negative publicity that might be incurred by their involvement with the show. Eventually, LAUSD
agreed to the makeovers. However, criticism regarding the "shoddy work" and a "reenacted [scene] that didn't happen" ultimately provided some validation for the district's reluctance. Some school district officials have bemoaned these efforts, arguing that LAUSD
spent approximately $106,000 in associated costs as a result, but fail to mentioned the total value of the donations made by the show's corporate sponsors, which could be approximately valued in the millions of dollars.
A critic has also questioned the show's authenticity, arguing that School Pride appears to be scripted or too contrived.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, from executive producers Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
and Denise Cramsey. The 7-episode series follows the renovation of a different public school each week. The aired from October 15, 2010 to November 26, 2010. The premiere episode earned 2.90 million viewers.
Premise
Each week, cameras will follow teachers, students and community members as they perform renovations on an ailing school, which will occur over a seven day period (ten days for the first episode). A group of community organizers and personalities serve to motivate the volunteers and lead the community through the makeover process. Cameras will revisit the school a few months after the renovation to see how the community has been affected by the changes.Main cast
- Jacob Soboroff, political correspondent
- Kym WhitleyKym WhitleyKym Elizabeth Whitley is an American actress and comedienne.-Early life:Whitley was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.-Career:...
, comedian and former substitute teacher - Susie CastilloSusie CastilloSusie Castillo is a former beauty queen who held the Miss USA title and competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants...
, actress and Miss USA 2003 - Tom Stroup, SWAT Commander
Development and production
The series is based on the successful rehabilitation of Carver Elementary in Compton, CaliforniaCompton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
several years ago, in which a community came together to restore the dilapidated school. Executive producer Cheryl Hines volunteered during the renovation. Afterward, there were positive and lasting effects on the community, with an increase in property value and test scores. Hines felt this would be a good subject for a reality show. She teamed up with Denise Cramsey, a former executive producer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
, and pitched the idea to NBC.
In January 2010, NBC announced a two-hour special was in the works for Fall 2010. Enterprise Middle School in Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
was renovated over 10 days during the school's spring break. The special served as a backdoor pilot, and NBC green-lighted a series in mid-May. The additional episodes were filmed during renovations of the schools over July and August, 2010.
Each school received approximately $2 million in upgrades and repairs.
Schools
Enterprise Middle School in Compton, CaliforniaCompton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
- Renovated from March 31 to April 12, 2010
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
The Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is a university preparatory secondary school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.LACES, which serves grades 6 through 12, is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District....
(LACES) in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
- Renovated in early July, although the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
initially turned down the renovation invitation.
Lanier Elementary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
- Renovated from July 12 to 18
Kingston Springs Elementary in Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Kingston Springs is a town in Cheatham County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kingston Springs is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
- Renovated from July 22 – July 28, the school was destroyed by flood waters in early May 2010, cutting short the school year.
Communication & Media Arts High School
Communication & Media Arts High School
Communication & Media Arts High School is a school of choice and part of Detroit Public Schools in Detroit, Michigan on 14771 Mansfield in between Grand River and Fenkell. Kim Woo Gray was principal when the school opened in 1992 until her retirement in 2008. CMA has twenty-three full time staff...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
- Renovated from August 1 to August 7, the school was slated for closure prior to becoming a finalist for a School Pride renovation.
Needles High School
Needles High School
Needles High School is a small public high school in Needles, California. It is part of the Needles Unified School District. The school mascot is the mustang, and the school colors are royal blue and white. The current alma mater, "All Hail to Thee," was written by members of the Class of 1959 as...
in Needles, California
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
- Renovated from August 13 to August 19
Hollenbeck Middle School
Hollenbeck Middle School
Hollenbeck Middle School is located in East Los Angeles, California, in one of the poorest sections of Los Angeles, Boyle Heights. This section with an estimated 35 to 50 percent high school drop-out rate is in the country’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified School District. HMS...
in Los Angeles, California
- Renovated August 22 to August 28
Criticism
An article written by L.A. TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Steve Lopez
Steve Lopez
Steven M. Lopez is an American journalist who has been a columnist for The Los Angeles Times since 2001. He is the son of Spanish and Italian immigrants.-Life and cars:...
discusses the initial hesitance of
the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
in allowing two of its schools (Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
The Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is a university preparatory secondary school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.LACES, which serves grades 6 through 12, is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District....
& Hollenbeck Middle School
Hollenbeck Middle School
Hollenbeck Middle School is located in East Los Angeles, California, in one of the poorest sections of Los Angeles, Boyle Heights. This section with an estimated 35 to 50 percent high school drop-out rate is in the country’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified School District. HMS...
) participate in the show. District officials expressed concerns regarding the quality of work performed and products donated, the costs of repairs and maintenance of the renovations, granting 24-hr access to the schools, and the negative publicity that might be incurred by their involvement with the show. Eventually, LAUSD
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
agreed to the makeovers. However, criticism regarding the "shoddy work" and a "reenacted [scene] that didn't happen" ultimately provided some validation for the district's reluctance. Some school district officials have bemoaned these efforts, arguing that LAUSD
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
spent approximately $106,000 in associated costs as a result, but fail to mentioned the total value of the donations made by the show's corporate sponsors, which could be approximately valued in the millions of dollars.
A critic has also questioned the show's authenticity, arguing that School Pride appears to be scripted or too contrived.