Fat chance at 2nd try

Every hour, high schools across the state lose 13 students as dropouts, according to the Intercultural Development Research assessment.

At-risk high school students from Alamo Heights, North East, Northside and San Antonio districts have been bailed on by this college because of confusion about attendance and because it’s “difficult” to run the program.

The hundreds of students who have taken advantage of a second chance to earn a diploma will have to go elsewhere to complete coursework because this college’s Gateway to College program ended last semester.

What message does this send to at-risk youths?

It shows them that another entity meant to help, nurture and teach them to succeed was not important after all.

Their high schools, parents and society have almost given up on them. These teens are likely to give up on themselves.

This college’s neglect may prove to be the last straw, and they will be lost for life. Where will these students go? What will they do?

It may only lead to more people stuck at low-wage jobs unable to better themselves or turning to crime for instant gratification.

Giving up on these teens allows the cycle of poverty to continue for another generation, which according to city-data.org, already consumes 19.5 percent of this city’s population.