Meet the Gayton Family

By: Gayton Family (Adrienne and Lauren age 7) From: Smithfield, NC

I am Adrienne Gayton, a single mother of one (Lauren) who attends Upper Room Christian Academy (URCA) in Raleigh. Lauren is currently in the 2nd grade and has been a student at URCA since kindergarten. I chose URCA because I wanted to give Lauren the best education possible. I feel that receiving a quality education in elementary school is extremely critical because it lays the important foundation for continued success in a child's education.

I feel this is especially true for many minority children. Somewhere in the beginning, many children start out enjoying school but by the 4th grade, they become disinterested. Something has happened in those early formidable years for many minority children in the public system. I myself went through it as a young girl attending public school. However, I am determined to reverse this for Lauren.

I do not have anything personally against public schools. However, given the chance to send Lauren to a private school, I made the sacrifice. I am not rich nor do Lauren and I have rich relatives. As a single working mom, I sometimes don't know how I will get by from week to week. Some of my friends, understanding my financial situation, disagree with my decision to send my child to private school, especially when you take in consideration that public schools do not carry additional tuition costs. But I tell them that I know my decision will pay off in the long run and will provide a better future for my daughter.

I have already seen outstanding academic achievement in Lauren at URCA. Upon entering kindergarten she could not read, but by the end of that school year, her reading level was in the 95th percentile. Lauren has been an honor student since kindergarten. As a mother, I must do all I know to do so that Lauren continues to maintain that level of high academic success.

Lauren likes to learn and I feel URCA fosters and develops her abilities. I often tell those same friends who don't understand my decision that my daughter is no different from any other child except for the fact that I choose to put her in a private school – and I work mighty hard to do so. I pray each and every year that God will provide me the resources to pay her tuition cost so that she can continue to attend URCA.








The reality is that for Lauren and me, it is a year-to-year predicament. Each year, I have to prepare Lauren for the reality that she might not be able to attend URCA. Thankfully that reality has not materialized, but it is one I am forced to deal with each year.

I am no different than other parents or any other single mother. I especially hope that parents like me, who desire to provide their child with the best education, could exercise that right without the additional financial strain. However, like many parents who make the extra sacrifice to give their children the best educational opportunity, I will do whatever I have to do to ensure that Lauren's future is much brighter than mine. I want her to appreciate her education, reach her full potential and exceed all academic goals.