At Democracy Prep, we believe our scholars are capable of extraordinary things, and this year, 52 of them gave us yet another reason to celebrate.We are proud to share that 52 Democracy Prep scholars earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in Korean this year. That includes 12 scholars from DPCHS, 16 from DPEHS, 10 from HPHS, and 14 from BPHS.
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate advanced proficiency in English and at least one additional language. It is a meaningful recognition of academic achievement, persistence, and cultural and linguistic fluency, and it gives scholars an important credential they can carry with them into college, career, and beyond.
This accomplishment reflects much more than language proficiency alone. It reflects years of study, discipline, commitment, and intellectual curiosity. It reflects scholars who chose to stay the course, deepen their learning, and challenge themselves over time. It also reflects the strength of the Korean program across our schools and the care, instruction, and consistency that made this achievement possible.
At Democracy Prep, we know language learning opens doors. It helps scholars build confidence, strengthen communication skills, engage more deeply with culture, and expand the way they understand the world around them. Programs like this one help prepare young people not only for academic success, but for thoughtful leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.
We are also deeply grateful to the educators and leaders who have helped sustain and grow this work. Achievements like this do not happen by accident. They are the result of strong instruction, high expectations, partnership, and a shared belief in what scholars can do.
Last year, Democracy Prep was recognized as the school network with the highest number of Korean Seal of Biliteracy recipients in New York State. While we await this year’s official statewide data, this year’s increase from 42 recipients last year to 52 recipients this year is already an exciting and meaningful milestone.
To the scholars who earned this distinction: congratulations. We are so proud of your hard work, your perseverance, and this incredible achievement.
This is a proud moment for our Korean program, our schools, and our broader Democracy Prep community, and we can’t wait to celebrate what comes next.