Eloquence Academy extends a formal welcome to LaPorte High School!

Located in LaPorte, Indiana, within the La Porte Community School Corporation, LaPorte High School is a public school serving 1,800 students in grades 9 through 12. LaPorte offers a diverse range of educational opportunities, including Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education pathways, fine arts programs, and extracurricular activities that encourage leadership and teamwork. Like many public high schools across the country, LaPorte faces challenges related to college and career readiness, student engagement and support services, and academic performance in certain subject areas, particularly mathematics and science.

The longstanding speech and debate club at LaPorte faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, coach Edward Lake has slowly rebuilt the club, transforming it from 12 students in the 2021-22 school year, to 25 students in the 2022-23 school year, and now over 38 students competing in five events. Edward explained that “we have a number of debaters who, although previously having a low interest in school, developed a high interest in debate.” Several students have confided in Edward that debate is their main reason for attending school each day, and they are committed to the activity until they graduate.

Our Debate-Inspired Classrooms program supports the funding or logistical needs of K-12, public, independent, magnet, charter, boarding, and homeschools in developing their own debate programs. Last month, we issued a microgrant for LaPorte. Edward intends to spend on “materials for Values Debate Format (Lincoln-Douglas Debate) and a great resource entitled 24-25 Young Philosophers: Intro to Value Debate Camp RESOURCES." He believes that access to these materials will introduce the students to debate with greater depth.

We are especially excited to partner with LaPorte as our first partner school in Indiana.

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is the world’s largest youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy has offered live debate programs for 3,600 students, partnerships with 122 schools and nonprofit organizations, and online debate resources for 16,084 students. It has prepared students across all 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.