MEMPHIS, Tenn. — From the outside Northwest Prep Academy almost looked like a fancy prep school, but the price kids pay to get in here has nothing to do with tuition.
It’s an alternative high school for kids who can’t assimilate in the regular classroom.
Cortez Avant started at Northwest Prep in October after getting kicked out of school.
Avant told WREG, “I wasn’t planning on going there, but I didn’t have no choice.”
Many of his classmates have stood before Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael, charged with a variety of crimes.
Judge Dan Michael explained, “Any time you concentrate a troubled population in an area like that things like this are going to happen.”
Some neighbors near the school on Poplar were afraid to talk on camera for fear of retaliation from the kids, but said they’re being terrorized.
We did a crime track and found more than 150 crimes were committed within 1/2 mile of this school in the last year.
Crimes like vandalism, assault, theft, intimidation, drugs, and the attack at the BP just feet away from the school.
Avant said he saw it all happen.
We asked, “If a teacher came up and asked who it was would you tell them?”
“I don’t know,” he responded.
“Would that make you a snitch?”
“Yes, but if I knew I would point out a couple names,” Avant added.
Avant was ashamed his school made national headlines for something like this.
