Union Heights neighborhood president Skip Mikell...was impressed by the school...but his greatest impression came from the teachers, students and parents — a three-prong commitment that he said is necessary for student success. " This is one of those things where there's sweat equity, where parents actually have to be participants with the student as far as making sure that they remain engaged, that they're interested," Mikell said.

"...both Metanoia and Cristo Rey have some work to do to ensure their shared vision comes to pass. But given the potential upside of this vision — an innovative new high school geared to lift up low-income students in a newly renovated historic building that has been an anchor in North Charleston — we should not only hope that this work gets done but ask ourselves, our neighbors and our leaders to do what they can to ensure it does."