If it seems to good to be true…
Earlier this year Louisiana private school T.M. Landry College Prep became a national sensation when videos of its students opening acceptance letters to top colleges like Yale, Harvard, and MIT. The school was featured on CBS Morning News, Ellen, and the Today show among others.
However, earlier today, The New York Times released a report that found the Breaux Bridge school allegedly falsified some of the transcripts submitted to those top universities, in addition to fabricating student accomplishments.
T.M. Landry is an unaccredited private school located in a low-income area close to Lafayette. While most private schools are filled with rich kids, that isn’t the case for Landry. Average parent income is only around $32,000, and the school is “no-frills” in every way possible – there are no textbooks, no specific class schedule, and no homework.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy, however. In addition to being accused of falsifying student records, the owners of the school, Michael and Tracey Landry, are accused of emotionally and physically abusing students, creating a culture of fear. Michael Landry has admitted to hitting students.
Jenn Bentley is a writer and editor originally from Cadiz, Kentucky. Her writing has been featured in publications such as The Examiner, The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, and others. When she’s not writing or editing, Jenn spends her time raising money for Extra Life and advocating for autism awareness. Be sure to check out her other articles and reports here.
