Students at unique Columbus school prepare to turn the tassel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – It’s graduation season and those who attend the Academy for Urban Scholars (AUS) are getting ready to walk across the stage and begin the next chapter of their lives.

AUS is a unique school that focuses on giving its students the resources they need to succeed. Educators work closely with each student so they can graduate on time and are ready to start the next chapter of their lives. The whole idea is to meet students where they’re at.

“From the teachers to the way, like, almost everybody in here is a tutor. Like, it's very different. You get help. They care about you like they want to see you succeed,” said Jaimee Cooley, a senior.

AUS focuses on individualized learning plans to ensure each student who graduates is prepared for their next chapter in life. Educators prepare them for the four ‘E’s”: Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship.

“When scholars come to us, traditionally, they're coming 3 to 5 years behind in reading and math ability. So we already know walking into this work, we have a lot of ground to cover,” said Derek Lee, the director of Student Affairs.

During a student’s time at the school, educators also work with them on the soft skills like how to interview, build a resume and write cover letters.

“We go out in the community and we work with other businesses and create partnerships so we can do internships, we can do actual job placement for our scholars and then the scholars who traditionally want to go to college. We also do that as well,” said Lee.

Cooley tells NBC4 that she’s decided to continue her education and attend Wilberforce University, where she’ll be studying psychology. She said that because of the education she got at AUS, she’s more prepared for college than she ever thought she’d be.

“They've been so supportive the entire way. You don't really have to hunt them down for help. They're always there, like making sure that you're on the right path,” she said.

“We go through life with a lot of them. A lot of our scholars have a lot of challenging barriers that had nothing to do with school. And the school becomes their safe space. And we are just honored and blessed to have this. Scholars recognize that this is a safe space,” he said.

The school offers three things that Lee said makes them stand out. The first is an engagement coach, career based intervention and workforce development. The school also offers scholarships as well.

Lee said that when a student graduates from AUS, they not only graduate with a highschool diploma, but they also graduate with an actual career. In addition to what they offer during typical school hours, they also have after school programs. Giving students the chance to stay active through the Boys and Girls Club.

The biggest thing, according to Lee, is that not only do they arm students with the skills to be successful, they also offer a village of support.

“My time here has been amazing. I've been here for two years, and the teachers here are so sweet. It really is family. And they have us involved in the community a lot and a lot of community service being here and engaging in a lot of different activities,” said Cooley.