MEHLVILLE — Every school day since first grade, Heavenly Larry has awakened at 5:30 a.m. to travel from her home in St. Louis to the suburbs of St. Louis County, a journey her mother Yana Larry and more than 75,000 other Black children have made over decades to seek a better education.
“In the beginning you can feel like a bit of an outcast,” said Heavenly, a senior at Mehlville High School. “In turn, you’re getting a great education. You’re building great relationships. I’ve had a lot of opportunities thanks to this school district.”