What is the importance of Schomburg Charter School in the novel, With the Fire on High?

For Emoni, Schomburg Charter School represents opportunity. The school offers a lottery program for admission and "Buela enroll Emoni in the lottery program at the end of eighth grade because of her interest in culinary arts. Hundreds of students apply to the lottery, but fewer than fifty spots exist (36). Only three from Emoni's middle school are accepted: Emoni, Angelica, and Pretty Leslie. It becomes apparent that Emoni may not have had the opportunities given to her had she not won the school lottery. Her teachers push her to be more than she thinks sh can be, and advocate for her when she cannot do so for herself. Schomburg also represents rules and structure. Despite being an adult in some ways, Emoni is not trusted to use her phone during school hours. This poses a challenge for her as a teen mother. Lastly, Shomburg represents the path to adulthood. Given that it is senior year, Emoni and her peers are about to be launched into the adult world.