The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation 2007 Annual Report

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

“There are a lot of indicators confirming that schools don't adequately prepare students for life after high school. Research shows that a student's motivation toward academics steadily declines from elementary on to high school. A recent report looking at 29 industrialized countries showed that on a number of academic measures the United States ranked 25th. Experts say that the traditional large, comprehensive American high school has become obsolete.

“Pathways to Success is aimed at preparing students for college and career, one student at a time, by providing high school students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed.”

Our Target Communities

“Our Pathways initiatives are focused primarily on low-income students in three communities: Beaufort County, SC, a rural school district that has a very small corporate base and high poverty levels; Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix, AZ, with a 92% Latino student population and a very high percentage of free- or reduced-lunch students; and Atlanta Public Schools, where our pilot school is The New Schools at Carver. It has a student population that is 95% African-American and 85% free or reduced lunch.”

Changing The Culture

“In all three schools, we work very closely with local community partners to help students move toward their futures. Our collective goal is to help students pursue post-secondary education, training, or certification programs that will allow them to become economically successful.

“Pathways interventions involve the school systems, school administrations, parents, community partners, and higher-ed institutions to help make success happen for each student. To facilitate the collaborative, we engage a full-time Pathways Coordinator who works in the school to manage these services.

“In addition to supporting a college preparatory curriculum, our partners provide students with individual support, whether through mentoring programs or internship experiences. We also support programs that engage parents and provide resources to help parents better support their student's academic success. There's also a strong higher-ed connection in all these communities, building partnerships with local universities and colleges and the high schools. Some students take college level courses and graduate from high school with an associate's degree.

“Now as you walk through the school halls, you see pennants from different colleges and universities. You hear students talk about their last college tour and how they slept-over in a dorm or talked to college professors. This college-going culture in general is very different from an apathetic, pessimistic school culture, and it really makes a positive impact on incoming freshmen students.”

Raising Expectations

“When students come into a school that has a college center or a career center and someone on staff to help them with financial aid for college, it sets high expectations. There's a real sense among students that people care and are concerned that they have the tools they need to be successful.

“We think the key changes Pathways has helped bring about would be the college-going culture and the motivation, enthusiasm, and optimism about academics in general. And there's definitely parental involvement. Parents are such a key component.

“We can't give up on our young people. Without them, the future looks very bleak for all of us. If there's one student who goes to college, or has a good work experience, and is exposed to different career opportunities, then that's one student who has a more beneficial outlook on life. This is definitely something to be excited about.”