Students today are being trained for jobs that don’t exist yet.
Most of those jobs – not just the best ones – will require a college education.
Keeping in step with this reality, PEF has engaged in a variety of efforts to increase the number of Hamilton County graduates who enroll – and succeed – in college.
· PEF has worked closely with the College Access Center (CAC) to encourage college attendance and help high school students navigate the college enrollment process.
· PEF is the lead local agency for the Partnership for College Access and Success (PCAS). PCAS has many partners including HCDE, CAC, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Technical Community College, the Community Foundation and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
· With funding from the national Lumina Foundation, PCAS has developed a pilot program in 3 Hamilton County high schools – one rural (Sale Creek Middle/High), one suburban (Red Bank High), and one urban (Howard School for Academics and Technology). As part of this initiative, · Motivational speakers have been brought to the 3 pilot schools to inspire students with their stories.
· A special summer intern program matches high school students with college students hired to give them first-hand insight into the college experience and how to get there.
· High school students have been taken on tours of college campuses.
· Counselors in all high schools have been invited to special training focused on college access.
· All of these programs and partners have joined forces to help fund college advisors in 12 high schools. These coordinators provide information and encouragement to help students overcome obstacles to enrolling in college.
Results are promising.
· 73% of Hamilton County public school graduates enroll in college.
· From 2004 to 2007, the number of Hamilton County graduates enrolling in college increased from 1324 to 1534– a 16% increase.
· Graduates of the Hamilton County class of 2007 enrolled in colleges and universities in 31 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, St. Kitts, the West Indies, and Japan. See a list of these schools.
· Some of these colleges are ranked among the top 20 in the nation by US News and World Report, including Emory and Vanderbilt Universities.