During an average career span, college graduates will earn $1,000,000 more than a high school drop out. IT PAYS TO STAY IN SCHOOL.
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At a BerwynCARES meeting last year, administrators estimated about 40% of graduates go on to college and about 1/2 of those go to 2 year community colleges. We hope to influence the current administrations of Districts 98, 100 and 201 to develop or strengthen programs at all of the middle schools and Morton West aimed at increasing the percentage of students who go on to 4 year universities. Programs like "Gear Up" are currently limited to the city of Chicago. A similar comprehensive program should be developed to unite the efforts of District 98, 100 and 201 to see that all Berwyn children reach their potential. Much of Gear Up's message focuses on the Middle School years as the ideal time to begin helping low-income, minority students and families to see college as a possibility. However, there is evidence that gains made early are lost without follow-up programs in the high school years. Another program that could be used as a great model for Berwyn is Admission Possible out of Minnesota. The copyrighted curriculum is for juniors and seniors who must apply to the program their sophomore year.
http://www.admissionpossible.org/AP_Curriculum.html
Our districts, indeed our community, must unite to see our children make it to the finish line. If our elementary school districts truly care about the success of their students (and I believe they do!), then the responsibility for those students CANNOT end at 8th grade graduation. And if our high school administrators and teachers truly care about the success of their students (and I believe they do!) then they must be invested in the early years of their future students. These 3 districts must come together, pool their limited resources, to offer hope to the students of Berwyn. Districts 98, 100 and Morton West must work together to offer a 6th-12th grade comprehensive program with the explicit goal of increasing the number of low-income, minority Berwyn students that go on to college.
1 comment:
That is disturbing. Do you know if this rate has been improving, dropping or remaining steady over the past five years? According to the NCHEMS site, Illinois' college going rate of high school student is 55.2%, with the national average at 55.7% (based upon 2004). Looks like MW really needs to make this a 'success metric' to work towards...IMHO.
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