exploring college options for students with modest academic records

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Exploring College Options for Students with

Modest Academic Records

NPEA 2011 ConferenceDeveloping 21st Century Leaders: Creating Paths to Success

April 29, 2011

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Aims

• KIPP Through College Programs• KIPP Philadelphia’s struggles• Short-Term Correction Plan• Long-Term Correction Plan

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A College-Going Culture

• All classes referred to by the year they are going to college

• College is a constant reference

• Field lessons include college tours

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KIPP Through College programs

KIPP Philadelphia’s overall KTC goal:Implement robust programming for alumni in each phase of their high school and college education in order to maximize the number of alumni who go to and graduate from college

• Programming includes/will include:HS Placement College PlacementHS Support College SupportSocial, Financial & Career Support

• Our current alumni are 8th grade promoters in grades 9-12• We will also serve 11th-12th graders at the HS and beyond• We serve enrolled students in various ways ,

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College Completion

• Only 2 KIPP regions have groups of students who are 10+ years out from 8th grade

Lowes

t Soc

io-E

cono

mic

Quarti

le

Natio

nal A

vera

ge

Highe

st S

ocio

-Eco

nom

ic Qua

rtile

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

4-year Degree Completion for 25-29 year olds nationally

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KIPP Philadelphia Pipeline

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Alumni in the Workforce

College Support (Grades 13+)

College Placement (Grades 11-12)

High School Sup-port (Grades 9-10)

High School Placement (Grades 7-8)

Projected Caseload Growth

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Aims

• KIPP Through College Programs• KIPP Philadelphia’s struggles• Short-Term Correction Plan• Long-Term Correction Plan

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2011: Knowledge Gap #1What career

are you thinking of?

I’m going to be a doctor.

That’s great! How are your

math and science grades?

I have a D and an F.

How about extra-curricular

activities? What did you do last

summer?

Nothing.

Oh, and I hate blood. What kind of doctor doesn’t

use blood?

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2011: Knowledge Gap #1A recent report from Harvard, “Pathways to Prosperity” explains:

“For too many of our youth, we have treated preparing for college versus preparing for career as mutually exclusive options. . . [Students] need to know that there are navigable pathways leading to rewarding careers in the mainstream economy”

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2011: Knowledge Gap #2

What colleges are you

applying to?

Harvard and Yale

That’s great! How are your SAT scores?

700!

WOW! On BOTH Reading

and Math? That is

amazing!

No.

I got a 360 on Reading and a 340 on Math.

700 all together.

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2011: Knowledge Gap #2

SAT Reading

SAT Math 6-yr Min. Grad Rate

Univ. of Penn 650-740 680-780 92%

Penn State-Main 530-630 560-670 70%

Swarthmore 680-760 670-760 89%

Schools they Visited

2011’s SAT scores

SAT Reading

SAT Math SAT Writing

Highest score 590 520 620

Lowest score 330 330 330

Average 450 440 450

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2011: Knowledge Gap #3Have you

thought about how you will

pay for college?

Of course! I’m going to

get scholarships.

Sounds great! How many have you

applied for?

None.

Well let’s find some! How is your GPA? What

is your community service record? Any leadership positions?

I have a 2.4. I don’t have any

community service or other positions. My school doesn’t make me do that.

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2011: Knowledge Gap #3

Scholarship #1

Scholarship #2

Scholarship #3

GPA Requirement

3.3 3.3 No

Community Service

Yes Yes No

Leadership Yes Yes No

Aid Available Full COA $10,000 $500

KIPP Philadelphia

Students eligible

1 1 25

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Aims

• KIPP Through College Programs• KIPP Philadelphia’s struggles• Short-Term Correction Plan• Long-Term Correction Plan

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What would you do?

• Tell the truth• Perform the triage• Start re-vamping programming

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S-T Course Correction #1

• Working with 2011 Seniors:• Finding Match colleges

– Focus on match/reach schools with good graduation rates

• Lots of individualized attention– Time-consuming meetings, phone calls, etc.– Always behind the curve

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S-T Course Correction #2

• Working with Juniors (2012):• Pressure on Test Scores

– Incentivizing SAT prep

• One-on-One meetings EARLY• Resources for College Visits

– Setting guidelines for funding

• Pressure on Community Service• On-top of Scholarships

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S-T Course Correction #3

• Working with Sophomores/Freshmen:• Career exploration

– No great ideas yet, but we are at least asking

• Pressure on Community Service– Creating opportunities at KIPP, vocalizing necessity

• Creating Leadership opportunities within KIPP• Push Summer of Learning opportunities• Admission Visits to the KTC office

– They see more of what happens in the office

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Aims

• KIPP Through College Programs• KIPP Philadelphia’s struggles• Short-Term Correction Plan• Long-Term Correction Plan

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Long-Term Correction #1

• Strategic Parent Education• Introduction to the Kindergarten parents• Introduction to Parent Association at both

middle schools• Savings plan presentations to K-parents• Graduation Coach training session for MS

parents• Other ideas?

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Long-Term Correction #2

• Curriculum and Programming for All• College Knowledge day at each middle

school• Regular course in the weekly or monthly

schedule• Section in the weekly bulletin• Staff trainings to solidify the message• Other ideas?

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Long-Term Correction #3

• More Balanced College-Visit Plans• Meet with school leaders/field lesson

coordinators with data for local schools• Develop staff-training around local colleges

to promote• Consult on field lesson locations and agendas• Other ideas?

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Long-Term Correction #4

• Strategic Partnerships with Colleges• Target local schools with lower admission

requirements but high graduation rates• Formalize the pipeline• Join forces to raise minority graduation rates

on campus

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Aims

• KIPP Through College Programs• KIPP Philadelphia’s struggles• Short-Term Correction Plan• Long-Term Correction Plan• Keep Climbing!