Education City Examples: High School to College Transition

Atlanta, Georgia
(population 416,474)

The Mayor’s Youth Program, started in 2005 by Mayor Shirley Franklin, is a partnership between, the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) that provides a variety of services to high school seniors.  Through the program, students receive mentoring; counseling about post-graduation options; and informational resources on financial aid, college applications, careers, technical schools, and the military. 

Mayor Franklin meets one-on-one with APS seniors during youth sessions on scheduled Saturdays.  The mayor also visits each of the APS high schools to discuss the options with students.  In 2005, the mayor held 800 personal student interviews and over 600 APS graduates were given laptops, tuition and other assistance. 

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Minneapolis, Minnesota
(population 382,618)

Achieve! Career and College Centers can be found in every high school in Minneapolis, thanks to a partnership between the city and the Minneapolis Public Schools.  Students work with coordinators to determine their interests, talents, career goals, and resources necessary to achieve those goals.  Through My Life Plans, students develop a path towards graduation and higher education or work.  Read more about the Achieve! Career and College Centers: http://www.achieveminneapolis.org/programs/ccc.html.

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Los Angeles, California
(population 3,694,820)

The Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet School Program introduces high school student participants to law enforcement roles and duties. It is offered at five Los Angeles high schools, each of which has a Law and Government magnet program as well. The Program's curriculum includes specialized courses focusing on law enforcement and officer-related careers, as well as conventional courses like English, math, and history taught with a law enforcement perspective.

Besides teaching students about policing, the Program helps the Los Angeles Police Department identify and recruit potential officers. Supporters of the Magnet School Program include several city departments, local higher education institutions, foundations, and corporations.

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San Antonio, Texas
(population 1,144,646)

The San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) uses scholarships and support systems to increase high school graduation rates and college enrollments in 15 predominantly minority, low-income high schools. The program works due to a partnership that unites students, city government, private sector corporations, seven school districts, 10 local colleges and universities, and community organizations. In 2004, the city provided over $1.3 million in support, including $590,000 in scholarship monies. To be eligible, students must attain a B average, a 95 percent attendance rate, and graduate from a participating high school. 

Students who meet the requirements are awarded a scholarship valued at up to $4,000 to attend local community colleges and 4-year universities, both public and private. SAEP also provides support services, including stay-in-school and pre-college preparation activities coordinated by Partnership Advisors housed at the school. Since 1989, SAEP has invested $8 million in scholarships and produced over 1,700 college graduates. SAEP currently supports 2,200 undergraduates.

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