College Success Network Vision

All students in Atlanta are surrounded in a culture of high expectations that promotes and honors student achievement, college completion, and career success.  All students have great teachers, as well as strong mentors and advocates who help them attain the academic and social skills, habits and mindsets that ensure a student is ready to succeed.  All students have early and ongoing experiences that help them understand the college and career possibilities that await them and provide them with access to make their dreams reality.

We believe…

• That every student in our city can and will graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college, in a career, and in life;
  
• We must work together to accomplish our goals;
  
• Atlanta can exemplify the best model for improving student outcomes.

The Need:

• College is the new high school. It has moved from being a hoped-for opportunity to a necessity. Earning a family-supporting wage means having a post secondary education. Sixty-seven percent of the fastest growing jobs will require education beyond high school. (DTN p.2)
  
• REALITY – 1 in 4 Americans who enter the 9th grade successfully attain a college degree.  For African-Americans, 11 out of 100 obtain a degree (DTN p.2).
  
• ASPIRATION - In 2004, a High Schools That Work survey indicated that over 70% of APS students intended to attend college immediately after high school and nearly 90% expected to have graduated by age 30.
  
• REALITY - Despite these aspirations, only a small percentage (20%) go on to attend Georgia colleges, and far fewer attend other higher education institutions. One-third of these students attend two-year institutions (University of GA System).
  
• Of those APS who enroll in Georgia colleges, more than 35% require learning support compared to 20% of graduates from the rest of Georgia.

What's New:

Through working with the community, college access providers, and the Atlanta business and philanthropic community, we will have a complete vision and road map for Atlanta to realize this vision.