The Need
Earning a college degree continues to be a critical factor
in broadening opportunities for professional, high salaried
careers. In 1996, for example, men who held bachelor of
arts degrees had median salary earnings 54% higher than
for those with a high school diploma; for women, the difference
is even more staggering, with a bachelor's degree leading
to a median 88% higher salary compared to high school graduates
(National Center for Education Statistics). With as many
as 600 students assigned to each guidance counselor in Philadelphia's
high schools, there is not adequate support available to
assist students in considering and preparing for college.
For students who would be the first in their families to
attend college, who often need extra counsel and support,
this lack of resources is especially damaging.
The Purpose
The College Access Program provides direct services to
over 3,000 low-income youth from some of the most
financially disadvantaged sections of the city. Eighty
percent of these students will be the first in their
families to attend college. The program operates in
nine middle and eleven high schools, where College
Access Coordinators provide comprehensive college
readiness services including college and career awareness
workshops, individual advising, motivational speakers,
and financial aid and scholarship assistance. The
College Access Program also helps schools develop
their own capacity to provide comprehensive college
assistance and services and helps support a "college
going culture" that includes a college preparation
course sequence.
College Access also operates three community-based
Centers that serve both school-aged and adult populations
who seek to begin or return to college. With one-on-one
advising, reference materials, financial aid assistance,
and test taking classes, the College Access Centers
provide an invaluable service to thousands of community
members during each school year and throughout the
summer.
The Philadelphia Scholars, the scholarship arm of
the College Access Program, provides “Last Dollar
Scholarships” to college-bound graduates of
eleven of Philadelphia's neighborhood public high
schools. From an endowment of nearly $8 million, the
program helps over 250 students a year meet college
expenses not covered by their financial aid packages.
These Scholarships act as both incentives and rewards
for students who otherwise would not be able to afford
college.
Accomplishments
- Provided school-based and College Access Center-based
college awareness and preparatory workshops for
over 6,100 middle and high school students. This
includes cultural activities, college orientation,
and family awareness workshops.
- Conducted more than 4,000 formal individual advising
sessions with students in schools and centers.
- Awarded $400,000 in scholarships (average award
was $1,500) to 106 entering college freshmen and
to 161 returning college students from the Scholars
Endowment, which stands at just under $8 million.
Twenty-six Scholars graduated from college in May
2002..
- Provided services to over 200 “dropout/stopout”
students.
Funding Sources
The 1957 Charitable Trust
The
Pew Charitable Trusts
The Philadelphia Scholars Endowment
School
District of Philadelphia
US Department
of Education
The
Lenfest Foundation
The
William Penn Foundation
Contact Information
Janine Wright,
Director, CAP/Philadelphia Scholars
Elaine Coleman,
Scholarship Coordinator, The Philadelphia Scholars
Carolyn
Garrett, Administrative Assistant
Laurie
Holman, Students in Transition Coordinator
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