A Tale of Two Wars:Secondary & Post-Secondary Recruitment

In Diverse Areas

Quinton Clay—University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignTeran Tadal—University of Pennsylvania

Will Torres—Pomona College

Secondary School WarIn diverse metropolitan areas with the highest ethnic & cultural concentrations, challenged public education school systems have and are transforming

Secondary School ChoiceHigh Stakes Standardized TestingSchool Consolidations & Closings Increased Class-sizesExpanded Options for graduating 8th Graders

beyond the Neighborhood Schools

Secondary School War cont…Schools and Systems must now address:

Need for Safer Learning Environments Commuting/Transportation Challenges Increased Class-size & Counselor Case-load Tailored Learning Models Staggered Learning Trajectories Flexible Curriculum Enrollment and Talent competition Necessity for Marketing and

Advertising

Impact on Secondary Schools

8th grade students/families have options

Choosing high school is like choosing a collegeStrain on curricula Competition in college prep programming &

outcome‘Talent drain’ in neighborhood public schoolsArms-race to stay openNot-for-profit marketing

Post-Secondary School WarDiversity has become institutional priorities at several levels, but especially as it relates to student recruitment

‘Visual Quota’ is expected/enforced Increased Expectations = Increased Costs Competitive Scholarships for key local and national

markets Financial Aid increases due to needs of low SES markets

with high concentration of ethnic diversity Schools who have to be most aggressive are either in

visually homogenous communities or in diverse areas with a lot of competition

Get More, Get Better and Get ‘More-Better’ & Efficient

Impact on Post-Secondary Recruitment

High school students/families have options

Choosing a college is about more than education

Diverse students live in toughest economies Colleges are much more mobile and fiscally

activeTo be known or not to be How do we define ‘smart’?What is the context of context

Keep it simple sweetie (K.I.S.S.)

1.) Explore increased Secondary school expectations for enrollment, talent acquisition & student outcomes

2.) Explore challenges Post-Secondary schools face in their efforts to recruit diverse students from urban areas

3.) Consider Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia Secondary school models and Post-secondary matriculation

Chicago Public Schools 2011-2012 400,579 students 629 Schools 41.3% Black 44.5% Hispanic 172 Magnet Program 35+ Charter School Classification 101 Offer Advanced Placement 26 Gifted and Talented Program

Black students make up 28% of Algebra I Enrollment in 7th/8th

Black students make up 25.9% of Calculus Enrollment in HS

Average ACT Composite for CPS 17

(U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Data Collection)

Kappa Leadership Institute-ChicagoCommunity Based Organization that provides:

16-Month College Readiness Boot CampAcademic & Curriculum StrengtheningWriting Skills, Interview Prep & Public SpeakingTwo-month Study Abroad Industry Research & Individual Work PlanCommunity & Global AwarenessACT & SAT Test Prep coursesFinancial Planning**All minority males 2/3 public school and low-income

Chicago Student MatriculationKappa Leadership Institute students represent 33 different high schools and all three major segments of the city:

36% Neighborhood7% Public Charter44% Selective Enrollment12% Private – parochial1% Private – independent

Kappa—Chicago Alumni Matriculation Public vs. Private

4-year Public 35% 4-year Private 64% 2-year Public 1%

Predominately White Institutions vs. HBCU

PWI 75%

HBCU 25%

School Size Small 34% Medium 31% Large 35%

Location In-State 15% Out-of-State 85%

Kappa—Executive Directors Notes Students from Selective enrollment HS matriculate in

greater numbers to PWI and persistence rate is far better

Students from Public Charter although they matriculate to PWI in greater number, their persistence rate is far better at HBCU’s

Students from both Private schools, Parochial and independent, matriculate in greater number to PWI and persistence on par with other students at these institutions

Of those that did not persist at PWI, it was primarily due to financial challenges

Houston Independent School District 2011-2012 200,579 students 279 Schools 25.1% Black 62.3% Hispanic 111 Magnet Program 17 Charter School Classification 41 Offer Advanced Placement 253 Gifted and Talented Programs

Hispanic students make up 52.5% of Algebra I Enrollment in 7th/8th

Hispanic students make up 41.1% of Calculus Enrollment in HS

Average ACT Composite for HISD 21.6

(U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Data Collection)

Houston Student Matriculation Yes Prep Charter School Network—Houston

Yes Prep Charter Schools

Yes Prep Engagement Model

Tran

sitio

n • To and From College

• Senior Summit

• Exit Interviews

• Alumni Send-Off Events

Conn

ectio

n • Facebook

• Alumni Connect

• Alumni Socials

• Alumni Spotlights

• Alumni Connection Newsletter

• Site VisitsPr

ogra

ms • IMPACT

Partnership Program

• Alumni Scholarship Program

• Alumni Fellows Program

Reso

urce

s • Alumni Assistance Program

• Grad School Prep Nights

• Alumni Parent Support Network

• Webinars

Yes Prep Alumni MatriculationPublic vs. Private

4 yr Public 35% 4 yr Private 64% 2-yr Public 1%

Predominantly White Institutions vs. HBCUs

PWI 75% HBCU 25%

College Size Small 34% Medium 31% Large 35%

Location In-State 15% Out-of-State 85%

Los Angeles Unified School District 2011-2012 595,849 students 758 Schools 8.9% Black 75.1% Hispanic 149 Magnet Program 19 Charter School Classification 115 Offer Advanced Placement 721 Gifted and Talented Programs

Hispanic students make up 73.9% of Algebra I Enrollment in 7th/8th

Black students make up 74.7% of Calculus Enrollment in HS

(U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Data Collection)

Bright Prospect-Pomona, CA

Community Based Organization engages students from schools in city of Pomona (pop. Approx. 150,000) and nearby Ontario and Montclair  

Two-thirds of students come from households earning less than $33,000 per year

Supports students through the college admissions process and through graduation with workshops, mentoring, and cultural enrichment programs

Supported from High School through College completion

Group and 1 on 1 MentoringSAT PreparationParent meeting with parents of current college

students Pre-College Retreat with staff and college

studentsCultural Activities (Concerts, theater, museums,

beach)Alumni Support and Network

Bright Prospect Model

In 11 years, Bright Prospect has grown from 12 students to 1,500

100% high school students matriculate to college

91% of our college students graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree

25% of our college graduates continue on to an advanced degree

Bright Prospect Alumni Outcomes

One Voice-Los Angeles, CA

Based in Santa Monica; serves mostly low income, inner

city students from South Central Los Angeles High school teachers help identify students

for 5-year program starting in 11th grade 100% of students go on to college; 95% graduate college

(compared to 11% from similar backgrounds) Over 30% go on to graduate school and earn a degree “We believe our continual guidance and emotional support

are the keys to our Scholars’ outstanding success.”

Professional college advisementPersonal counselingSAT preparation coursesCollege essay instruction and tutoringApplication and test feesParent Counseling

One Voice Model

Additional Services• Airfare and transportation• Books, supplies and miscellaneous fees• Clothing and personal items• Health care and insurance• Emergency expenses

One Voice Model cont...

Philadelphia City Schools 2011-2012 146,509 students 250 Schools 56.1% Black 18.3% Hispanic 24 Magnet Program 0 Charter School Classification 50 Offer Advanced Placement 205 Gifted and Talented Program

Black students make up 18% of Algebra I Enrollment in 7th/8th

Black students make up 38.2% of Calculus Enrollment in HS

(U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Data Collection)

Mastery Charter School

Started in 2001 by a coalition of business and civic leaders

Serves over 9,500 students15 campuses, K-12Revitalizes and enriches neighborhoods schoolsOpen admission in Philadelphia, but there is a

lottery due to growing demandHome teams are made up of Academics,

Innovation, Operations, Talent (recruitment), Finance/Compliance

“Excellence. No excuses.”

Mastery Charter School Network—Philadelphia

Mastery Charter School Model

Mastery Charter School cont…40 point test score increase in Math and Reading

71% reaching or exceeding the state reading level

Dramatic decreases in Employee Turnover Over 85% of the class of 2013 earned 4-year

college acceptance2-3 college Advisers & Internship coordinators in 6

high schoolsAffinity Partners with 9 institutions: Albright

College, Bucknell University, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Lafayette University , and more

Notes to Post-Secondary Schools Large variance in the ways students are served,

between school and organization models Academic preparation & Advising differ most dramatically

Public School students have talent and potential that are often masked behind environmental challenges

Macro-level admission practices will yield same old results Improved public school systems still have not caught up A school face-lift may not stand out in individual

applications Numbers don’t lie but often omit the truth

Notes to Post-Secondary (Admissions) Access means giving students the opportunity to

compete; they can’t compete if they don’t complete Travel does not mean recruitment Nuance recruitment often yield better & efficient

results Communications Individual & Organization Follow-Up Fly-in and Visit Program Resources

Develop understanding of Secondary systems Avoid marginalizing students Find diamonds within school-units and/or organizations

Recommendations cont… Take bias out of application review

Standardized Testing (high stakes) Non-cognitive Variables (William Sedlacek)

Account for the pressure from the powers that be Institutions aim to compete in the same small

pools Set smaller bench-marks for greater results

Use your networks & quilt strategy for true diversity

CBOs, International Baccalaureate, alumniFine Arts, Debate, Math & Science, Social

Justice, Model UN, etc.

Secondary School Notes cont…

Students/families seek college preparation & marketability How are you visible to colleges? Why do they want your students?

Consistently articulate mission, values, school culture and pedagogy Make certain everyone knows and connect to it Don’t recite it, be it

Frame your position in the community and translate what you do to the industry Unique isn’t always good

Recommendations cont… Recruiting Parents and Eighth-Graders

Identify & strategize your niche with a clear message

Understand what is actually distinct among your academic and college preparatory resources

Establish the culture of you school environment Recruiting Colleges to Recruit your students

Establish your presence at key recruitment events Everyone doesn’t need their own college fair Relationships should reach beyond college

admission events Use larger networks to help put you on the map

• CBOs, TRIO, key school district events

Quinton Clay—University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAssistant Director of Undergraduate Admission & Director of

Chicago Satellite Office qclay@illinois.edu

Teran Tadal—University of PennsylvaniaAssoc. Director, Wharton Undergraduate Division

tadalt@wharton.upenn.edu

Will Torres—Pomona CollegeAssistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission

Will.Torres@pomona.edu