Mentoring First-Generation College Students Presented to: New Orleans City Council Special Committee for Youth Services and Empowerment. Tuesday, August 22, 2017

“Setting the Standard” “I am setting the standard in my family that higher education is a requirement!” - Oscar M. Garcia International High School of Louisiana ‘13 Dillard University ‘17

Transforming New Orleans Into A Community Where College Completion Is The Norm! College Track exists to close the achievement and opportunity gaps. With a proven program model and 9 years of outstanding local results, we are making change for New Orleans’ most vulnerable students.

ABOUT COLLEGE TRACK NEW ORLEANS MISSION: Empower students from underserved communities to graduate from college. HISTORY: In 2008, College Track New Orleans opened its doors to an inaugural class of 50 high school freshmen. Today, we serve nearly 400 high school and college students, and have grown into the largest college access and completion program in the City of New Orleans. WHO WE SERVE: 19 Public High Schools in New Orleans 390 Scholars: 216 High School Students | 174 College Students 92% African American 75% First-Generation College Student 84% Low-Income Talking Points: Tell story of CTNO.

Our Approach “Holistic Development” Promoting Resiliency Among First-Generation College Students Fentress & Collopy (2011) Academic Preparation Financial Strain Identity (Dissonance) Social Capital MENTORING According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, only 9.1 % of students whose parents earned at least a bachelor’s degree drop out of college. In comparison, 20.5 percent of students whose parents did not attend college withdraw. The attrition rate of students whose parents attended but did not complete college remains a high 17.1 percent. Our Approach “Holistic Development” Academic Affairs College Completion Student Life

Our Impact In New Orleans 6 High School graduated cohorts, including 2017 Scholars . 100% Scholars graduate high school. 92% Scholars matriculate into a 4-year college. Currently around 60% of CT’14 students are on track to graduate in 6 years (112/188). To reach or exceed 70% goal, CT needs at least 132 students from the class of 2014 to graduate (131 if we round). We need 20 more students to be on track. over 2.5x The national average graduation rate for students from low-income families. 25,000+ Hours of Community Service to local organizations. 98% Scholars are accepted into a 4-year college.

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