Pathways to Success is expanding educational opportunities for low-income youth by providing high school students the support they need to pursue post-secondary education.

Our long-term goals:

• Help low-income youth acquire the skills and information needed to pursue post-secondary education.
• Help low-income youth attend post-secondary education institutions.

IF... we can help schools and non-profit organizations strengthen the academic rigor of students’ classroom experiences, the support students receive outside of class, parent engagement, and teacher preparation and training, THEN over the long-term more students can graduate from high school, enter college and actually obtain their post-secondary degree or certification.

By investing in these areas – academic rigor, student supports, family supports and teacher supports – we believe we can help communities tip the balance for students who otherwise would have no plans past high school.

The Foundation’s initial Pathways to Success investments are targeted at high schools in Atlanta, GA, Bluffton, S.C., and Phoenix, AZ – three communities where the Blank family has strong roots.

In 2005, the Foundation invested most heavily in strengthening academic rigor and student supports.

• Carl Hayden Community High School Robotics Team Member
  In Atlanta, The Georgia Institute of Technology is partnering with The New Schools at Carver to engage ninth graders in classroom settings and in after-school programs, to promote math, science and computing skills. Investments in the national Debate Center, Youth Radio and Junior Achievement promise to increase literacy skills. Additional investments in Communities in Schools, Junior Achievement, Project GRAD and the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble will increase student engagement in school, thereby reducing the likelihood of dropouts along the way.
• In Bluffton, South Carolina, our investments at Bluffton High School are allowing students to gain post-secondary credits and experience at the Technical College of the Lowcountry and at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort. Investments in Strive to Excel and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry are increasing students’ engagement with school and supporting students through after-school programs. In 2005, we targeted investments to serve the needs of 153 members of the Bluffton sophomore class. We reached nearly six in ten of these students with at least one type of programming and are working now to extend our coverage to every student in need.
• In Phoenix, through Carl Hayden Community High School we piloted a summer internship program run by Chicanos por la Causa, and a program intended to help Hispanic students become proficient in English. Arizona’s high school exit exam requires strong English language skills, and it’s critical that our investments help students clear this hurdle to graduation. Maricopa Community College Foundation is developing partnerships with local non-profits and Hayden High School, to help high school students gain post-secondary credits while still in school. Also, Arizona’s Children Association is working to strengthen family supports for the Hayden students.

Key Facts

According to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems*, for every 100 ninth graders nationally

• 68 graduate from high school
• 39 enter college
• 27 are still enrolled by sophomore year
• 18 of the 100 complete degrees in six years

In Georgia, for every 100 ninth graders...

• 53 graduate from high school
• 32 enter college
• 23 are still enrolled by sophomore year
• 12 of the 100 complete degrees in six years

In Arizona, for every 100 ninth graders...

• 66 graduate from high school
• 31 enter college
• 20 are still enrolled by sophomore year
• 15 of the 100 complete degrees in six years

In South Carolina, for every 100 ninth graders...

• 49 graduate from high school
• 29 enter college
• 21 are still enrolled by sophomore year
• 13 of the 100 complete degree in six years

*View the data

Economic self-sufficiency and security has become increasingly dependent upon successful completion of high school, and enrollment in, as well as graduation from a two-year or four-year postsecondary institution.

2000 Median Income Per Person
Some High School	$13,605
High School	$20,718
Some College	$25,753
Associate's Degree	$29,174
Bachelor's Degree	$37,729
(U.S. Department of Commerce)

Contact:
Janine Lee, vice president, jlee@ambfo.com
Tjuan Dogan, senior program officer, tdogan@ambfo.com
Danny Shoy, program officer, dshoy@ambfo.com