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The fact is, the world is changing rapidly and the skills need to be successful in today's workforce (at every level) are increasing.
Students know this too, and nearly 97% of them indicate they want to continue with some form of post-secondary education after high school. Yet, only about 60% of them actually go on to either a community college or four-year institution.
In many cases, students do not pursue post-secondary education because they have not been exposed to its "living possibility" and they have not been prepared for its academic and financial requirements.
Project College Bound is a program designed to close the gap between students' dreams and their actual achievement, and increase the number of students who attend post-secondary institutions.
The program utilizes both school-based and community-based strategies that include aligning the high school curriculum to college entry requirements, a communications campaign that encourages kids to continue their learning after high school, and student tours of regional and statewide post-secondary education institutions. In addition, the program partners with ASPIRE to provide mentors to junior and senior students who help students through the college selection, application, submission of scholarship materials, and enrollment process.
In Hermiston, Project College Bound is working with local business, community and civic leaders to increase the number of Hermiston students who go onto post-secondary education. Historically, agriculture has served as the major employer of the regional workforce and Hermiston students often feel pressured to forgo post-secondary education and go to work right after high school -- limiting their long-term potential.
Community efforts are focused on sponsoring student tours of regional and statewide colleges, partnering with ASPIRE to mentor juniors and seniors and changing a culture of low expectations.
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