AchieveMpls and Saint Paul Public Schools launch Career & College Centers in four Saint Paul high schools
AchieveMpls and Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) are launching a new pilot program to create Career & College Centers (CCCs) in four Saint Paul high schools, including Central High School, Como Park Senior High, Humboldt High School and Creative Arts Secondary School. The four CCCs will open at the start of the new school year on September 3.
The new SPPS CCCs are modeled on AchieveMpls Career & College Centers in Minneapolis public high schools, which have been operating since 2005 and serve over 9,000 students each year. AchieveMpls was selected as a partner in this work because of its strong track record and national reputation as a career and college readiness leader. Last year the organization received a capacity-building grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – in collaboration with the National College Access Network (NCAN) – to boost postsecondary outcomes for underrepresented students.
By providing the same kind of personalized career and college advising, tools and connections, the new SPPS CCCs will help students make a solid plan for success after high school and achieve their career dreams. Specifically, they will offer:
- One-on-one advising for students in exploring career interests
- Career fairs and informational interviews with professionals from a wide variety of fields
- Worksite tours at local companies
- College fairs, tours and rep visits
- College research, application and planning assistance
- FAFSA, Minnesota Dream Act and financial aid guidance
- ACT, ACCUPLACER and other postsecondary test prep and support
- Connections to Right Track internships and other college access resources
The CCCs will be staffed by professional AchieveMpls coordinators who have extensive experience in helping high school students chart the best course for their individual career, education and life goals. Coordinators will collaborate in this work with existing school counseling teams to track student progress and ensure that every student graduates with a plan they’re invested in and excited about. They will also provide professional development training for SPPS staff in career and college readiness and build strong relationships with a wide variety of colleges, training programs and employers to increase opportunities for students. AchieveMpls and SPPS will utilize SPPS student data from the National Student Clearinghouse to guide the design and delivery of these services.
“This partnership with AchieveMpls aligns with our strategic plan, SPPS Achieves, as students plan for their college and career path”, says Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools. “Creating aligned career pathway and college/career coordination will support students and families as they develop post-secondary plans to achieve their goals and dreams.”
“We are very excited about expanding what we do best to Saint Paul Public Schools,” says AchieveMpls CEO Danielle Grant. “We’re honored to partner with Superintendent Gothard and his team in the launch of these new Career & College Centers, and greatly value their deep commitment to career and college readiness. We look forward to serving students at these four schools and building new partnerships in the Saint Paul community.”
For more information contact Jane Austin, AchieveMpls Marketing Director, or Kevin Burns, Saint Paul Public Schools Communications Director,