A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

History & Mission
A Blueprint for Success
College Bound St. Louis was created in January 2006 by Lisa Orden Zarin and a small group of
stakeholders who recognized the disparities between the college-going rates of privileged youth and
the rates of disadvantaged youth. The founding group was committed to reducing such gaps by helping
students with test prep and the college application process. The vision of those involved in the
creation of the CB-STL program was to help “change the lives of young people through the power of
higher education.” In its initial year, there were 39 students enrolled in the program. In 2008, College
Bound St. Louis expanded to serve 175 students and had a waitlist at both of the schools served
by the program, Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and University City High School. By September
2009, College Bound St. Louis had expanded to serve 300 students at five sites (four high schools
and one community-based site located at Washington University) in a seven-year wrap-around program.
As of August 2011, College Bound St. Louis serves over 450 students at six program sites and
68 colleges, and is serving an additional 1,000 9 th grade students in four high schools.
Goals
Goals for high school success include:
100 percent participation by high school students in college preparatory classes
Average increase in ACT score from baseline to final of 15 percent or higher
100 percent graduation rate from high school
100 percent of students graduate from high school prepared for college math
100 percent of students apply to and are admitted to at least one 4-year college or university
100 percent of students complete FAFSAs that result in fund award letters
100 percent of students enroll in a high-quality post-secondary institution
Goals for college success include:
95 percent of students matriculate into college immediately following graduation
93 percent re-enrollment from freshman to sophomore year
85 percent of students who enroll in Complete U continue to junior year
75 percent of students earn a minimum of 20 credit hours prior to their sophomore year
75 percent of students who enroll in Complete U complete college within 6 years (the same
rate as high-income peers)
Students do not exceed $10,000 in debt per college year, or a maximum of $40,000 of
college debt
Educational Policy Institute 29 www.educationalpolicy.org