GRAD Partnership Recognizes Kelly College Prep as a Spotlight School
Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School has been selected as a spotlight school by The GRAD Partnership for its exceptional commitment to student success.
Krystal Payne on the 'Make Me Care About' Podcast: Why Ninth Grade Matters Most
(May 17, 2023)—In a recent episode of the Gates Foundation's "Make Me Care About" podcast, Krystal Payne, Co-Executive Director at the UChicago Network for College Success (NCS), sheds light on the pivotal role ninth grade plays in shaping a student's educational and career trajectory.
Golden Apple Foundation Honors Karen Calloway with Excellence in Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education
The Golden Apple Foundation has awarded Karen Calloway, principal of Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, with the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership. Calloway, a longtime partner of the UChicago Network for College Success, was selected as the recipient from over 130 nominations of school leaders in Pre-K-12th grade.
UChicago Office of Civic Engagement Profile: Dawn Ramos, NCS Partner Principal
Dawn Ramos, long-time NCS partner and principal at Tilden Career Community Academy High School on Chicago’s South Side, was recently highlighted by the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement. She credits NCS with helping her school and her own leadership achieve remarkable outcomes. "I don't know if I would have made it as far as I have without their leadership and support," she says.
Gates Notes: On The Right Track in Chicago
In a recent blog post, Gates Notes highlights a success story of NCS, North-Grand High School, which serves the Humboldt Park community in Chicago. In 2012, NCS and North-Grand began working together to increase the number of freshmen who finished the year "on-track." At the time, only 76% of North-Grand's freshmen were on-track. NCS used research findings that showed how the transition from middle school to high school can be especially tough for students.
Chicago Sun Times: Bill Gates lauds academic gains at Chicago high school
Chicago Sun Times recently highlighted Bill Gates' visit to North-Grand High School, where he learned about their freshman intervention program designed to keep students on track for graduation.Gates was impressed by the school's use of evidence-based research to measure and improve performance, including their use of data to bolster student success. He noted that the school's graduation rates have rapidly improved compared to national averages.One of the key factors contributing to North-Grand's success is their freshman intervention program.
"The Make-or-Break Year," by Emily Krone Phillips details the story of Freshman On-Track in the city of Chicago
On January 11th, 2019, Emily Krone Phillips launched her new book, The Make-or-Break Year, at a book launch at 57th Street Books. The book focuses on how the dropout crisis could be solved if careful monitoring and support was provided to students in their freshman year of high school. During the event, a panel discussed the "politics of distraction" in education reform and how shifting the focus to solving problems inside schools offers a more effective lever for improvement.
Education Post: Ninth-Grade GPAs Predict Kids' Futures and Chicago is Raising Them
An EdPost story written by Maureen Kelleher highlights a new report issued by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, which sheds light on the importance of ninth-grade GPAs in predicting students' future academic and life outcomes. According to the report, a student's ninth-grade GPA can predict their grades two years later, when they count for college admissions. It also predicts graduation rates and college persistence, making it a critical factor in a student's success.
Data Quality Campaign: Giving All Students a Chance at Success in Chicago
The article, "Giving All Students a Chance at Success in Chicago," explores how high school teachers and leaders in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are using an on-track indicator to support students who are falling behind. This tool uses information on student behavior, attendance, and grades to identify students who may need extra help to stay on track for graduation.Thanks to the on-track work in CPS, the high school rate of students on track to graduate rose from 57 percent to 84 percent between 2007 and 2014.
Chicago Tribune: NCS has graduation focus
A recent Chicago Tribune article highlights the story of Leticia Gelacio, a sophomore at Lake Forest College who is the first in her family to attend college. Thanks to support from the Network for College Success, Leticia was able to navigate the complicated college application process and secure a full-ride scholarship to one of the top liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. At the Network for College Success, we believe that college success begins long before students set foot on a college campus.