As a new school year begins, I keep coming back to one word: momentum.
CollegeSpring will serve 55,000 students this year, reaching 15,000 more students than last year. We are growing through districtwide partnerships in places like Tulsa, Oklahoma where every single teacher–from the Fine Arts teachers to the ROTC teachers–are delivering our ACT program to 8,200 students across every high school during the school day. These are the types of partnerships we hope to build in communities across the country.
That momentum is opening new doors as well. I am thrilled to share that CollegeSpring has been awarded $3.8 million to expand into Florida and Connecticut, giving us the opportunity to serve an additional 38,000 students in two new regions by 2030. More to come on this transformative gift for CollegeSpring, but I had to share the good news!
Most importantly, our impact is growing alongside our reach. At Cristo Rey Atlanta, students gained an average of 147 SAT points, moving from the 10th to the 31st national percentile, while students at Excel Academy in Massachusetts gained 124 points, moving from the 42nd to the 72nd percentile. In Texas, our students outperformed statewide TSIA2 readiness rates in both ELAR and Math, with Math readiness more than doubling from 13 percent to 31 percent.
And the impact extends beyond test day. Ninety percent of our 2023 college enrollees persisted after their first year, 12.4 percentage points above the national average.
As I look at what is happening across CollegeSpring, from new states and deeper district partnerships to stronger student outcomes, I am incredibly energized by where we are headed. We are realizing our goals, and we are entering this school year with real momentum. I want to share an extraordinary thanks to an extraordinary community of educators, partners, funders, and supporters moving with us.
With gratitude,
Yoon S. Choi, PhD
CEO
