College Success Program

Established in 2009, the College Success Program started as part of the Boston Foundation’s Success Boston initiative, which was designed in response to data outlining low college completion rates for Boston Public Schools (BPS) graduates.

The College Success Program offers program participants year-round, one-on-one coaching beginning spring of senior year to ensure students are on track to attend college and graduate from college. At the beginning and of each semester, coaches provide more intensive support to students, as many students need support at the beginning of the semester to adjust to their course schedules and troubleshoot issues that arise, while at the end of the semester, students often need help preparing for finals. Coaches aim to interact with 1st and 2nd year college students twice per month, and upperclassmen at least once per semester, checking in more often as needed. Coaching check-ins take place on campuses where students attend, at Hyde Square Task Force headquarters, or are conducted via email or phone. These touchpoints are critical in ensuring that students keep track of things like add/drop deadlines for courses or waiving their health insurance, which can be confusing or overwhelming, particularly for program participants who are primarily Latino, first-generation college students.