Shasta Partnership

PDF: Site Profile | Case Study  | Data Table

Word: Site Profile | Case Study  | Data Table

What actions can be taken to create a college-going culture in a remote, poor county that has low college participation rates?

Shasta County has the unique challenges of geographic isolation, provincial attitudes, low college-going rates, and a depressed economy. Shasta is one of the poorest counties in California. The median annual income is below the State average, and only 8-10 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree. Although a high percentage of area students are well prepared for college, have good test scores, meet A-G requirements, and qualify for financial aid, they tend to enroll in the local community college but do not transfer to universities. Limited federally funded college preparation (Trio) programs in the area have not been able to change that pattern.

In 2000, the region's education leaders responded by establishing a partnership and securing one of twelve statewide Academic Improvement and Achievement Act (AIAA) grants. The grant provides $330,000 per year for four years, which must be matched by that same amount from the partnership.

The focus of the Shasta partnership is to create a college-going culture in Shasta County by collaborating with six partner high schools plus eighth graders and parents in all of the feeder schools. The overarching goal is to increase the number of high school graduates who apply and attend higher educational institutions. Indicators of success include: (a) increased percentage of students taking SAT/ACT and improved average test scores; (b) higher percentage of students enrolling in the required courses for California public universities and higher proportion of graduates completing these required courses with grades of "C" or above; (c) increase in the number of students prepared for college (community colleges, CSU, and UC); (d) improvement in STAR test scores; and (e) a higher percentage of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a greater number of students earning a score of 3 or better on AP examinations.

The initiatives being pursued to achieve these goals include college test preparation classes, field trips to higher educational institutions, special sophomore counseling, College Making it Happen workshops for eighth graders and their parents, online Advance Placement test preparation and additional Advance Placement courses at all six partner high schools, and a College Awareness Fair and Community Information Campaign. Continuation of the Academic Improvement and Achievement Act (AIAA) grant requires data and budget reporting to demonstrate progress toward the stipulated success measures.

Notable Result:

• Shasta increased the percentage of graduates from partner high schools attending public universities by 49 percent over a three-year partnership period.

Lessons:

• Committed program leadership is vital.
• Shared vision and goals are important.