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GOAL 3: <br />Youth graduate from high school and college. <br />Why does this matter? <br />There is no single indicator that describes whether a young person has received an effective education. <br />America's Promise Alliance describes nine essential components, including a positive and safe school <br />climate, a culture of academic achievement, strong peer relationships, parent engagement, and adult <br />guidance on higher education and careers as essential components. While having a high school diploma is no <br />longer a guarantee of getting a well- payingjob, it is a strong predictor of success later in life and a requirement <br />for securing the necessary post- secondary training to compete in our high tech, creative economy. <br />ZONE4 Interview and focus group participants in Zone 4 did not <br />focus on issues pertaining to graduation from high school <br />or college. However, "College and Career Preparation" was <br />the top choice by survey respondents as both a priority <br />program and a program that is missing in Zone 4. <br />ZONE6 The most talked about issue in Zone 6 related to <br />Goal 3 was College /Career Preparation. <br />College /Career <br />Preparation <br />Community Priority <br />Rating <br />Needs are not met <br />Respondents said that high school students would benefit from more <br />guidance on how to be successful in school and prepare for college or a <br />career. Suggestions included expanding the AVID program, providing <br />assistance to students and their parents on how to apply to and pay for <br />college, and helping youth obtain work experience and "real world" skills such <br />as completing applications and managing money. <br />Availability /Accessibility "Having someone guide the children... high school is a whole other world. <br />Rating Ifyou don't have a parent who went to school here or who understands it... <br />Needs partially met <br />you need the support [for knowing] how to apply to college or sign up for <br />the Princeton Review. "(Zone 6 Respondent) <br />A number of challenges to high school and college success were discussed by <br />participants, includingfew chances for work experiences in high school and <br />difficulty payingfor college, especiallyfor immigrant youth whose legal status <br />means they cannot receive certain funding assistance. <br />"Mink "Youth graduate from high school and college" is the worst [section <br />of the pipeline]. There is a lot of attention put on [young people] to graduate <br />but not what to do before that time... Without opportunities to work, they <br />just sit around [playing video games]. This also affects how they view <br />college, affecting even the purpose of going. Having more employment <br />opportunities will fulfill some sort of self -worth and value. They can gain <br />the independence to feel successful in college and the workplace." <br />8 <br />Ar i E <br />