Graduate Great

Ready to Graduate, Ready for Life

Although low-income students are less likely to attend and graduate from college than those from higher-income high schools, college graduates earn 66% more and are far less likely to face unemployment.

About Graduate Great

Graduate Great is an educational collaboration that brings local private and charter schools together to create clear and unobstructed paths to graduation and higher education for every student, especially those from low-income families. By working collectively from preschool through high school, partner schools help students build the confidence, competence and character necessary to succeed beyond high school and in life. As graduates return to their communities with advanced skills and a service mindset, they will continue to transform our communities for good.

Current Graduate Great partners include:

• Academy Prep Center of Tampa
• Nativity Catholic School
• RCMA
• St. Joseph’s Catholic School
• Cristo Rey Tampa

2020-21 Graduate Great Highlights

Graduate Great results suggest that when local schools work together from preschool through high school, students may achieve greater academic and long-term success. Additionally, the program is increasing access to a college preparatory education for more students from limited economic means.

• In fall 2021, more than half (53%) of all 9th graders at Cristo Rey came from partner schools, and 41% of all students represent partner schools, demonstrating the power of a partnership pipeline.
• Students from partner schools are slightly ahead academically. An average of 67% of students from all partner schools are performing at or above grade level in reading, while 38% are at or above grade level in math.
• Cristo Rey students from partner schools have a slightly higher GPA than those from other schools (3.16 vs. 3.08), already exceeding the program’s minimum goal of a 3.0.
• Cristo Rey students from partner schools have a slightly higher average PSAT score than those from other schools, with 9th and 11th graders exceeding the national average. Partner school students also have a slightly higher average SAT score than those from other schools (983 vs. 960) but lag below the 1210 goal — the primary measure for post-secondary readiness.
• 100% of high school seniors at Cristo Rey graduated in 2020-21, with 18% representing partner schools. 80% (28) attended college after graduation, while 20% (7) chose to enter the workforce.
• 20% of partner school graduates met Bright Future requirements to offset the cost of college.