The overall graduation rate in MPS is 64 percent (79 percent in comprehensive high schools) but the gap between white students and many students of color is over 20 percent. There is a tremendous opportunity for improvement.

The January Salon discussion focused largely on how AchieveMpls gives students the right tools and information to make choices for their future. By 2020, 74 percent of all jobs in Minnesota will require some form of post-secondary education.  However, not every student is interested in a two or four year post-high school program, so AchieveMpls works with each student to ensure they know their available options.

This kind of guidance isn’t always built into students’ high school experience. For example, the best practice counseling ratio is about 250 students for every counselor. In Minneapolis Public Schools, it is closer to 792 students for every counselor. Which means not every student is getting the level of attention he or she needs. AchieveMpls is focused on ensuring students have support in learning about college and career options that suit their skills and vision for their future. They do this through three primary programs:

Career and College Centers
Located in 10 MPS high schools, CCCs offer career and post-secondary education planning resources for 3,500+ students every year.

Step Up Achieve
This program provides work-readiness training, paid internships and professional mentoring to over 700 Minneapolis youth each year in partnership with 150 top Twin Cities employers.

Volunteers
Each year, AchieveMpls connects students with over 800 volunteers who serve as Graduation Coaches, career exploration volunteers and mock interviewers.