For the fourth consecutive year, more than three-fourths of the Partnership’s eighth graders matriculated to high-performing high schools such as Bronx Science, LaGuardia, Xavier, Fordham Prep, Cristo Rey, Notre Dame and St. Vincent Ferrer.  The scholarships they received rose too.

For the fourth consecutive year, more than 75% of the Partnership’s eighth graders matriculated to high-performing high schools such as Bronx Science, LaGuardia, Xavier, Fordham Prep, Cristo Rey, Notre Dame and St. Vincent Ferrer.  The scholarships they received rose too–increasing to $2.6 million in financial and merit-based awards.

The scholarship total is particularly noteworthy given its rapid increase; just four years ago, in 2016, that amount was less than $1 million. 

In other progress, our largest eighth grade cohort–from Immaculate Conception–increased the percentage attending top schools from 9% in 2018 to 32% in 2019.

The most important ways we prepare students to accomplish their high school aspirations involve advancing their knowledge and skills in our rigorous curriculum and developing their character.  As any parent who has gone through it knows, though, applying to good high schools is a complicated, competitive process, and securing scholarships can be even more challenging.

To help each student find the high school that best fits him or her and be able to attend, Partnership High School Placement Advisor Stephanie Read works with students, families and teams at our schools beginning in sixth grade.  With guidance on everything from placement tests to interviews to filling out applications, and with preparation for independent, public, charter and Catholic schools, the support Partnership students receive is comprehensive and impactful.  

As Chief of Staff Kathleen Quirk notes, “Stephanie has really helped our students, families, and schools teams navigate the very complicated process of high school placement in New York City. As our students gain more and more knowledge each year in our schools, we want to make sure they will be continually challenged in equally rigorous high schools that will propel them forward in college and beyond.”

Shania M., who graduated from Sacred Heart in the spring, is an example of the impact the Partnership’s efforts can have.  The valedictorian of her class who volunteers at homeless shelters by throwing birthday parties for resident children, Shania really wanted to go to Notre Dame.  “However,” as Read points out, “her family could not afford it. As a result of her hard work and our work with her family to complete the financial aid applications, Shania is attending Notre Dame this fall! She received a great merit scholarship and financial aid package.”  

We are thrilled that this true partnership–uniting the efforts of students, parents, teachers, administrators and network team members–gets students like Shania one step closer to the bright futures they deserve.