College Bound’s primary goal is to provide ~600 promising students from under-resourced backgrounds with the academic enrichment, social supports and life skills needed to succeed in college and careers. The organization seeks funding to support its comprehensive, seven-to-nine year program that has proven successful in empowering promising low-income, first-generation college students to get into AND graduate from college at over five times the rate of their peers.

CB empowers first-generation, low-income students via its 7-9 year program, which includes test prep, academic support, wellness services, application guidance, in addition to intrusive, 1:1 coaching for high school students and collegians. CB partners with students beginning in their sophomore year of high school, building a long-term relationship and supporting students every step of the way until they have their college degree in hand (and beyond).

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STUDENT PROGRAMS. Wil Hayes spent ten years overseeing programs at Great Circle with progressively increasing responsibility. Wil holds a Master’s in Counseling from Saint Louis University. DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE SUCCESS. CeAira holds a Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy Analysis in from Southeast Missouri State University. COLLEGE COUNSELING DIRECTOR. Debbie Greenberg co-founded College Bound. She graduated with a Bachelor's in English from the University of Illinois and a Master's in Teaching from Washington University in St. Louis. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT. Rob Donnelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and earned his Master’s at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work. ACADEMIC SUCCESS MANAGER. Nikki DeLeo is a graduate of Clemson University with a Major in Sociology and Minor in education. She moved to St. Louis and has spent the past eight years teaching and working in administration.

In order to track these outcomes, College Bound will use third-party verified data to measure progress. To track outcomes, CB staff will: • Verify high school attendance, grades and graduation using official school correspondence and transcripts • Measure ACT scores using baseline and final score reports generated by ACT • Track matriculation and re-enrollment in college from year to year using official class schedules, billing statements and the National Student Clearinghouse • Track attendance records to all CB activities • Monitor grades, course selection, attendance and other data through progress reports, transcripts, student/family interviews, teacher and counselor meetings

100% of College Bound’s students have graduated from high school (all but two, and both received GEDs) compared to only 71% of St. Louis Public School students and 53% of low-income students living in cities. 93% of College Bound students have matriculated to college immediately after high school, compared to 65% of St. Louis Public School graduates and only 51% of low-income graduates nationwide. 55% of all Missouri students who begin a four-year degree graduate within six years. College Bound’s first three classes have graduated at a rate of 53% within six years. We have learned a great deal from our successes and shortfalls and the team is leveraging this data and knowledge to steadily increase the six-year graduation rate.