A college degree is becoming increasingly necessary in order for young people to attain the jobs they want, and yet getting to and through college in some ways has never been more challenging. Many students are ill-prepared when they arrive, needing remediation in reading or math. Many others may lack the critical but hard to measure “soft” skills necessary to succeed in a postsecondary environment, like self-motivation, organization, ability to work independently, strong executive functioning skills, and self-awareness.
Even when students are fully prepared, the cost of college is immense. College graduates walk away, on average, with almost $40,000 in student loan debt. For students who are the first in their families to go to college, these challenges can be daunting. The Charles School (TCS)—a charter high school offering a unique five-year program in partnership with Ohio Dominican University—provides a one-of-a-kind early college experience to students in Columbus. Students can graduate with up to 62 hours of college credit, tuition free, and earn not just a high school diploma but also an associate’s degree. For students like Chris Sumlin, profiled in this story, TCS illuminated a path to and through college that felt dimly lit at one point in his life. Sumlin, who will graduate from Morehouse College this month, told our interviewer that before he attended TCS it seemed “inconceivable” to go to college.
This is the opportunity provided by TCS and other high-quality charter options like it. Nearly three out of four TCS students are economically disadvantaged, yet the school earns an “A” for the progress of its lowest-income students and a “B” overall on value-added growth. TCS is part of the Graham Family of Schools—four charter schools in Columbus serving about 1,000 students in grades K-12. Graham schools are rooted in the “expeditionary learning” model, which emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning and deep reflection and inquiry about the learning process. This is evident upon a visit to any of the Graham schools, or in conversations with Greg Brown, Superintendent and CEO of the network. Brown, a former teacher himself and former employee of Columbus City Schools, has a disposition that parallels Graham’s overall educational philosophy. He is reflective, thoughtful, and intent on improving all aspects of students’ lives—recognizing that all children, no matter their background, deserve inspiring places to learn.
TCS is one such place, and it made all the difference for Chris. May his compelling story encourage us to throw our energy and support behind any school option that is effective at closing the college-going gap and setting young people up for success.
Download and read the full profile here.
