Pursuing Pathways: Evaluating the Kentucky College Coaching Program

The Kentucky College Coaches program places recent college graduates (AmeriCorps members) in high schools for an academic year to act as mentors and coaches. These coaches target underserved students, potential first-generation college students and/or low-income students eligible to participate in the federal Free or Reduced Priced Lunch (FRPL) program (called “core” students) with the explicit goal of helping guide those students individually through postsecondary selection, application, admission and affordability.

The study found:

• The program was successful in improving high school grade point averages for KCC “core” student participants by an average of 6.4%;
• The program was successful in creating a “College-going culture” among the students that were in the program;
• Actual first year college enrollment after high school graduation for KCC mentored high school seniors was 16.3% greater than comparable students;
• The program enhanced the development of a professional workforce in the communities where coaches were located.