mission and impact
Eastside:Mission
Mission
At Eastside College Preparatory School, we are committed to opening new doors for students historically underrepresented in higher education.
Our challenging and engaging curriculum enables students to discover their intellectual strengths, sharpen their academic skills, and embrace new opportunities in a culture of learning that supports the potential of every student to enter and succeed in a four-year college and transition to a professional career.
Eastside students who are the first in their families to go to college create a ripple effect, changing their own lives, the lives of their families, and the life of their community.
Impact
College Acceptance Rate
To date, over 99% of Eastside’s graduates have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. This was Eastside’s primary mission when it was founded, and remains a critical measure of success.
However, we know that getting to college is only one step in our students’ journeys to success. We have therefore developed a robust alumni support program, with college and career coaches who help our students navigate new challenges and opportunities after graduation. Our success in the following two metrics can be largely attributed to our alumni program, which continues to expand and strengthen as we learn more about the kinds of support systems from which our alumni can benefit.
College Completion Rate
Our alumni currently have a cumulative college graduation rate of 70%. As a point of comparison, national data indicate that low-income, first-generation students like those we serve at Eastside have a six-year graduation rate of 21%, and the rate for students in the highest income quartile is 69%.
First Destination Rate
“First destination” refers to a college graduate’s initial position following graduation. Nationwide, only about 35% of first-generation college graduates have a job requiring a bachelor’s degree within one year of graduating from college. In comparison, 70% of our college graduates have a professional job within six months. And if we include students pursuing graduate degrees, 75% of our college graduates have a professional first destination.
Sharing Our Success: Best Practices Document
Our model – a challenging academic program coupled with extensive support for students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education – draws visitors from around the country who want to learn why Eastside students are beating the odds. Visitors have come from KIPP schools; Teach for America; Uncommon Schools of New York and New Jersey; and Rocketship Schools. After years of refining our programs, we've reviewed and written about what's worked, compiling a “Best Practices” document available below. We are honored to share our time, ideas, curriculum, and best practices with other schools and organizations committed to closing the achievement gap for first-generation college-bound students, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from them as well.
