‘Blogpost’ Stories

In celebration of Black History Month, we look to the Black educators, leaders, activists, and community members who blazed the trail for generations of students of color to pursue their greatest postsecondary aspirations. 

Mercy Ajala’s dream of flying has guided her postsecondary journey into aviation school and flight training. With one semester left before earning her Bachelor’s degree, Mercy reflects on her relentless pursuit of becoming a pilot.

Students from low-income backgrounds obtain college degrees at a much lower rate than students from high-income backgrounds. Schools can help close the degree divide by centering college and career readiness for all high school students.

Establishing an equitable education environment is vital to helping students achieve their goals, but how can teachers and schools put this value into action?

“College and career readiness” is a frequently used metric in schools and in the postsecondary access field. Preparing students for what comes after high school sounds like a desirable goal. But how is readiness defined? And what steps can schools take to help pave the way?

Each summer, 10% to 40% of high school students intend to enroll in college the fall after graduation but never actually do so.