Data Summary (2011-2012) for Grant Cycle 2005-2011

In May 2012, the second class of students for the grant cycle period 2005-2011 graduated high school. That leaves two classes of students in the pipeline: grades 11th and 12th. Below is a summary of this cohort of students, including rates of graduation, college credits earned from dual enrollment and college matriculation.

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By GRADE: During the 2011-2012 school year, Colorado GEAR UP was comprised of 4 cohorts of students, grades 10-12 and college level. By ETHNICITY: The largest ethnicity represented in the students participating in GEAR UP is HISPANIC. Those students make up approx. 72% of the population. By GENDER: Female students represent 54% of GEARUP, males represent 46%
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By SCHOOL: Below is a breakdown of enrollment by school. Of the 13 high schools shown, 6 are in the Denver Metro area (including Aurora). That is approximately 41% (363/883). There are also large populations in Lamar, Pueblo and Greeley.
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12th Grade Graduation Rate: 82% (279/341)
Of those entering the 12th grade as an active GEAR UP student. Not removing students transferring to another school and graduating. 		9th-12th Graduation Rate: 83% (255/309)
Of those entering 9th grade and remaining active in GEAR UP through 12th grade. 		College Enrollment Rate: 78% (199/255)
Of those graduating, the students enrolling in college in the fall.
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According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics the proportion of high school graduates going directly to two- and four-year colleges has increased from 50 percent to 70 percent from 1980 to 2009, however the socioeconomic disparity among students is huge.  In 2009, 84 percent of enrolled college students were considered high-income compared to 54 percent of low-income students. The commitment to attend is an important indicator that foreshadows the rate that students actually show for class.   The information below includes the number of college applications submitted to college.
PELL ELIGIBLE: Of the 279 students graduating in May 2012, the large majority (93%) qualified for the Federal Pell grant, as determined by the FAFSA. COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: Of all the students in GEAR UP, 1,039 applications to college were submitted. 87% of those applications were to Colorado based institutions, including public and private colleges. 63% were sent to 4-year institutions and 37% to 2-year institutions.
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Over 78 % (199/255) of our students graduating in 2012 are on college campuses taking courses. Over 85 % (217/255) of these students have already completed multiple college courses, a strong indicator of college success.
In the comparison below, ACT composite score is compared to completed college credits. The earned credits derive from dual enrollment college courses as well as credits earned from CLEP and AP exams. The significant factor is that even students who had a composite score lower than the ACT "College Ready" score successfully earned as least 3 college credits. On day-one of college, many students will start as a second semester freshman.
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TYPE OF CREDITS: For all GEAR UP students, the large majority of earned college credits are from dual enrollment. # OF CREDITS EARNED: For all GEAR UP students, at this time, 9,709 college credits have been earned. Assuming 15 hours equals one college term, that is over 647 college semesters that have already been completed.
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To help students get prepared for college matriculation, Colorado GEAR UP students compared award packages with their Pre-Collegiate Advisors and selected a college to attend in the early spring.  Colorado GEAR UP seniors spent the rest of spring semester working on the Colorado GEAR UP Senior Checklist.  The checklist consists of twenty items including: orientation and course registration, deposits, immunizations and health insurance, financial aid including work-study, campus resources, and many other items that are pertinent to college enrollment.  Colorado GEAR UP Pre-Collegiate Advisors oversaw each task to ensure students were on track for college matriculation.  The majority of Colorado GEAR UP seniors graduated from high school prepared and ready for fall enrollment.  In the summer, Colorado GEAR UP Pre-Collegiate Advisors continued to work with graduated seniors on any missing task items and maintained relationships with those who completed the Senior Checklist.

To support transition and campus retention efforts, Colorado GEAR UP established memorandums of understanding with local two and four year institutions in Colorado and supplied Colorado GEAR UP College Advisors at area colleges around the state.  In August of 2011, Colorado GEAR UP held program orientation meetings to get students acquainted with their new GEAR UP College Advisors and campus resources.  Colorado GEAR UP College Advisors provide students with mentoring,  academic advising, and serve as a resource to help students learn to navigate college.  Colorado GEAR UP students will  meet with their college advisor at a minimum of twice a month.  

Colorado GEAR UP offers a number of benefits to help its first year college students navigate the finances and financial aid in college and university.   Ninety percent of Colorado GEAR UP students  have a 0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), placing them in the lowest income, highest need category.   Many students are confused by the  financial aid process or often miss notifications requesting specified documents. Colorado GEAR UP has assisted all students in completing financial aid verification, without which, would have left students with no financial aid. 

With all of the early prep work and established partnerships, Colorado GEAR UP students were not immune to barriers or obstacles at the beginning of the semester.  Some of the classes were canceled, making it difficult for our students to find a new class that worked with their schedules.  Other students did not have enough money to purchase items for dorm living.  While other students lacked funds for transportation, books, or student identification cards.  We also found that some of our students had issues that had to be cleared up with financial aid or holds on their accounts for concurrent enrollment issues. These barriers inhibit the progress of the large majority of low-income students (most often 1st generation college attenders), but they are all barriers that inhibit their progress, and many choose to give up. We have numerous stories of how our college advisors helped students to navigate these barriers.