Center for the Future of Arizona | Pathways Project

Pathways to Postsecondary



	Kent P. Scribner, Ph.D.

Viewpoints
Arizona Republic
September 14, 2008

Phoenix Union will create culture of going to college

By Kent P. Scribner, Ph.D., Superintendent
Phoenix Union High School District

Eighty percent of students in the Phoenix Union High School District plan to attend college or university, yet less than 50 percent enroll following graduation. Our Governing Board has given us the charge to create a college-going culture that transforms our students’ dreams into reality.

From their first day of high school, students are directed toward college options. More students will take honors and Advanced Placement courses, which means greater success on ACT and SAT college-entrance exams.

Additionally, one of the most successful college-preparatory programs for low-income, under-served students is now offered at seven schools, and will expand to 10 schools next year. Graduates of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program are often the first in their families to attend college.

The district’s Franklin Police & Fire High School and its Bioscience High School offer a rigorous academic high school education with a head start for students on these career pathways.

Our entire district is committed to graduating college-bound students with the skills needed for success beyond high school. Partnerships with community colleges and four-year institutions are crucial. We look forward to working with the Center for the Future of Arizona in advancing this agenda.

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