10 years later, college-going culture is blossoming

By Barbara Liese and Teresa Pitts
Program highlights include:

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Twice yearly meetings with our local partnership with the University of California at Merced, California State University, Stanislaus, and Modesto Junior College. This facilitates open interaction with key personnel involved in handling college admission, financial aid and scholarship applications at the various sites. Our networking includes the Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, programs, various campus representatives and our technology department, which facilitates the integration of school records.

A financial aid workshop each January, in conjunction with University of the Pacific and Cash for College, enabling seniors and parents to navigate the financial aid process accurately and within important deadlines.

Multiple group presentations to all grade levels of students and parents, and extensive individual interaction with students at each high school to guide them through all areas of the admissions and financial aid process.

Our use of technology and the Naviance program specifically has evolved over the past 10 years. The online program, available to all students, is never stagnant,. It grows as our school needs change and as Naviance adds components. Parents continue to appreciate the use of technology and Naviance, reacting favorably to the "scattergrams" that objectively graph the possibilities for their children in the admissions process.

The instant communication possible through Naviance Family Connection enables us to publicize events, statistics and scholarship opportunities. This information is accessible to students any time and any place they have access to the Internet. This accessibility is reflected in the increased use of Family Connection from 10 student visits to the site in 2003 to more than 8,700 in 2008.

Some of our proudest accomplishments involve talented first-generation students from diverse, lower socioeconomic families who have participated in many programs such as the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America Scholars Program and the USC Exploration of Architecture Summer Program. These opportunities have led to admission and full scholarship support at some of the nation's most selective universities.

Scholarship and financial aid for Modesto City Schools graduates has mushroomed from $6.3 million in 1999 to $28 million in 2008, an increase of 440 percent.

Modesto City Schools seniors were offered 694 Cal Grants in 2008, an increase of 437 percent over the 159 offered in 1999.

College acceptance at all sites increased by 165 percent, from 1,563 students in 1999 to 2,580 in 2008.

The number of students in the district who took the Preliminary SAT rose from 1,083 in 1999 to 2,437 in 2008, an increase of 225 percent.

The college counseling program has been recognized in several ways:

2008 -- District Administration Magazine, December, interviewed for an article on innovative practices for college advising. An upcoming issue will feature Modesto's program.

2007 -- Practices With Promise, by The Campaign for College Opportunity. It highlights strategies to prepare a highly educated work force to meet the increasing demands of California's economy.

2006 -- The Village Voice, April 2006, "Scattered Class"

2006 -- College counselors were presenters at the National Association for College Admission Counseling national conference in Pittsburgh.

2001 -- California Association of School Boards Golden Bell Award

Liese and Pitts are college counselors at Downey and Beyer high schools, respectively. The college counselors at Modesto's other high schools also contributed to this article. They are Jennifer Brogan, John Gahan, Lisa Lodi and Sara Rhoads.