How well are high schools in Tucson preparting their minority students for college?

Photo taken by: Danielle C. Chapot

Hey and thanks for reading!

This week I wanted to focus on a really important issue of how high schools in Tucson, Arizona are preparing their minority students for college enrollment.

At Tucson High Magnet School located at 400 N. Second Ave., launched a pilot guidance program in 2001 to concentrate on college advising to its minority students.

First off, I want make clear what the ethnic breakdown is at THMS for the present time:

Hispanic: 59%
White: 29%
African American: 6%
Asian: 2%
Native American: 4%

Photo taken by: Danielle C. Chapot

Post-Secondary School Counselor at THMS, Marissa Ostroff said "I believe that a firm foundation of motivation and persistence to degree completion begins from actively engaging minority students in the learning process early through the school years."

"As students progress to high school, educators must continue to reach and to motivate these students guiding them toward the road to college encouraging and challenging coursework," she said.



According to an article Ostroff wrote entitled "Tucson High Magnet School Pilot Program: Tucson, Arizona," the purpose and focus of the school's college counselors are to maintain the following with an extra focus on minority students:

*to raise its students' aspirations and standards
*to improve the success in all coursework
*to to analyze and work to change the status quo in an effort to raise the level of achievement in students
*to reduce the level of pressure and stress in the college application process
*to find the "best college fit" for each student
*to raise the bar and the expectations of each student
*to aid with scholarship searches, testing information, college visits, and financial aid opportunities

Serving an extremely diverse student body, THMS has grown from 2,100 students to 3,000 students within the past five years. The number of seniors who have already been accepted into a college has risen by a lot from a "consistent range of approximately 83% between 2004-2006 with high emphases on minorities," Ostroff wrote.

Of this 83 percent, 50 percent has been admitted into a two-year college and 33 percent of the 83 have been admitted into a four-year college.

"The elements of repetition of college entrance information, counselor availability, motivation and demonstration of the process are critical factors to college advancement," Ostroff said.

"The focus is to not only be admitted but to remain active and graduate," she said.

To contact THMS, click here.