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Project GRAD Los Angeles

  • Project GRAD Los Angeles
  • 10200 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 255
  • Mission Hills, CA 91345
  • 818-760-4695
  • 1999
  • http://www.projectgradla.org/

Program Description

Project GRAD Los Angeles works to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who enroll in and graduate from college. Founded on the belief that college is a public good that should be accessible for everyone, Project GRAD has been helping students in grades 6 through 16 in the northeast San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles navigate the path to college success since 1999.

Our organization has successfully operated in the second largest school district in the nation through five LAUSD Superintendent tenures and multiple successive system-wide budget cuts. Despite systemic challenges, our reputation for improving college-going and college readiness has allowed the organization to persist at school sites where we are recognized as a high-functioning, trusted collaborator. The Project GRAD model has been recognized nationally for its success in increasing the number of first generation college-goers and was adopted into the Higher Education Act of 2008 as a reform model to replicate.

At the eight school sites where Project GRAD is embedded, we champion the college aspirations of all students, hosting numerous school-wide college awareness and access activities. Our offices on campuses serve as "drop-in" college centers, open to all students before, during, and after school.

But for 1,500 middle school, high school, and college students, Project GRAD provides a more targeted and consistent intervention: the College Readiness Initiative. At the heart of this prescription for success, is our staff. These College Readiness Advisors act as coaches, providing intensive weekly one-on-one counseling/advising to students throughout the educational pipeline. Project GRAD Scholars are coached to perform at the highest level academically and complete our college readiness requirements.

Services Provided

  • Academic enrichment/tutoring/study skills
  • Career exploration and counseling/internships
  • College admissions guidance and counseling
  • College fairs/campus visits
  • College transition and retention support
  • Financial aid advising/FAFSA completion
  • Leadership development
  • Parent/family services
  • SAT/ACT and other test preparation
  • Scholarships and last-dollar grants
  • Science, tech, engineering, & math (STEM)
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Demographics

Race & Ethnicity

  • Hispanic/Latino: 98%
  • Other: 1%
  • African American: 1%

Education Level and
Number of Students

  • High School: 600
  • Middle School: 250
  • Elementary School: 0
  • Post-secondary: 500
  • Non-traditional: 0

Populations Served

  • Academically High-performing
  • Undocumented Students (15)

First-Generation

  • More than 75%

Representative
Colleges Attended
by Alumni

  • California State University, Monterey Bay
  • University of California-Santa Barbara

Matriculation & Completion

  • 4-yr College Matriculation: 70%
  • 4-yr College Graduation: 60%