press release:

The Road Map Project, which is aimed at driving major improvements in education results in South Seattle and South King County, is releasing the final round of individual school district data collected by the Higher Education Coordinating Board on the number of eligible 8th graders in the project region signed up for the College Bound Scholarship by this past June 30th. A record 91 percent of students signed up, compared with 74 percent this time last year. ( click here to view)

For the first time ever the region’s school districts worked collaboratively to increase the number of eligible students signed up for the scholarship which covers the cost of tuition at Washington’s public colleges and universities. Low-income students who sign a pledge by June 30 of their 8th grade year to graduate from high school, demonstrate good citizenship and seek admission to a college are eligible.

The goal of the Road Map Project is to double the number of students in South Seattle and South King County who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. The Road Map region includes the following school districts: Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, South Seattle and Tukwila.

Some of the highlights of the Road Map Project College Bound sign-up drive include: Federal Way, increased from 56 percent of eligible 8th graders signed up last year to 97 percent this year; Kent, increased from 73 percent to 93 percent; and Auburn, increased from 38 percent to 67 percent. Tukwila signed up a full 100 percent of all eligible students. Significantly, six of the seven school districts crossed the 90 percent threshold.

“A record 91 percent of eligible 8th graders in the region signed up,” reported Mary Jean Ryan, Executive Director of the Community Center for Education Results, which coordinates the Road Map Project. “The level of commitment and cooperation from school district leaders, teachers and counselors, community organizations, housing authorities, mayors and other elected officials was incredible. We are thrilled that over 3,900 students signed-up to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. It shows what our region can do when we commit to a goal and work together.”

Many partners jumped in to help with the effort, but leading the charge was the College Success Foundation. “The College Bound Scholarships are a sound investment in our state's future as well as the future of our state’s most vulnerable students,” said Deborah Wilds, president of the College Success Foundation. “All young people who want to go to college should have the means and support to attend and succeed, and we are happy that opportunity has been greatly increased in the Road Map region.”

This effort is so critical because we know by 2018, 67 percent of jobs in Washington will require a college degree or credential, yet only 27 percent of all students in the Road Map region complete a college degree or career credential (Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce for 2018 figure and The BERC Group for Road Map data).