Maple Heights City Schools is proud to announce its participation in a groundbreaking educational initiative to prepare our students for higher education success. As part of the First Ring Schools Collaborative, our district has been selected to benefit from a $3.8 million per year GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio.
This seven-year program, running through 2031, will provide comprehensive support to our middle and high school students, setting them toward postsecondary education success. Maple Heights City Schools joins nine other districts in this transformative project, including Brooklyn, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, East Cleveland, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Parma, Richmond Heights, South Euclid-Lyndhurst, and Warrensville Heights City Schools.
Key highlights of the program include:
1. Early Intervention: The program will start with the district’s current 6th and 7th-grade students and follow them through high school graduation.
2. Comprehensive Support: Students will receive academic and career advising, college exploration opportunities, and test preparation support.
3. Year-Round Engagement: Programming will be offered during the school day, after school, and during the summer months.
4. Expert Guidance: College Now Greater Cleveland will provide experienced college and career advisors to work directly with the district’s students.
5. Postsecondary Focus: The program aims to increase the number of students who are prepared for, enroll in, and graduate from college.
6. Partnerships: The program's effectiveness will be enhanced by collaborations with Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State University, the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium, and the Higher Education Compact.
Dr. Michele Scott Taylor, College Now president and incoming CEO, emphasized the program's importance: "This opportunity allows us to reach more students and families earlier, starting with middle school students, so that by the time they begin high school, a college-going mindset will already be deeply rooted in them."
The GEAR UP program addresses a critical need in this region. With only 51% of Ohio's population currently meeting the credentials required for 65% of jobs in the state, this initiative will play a crucial role in preparing our students for future success and contributing to the economic growth of Northeast Ohio.