Pathways | September Newsletter

Beyond high school graduation—a longer view on student success.
Gates Foundation staff listens to school district leaders speak in Houston, Texas.
We had the chance to meet and learn from Aldine ISD leadership in Houston earlier this year. Photo by: ©Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Lucca Vaselli

Hello colleagues,

Last month I shared Jesse, Qamar, and Roniel’s stories—three real, relevant examples of what a pathways approach can look like (and lead to) for students. If you’re reading this, you probably work in this space, and if you do, you know that stories like theirs don’t come out of thin air.

They don’t come from one or two dedicated educators going above and beyond, or from students working in isolation to achieve their dreams. They come from a reformed system that’s taken a longer view of student success; from a K-12 district that has moved the goal from high school graduation to employment and economic mobility.

To be clear: I’m not throwing shade on the incredible work that’s been done over the past two decades to raise high school graduation rates. That goal is still meaningful, and getting students to that milestone is critical. And the progress that’s been made (a 15.5 percentage point increase in high school graduation rates from 2001 to 2020, from 71% to 86.5%) shows us that big improvements are possible.

  • Side note: For the next week, non-subscribers can access the excellent Stanford Social Innovation Review cover story on that effort. Don’t miss it.

But a high school diploma is no longer a sure ticket to a good job. And great high schools—and great districts—recognize that. They layer on advising and opportunities for exploration, they create a culture of college and career readiness, and they resource the work that’s needed to help students understand their options and make great choices.

An all-star group, including partners such as the College Success Foundation, ContigoEd, the Texas Impact Network, and the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) just published a framework for districts that want to advance postsecondary success for their students. There are five areas (commitment, resources, capacity, partnerships, and data use) for educators and leaders to review and reflect on.

Is your district doing amazing things on one or more of the tenets in the framework? Let NCAN, who is hosting the framework, know. The nation needs more bold districts that commit to creating pathways like those in last week’s videos.

Patrick Methvin
Director, Postsecondary Success and Interim Director of Pathways


Now Hiring: Director, Pathways

If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been carrying the baton for Sara Allan, the inaugural director of the Pathways program, since the beginning of the year. It’s been a delight jumping in with this team, but it’s time to find a permanent leader. We are seeking the next director of the Pathways strategy!

The role is tasked with leading a brilliant 14-person team, funding the development of innovative solutions, supporting regions that are integrating these solutions to improve student experiences, and fostering a national community of practitioners, researchers, and advocates to share their learning with each other and across the country.

All in service, of course, of supporting students in their transition from high school to college and career and ensuring that Black, Latino, and students from low-income backgrounds have the skills, agency, social capital, and credentials of value to launch a career that will put them on the path to economic mobility. Interested? Check out the job description.

What we’re reading: