talent search
Goals
- Offer a continuum of activities, information, and services to encourage and enable less-advantaged, first-generation college-bound students with academic ability in Grades 6-12 to realize their potential for education and growth beyond high school.
- Increase students' self-awareness and career and education-related decision making skills during a time of major change and transition.
Who we serve
School personnel nominate students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in postsecondary education but have shown a need for additional assistance to help them realize their dreams. Students may not recognize postsecondary education as an option because they are skeptical of their academic or financial ability to pursue further education, or because they lack the necessary support. Currently, 1376 students in grades 6 – 12 participate in Talent Search statewide.
Two-thirds of the students served must meet federally mandated income eligibility guidelines and have parents who have not graduated from a four-year college. The remaining one-third are served at the counselors’ discretion. Currently, 81% of Talent Search participants meet both eligibility criteria.
Services
Individual and group counseling sessions and field trips to assist students with self-awareness and assessment, decision-making, academic skills, career and college exploration, curricular choices, and financial aid.
- Parent workshops, home visits, and meetings
- College campus visits and student mentoring
- Academic support
- Access to special programs and summer programs
- Assistance with college and financial aid applications
- Student-designed programs
Results
- 97.7% of Talent Search 2008 seniors graduated from high school
- 88.0% of Talent Search 2008 seniors planned to go to college
