About CAPS

At Excel, we believe the real finish line for our students is post-secondary success, not a high school diploma. To that end, our seven-person College Access and Post-Secondary Success (CAPS) team is dedicated to ensuring that every Excel student finds success in their chosen post-secondary path. We guide students through the process of aligning their identity with opportunities and then support them in setting and achieving their own post-secondary goals. We strive to ensure that students are not only well-informed about their options but also possess the skills, mindsets, and sense of self they will need.

Students and Families- please use the links to the right to access program resources.

CAPS STATS

0%

Percent of EACHS class of 2021 that has an affordable post-secondary option

0K

Amount of scholarships EACHS has distributed to graduates and alumni since our first graduating class

0:1

At Excel we have a ratio of 50 students to 1 College and Career Counselor compared to the American School Counselors Association recommendation of 250 students to counselor

0%

100% of EACHS graduates going to college received a scholarship or grant

Our Program

Excel’s 5-8 College Access Program is designed to support the middle school students across our network to develop college going identities and the non-cognitive skills essential for success in college beginning in 5th grade though the transition to the Excel Academy Charter High School. This work is accomplished through:

  • Yearly opportunities to visit local colleges and interact with Excel alumni. In 5th grade, students take part in age-appropriate tours on college campuses. In 6th grade, students have an authentic learning experience on a college campus, which involves participating in their 6th grade coursework in college lecture halls and classrooms. In 7th grade, students engage in an interactive panel discussion with Excel alumni currently enrolled in college. 8th grade culminates in an overnight experience on a college campus.
  • Learning about and practicing specific non-cognitive skills students will need to be successful including growth mindset, self-efficacy, realistic self-appraisal, and self-management
  • Capstone 8th grade program focused on helping students articulate what is important to them for their future, building the skills they will need for high school such as organization and time management, and providing concrete information about the role of GPA and other factors for college admissions and the financial aid process.

The 9-10 grade program is designed to guide our high school students as they continue to develop and realize their values and identities and the non-cognitive skills essential for success in life beyond high school. Students will have multiple individual meetings with a CAPS counselor and opportunities to attend workshops to encourage students to develop their identities and values as the foundation for exploring college and other post-secondary options and setting personally relevant goals for their lives. The general themes discussed will be:

  • Identity development
  • Values exploration
  • Support for school-year and summer jobs and pe-college programs
  • Early college and career awareness
  • Creating a resume and portfolio to help with applications

Excel’s College and Career Counseling team offers individualized support to our 11th and 12th graders and their families as they explore their post-secondary options and make decisions for their lives after high school graduation. Counselors will offer support with both the college application and the financial aid application process, including one-on-one meetings with students and families.

Excel’s post-secondary support program is designed to ensure that Excel alumni succeed in their respective post-secondary endeavors. For students in two and four-year colleges, the program provides guidance to alumni and families on the matriculation process, financial aid, academic advising, and social-emotional support to ensure persistence and graduation. For students on other productive post-secondary pathways, such as the military and vocational programs, the program provides career guidance and exploration as well as social/emotional support.

Excel’s two Post-Secondary Support Counselors support students in some of the following ways once they have graduated from high school:

  • Check-ins with students via email/text/phone/facebook at least three times per semester
  • Visits to all local first and second year college students on their campuses
  • Annual assistance to students and families in filing the FAFSA, CSS Profile and all other financial aid documents
  • Annual one-on-one meetings with students to discuss degree progress and future goals
  • Support in resume writing as well as searches for jobs and internships

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