"Rainier Scholars is a social change organization. We see the students of Rainier Scholars as future community leaders."
- Emily Anthony, donor and volunteer
In Seattle, children of color are not gaining access to high-level academic opportunities - programs that are essential to preparing students for college. The Advanced Learning programs of Seattle schools are challenged with under-representation of minority students. The district serves close to 60% children of color (23% African American, 22% Asian, 12% Latino, 2% Native American) yet proportionally, they are not represented in Advanced Learning programs, especially the highly acclaimed APP program. Likewise, students of color are not proportionally represented in local independent schools and/or college prep programs.
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| Mentor Theresa Norris of the Puget Sound Neighborhood Clinic with Rainier Scholars Summer Intern Astrid Diaz. |
Rainier Scholars’ strategy is to create an academic, social and psychological support system through college graduation for students and their families. This comprehensive support is designed so that each student is encouraged to sustain his or her high academic achievement over a prolonged period of time. By empowering a child through his or her own academic abilities, and partnering with families who become knowledgeable consumers of education, we believe in the positive impact on students, families, and in turn, the broader community.
the impact
By partnering with Seattle Public Schools in identifying and recruiting talented and motivated students of color in need, the number of ethnic minority students qualifying for and thriving in the Advanced Learning programs within Seattle Public Schools has dramatically increased due to Rainier Scholars. In addition, the number of students of color earning placement in independent school settings has been positively impacted by Rainier Scholars as well.From the beginning, Rainier Scholars has been tracking a range of student data and academic skill sets to continue learning and responding with innovative approaches and early intervention strategies to ensure a high level of excellence in our approach to serving scholars and their families.
Rainier Scholars Statistics
- There are 280 students of color and their families participating in the Rainier Scholars program.
- We are currently serving students in over 50 different schools.
- There are six Cohorts of students in the 6th through 11th grades with a seventh Cohort beginning in June 2008.
- Over 85% of our students are supported by parents who do not have a college degree.
- Over 80% of our families have annual household incomes below $50,000.
- This year we received 475 applications for 60 openings in the program.
- In 2007 we placed 98% of our Cohort V 7th graders into college track programs in public and independent schools.