CFES Expanding Essex Offices

College for Every Student (CFES) works with low income students to help them succeed in high school and give them access to college. Getting students to college isn’t just about affordability, and CFES teaches students what they need to know to get there and to succeed. Over the last six years 96% of the students working with CFES have gone to college.

CFES is currently working with 20,000 students in 200 school in 24 states. They are the only national non-profit organization to work with rural students. The move of the CFES headquarters to Essex, NY, two years ago was partially a statement to show the organization’s commitment to rural schools.

The short Mountain Lake Journal (PBS) interview below with CFES President Rick Dalton given earlier this month gives a great overview of the mission of CFES, their methods, and their success!

Expanding Local Offices

College for Every Student is expanding its offices in Essex, NY. Its past headquarters were located in a small section of the Essex Inn, but more offices were opened in the neighboring Van Ornam building, and a new CFES Center was built behind the inn and the Essex Post Office. CFES will be selling naming rights for new CFES Center, which will be revealed during their opening ceremony set for May 2013.

Through our CFES Center, space to conduct trainings and workshops, in Essex, we expect to involve, virtually and in-person, thousands of students, families and K-12 educators in experiences that bridge gaps in aspirations and achievement for low-income students nationwide. In fact, our new space will allow CFES to double the number of students we serve by 2020.

While the futures of our students will continue to be the top priority, we intend to have an echo effect in the greater Adirondack region. Our center will bring 15 jobs to the area, and our workshops will bring hundreds of young people, educators and community leaders to the town of Essex each year. (Rick Dalton)

Read the full article, “Creating a College Culture Nationwide: Big Vision in a Small Town,” to learn more and to get the personal story of a local student who was helped by CFES.

About Katie Shepard

Passionate about reading and writing stories, Katie Shepard enjoys discovering more about her home while writing and editing for Essex on Lake Champlain. Katie graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2011 where she studied English literature, philosophy, and Asian studies. Her first book Essex, New York Architecture: A Doodler's Field Guide was published in 2015. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or at Linked.in. Or email her at katie [@] essexeditions [dot] com.