College For Every Student (CFES), a global leader in helping underserved students become college and career ready, is honoring 33 schools in eight states and Ireland as “Schools of Distinction.” Six of these schools are in the Adirondacks.

The CFES “School of Distinction” award recognizes schools that have exemplary programs incorporating the three CFES core practices: Mentoring, Leadership through Service, and Pathways to College & Career. These schools provide intensive exposure to the three practices for targeted students, known as CFES Scholars, and also create a culture that promotes college and career readiness for all students.

The 2015-2016 “Schools of Distinction” are:

• Aiken New Tech High School, Cincinnati, OH
• August Ahrens Elementary School, Waipahu, HI
• Balbriggan Community College, Dublin, Ireland
• Ballinteer Community School, Dublin, Ireland
• Booker Middle School, Sarasota, FL
• Christel House Academy, Indianapolis, IN
• Cloonan Middle School, Stamford, CT
• Colaiste Bride, Dublin, Ireland
• Crown Point Central School, Crown Point, NY
• Dole Middle School, Honolulu, HI
• Eximius College Preparatory Academy, Bronx, NY
• Isaac Newton Middle School for Math and Science, New York, NY
• James B. Castle High School, Kaneohe, HI
• Keeseville Elementary School, Keeseville, NY
•  Largo Middle School, Largo, FL
• Leslie County High School, Hyden, KY
• Loreto College, Dublin, Ireland
• Marian College Secondary School, Dulin, Ireland
• Mercy Secondary School, Dublin, Ireland
• Mulberry High School, Mulberry, FL
• Mulberry Middle School, Mulberry, FL
• Owen D. Young Central School, Van Hornesville, NY
• Peru Central School, Peru, NY
• Plattsburgh High School, Plattsburgh, NY
• Powell County High School, Stanton, KY
• Richard R. Green High School of Teaching, New York, NY
• Rock Creek Grant School, Bullhead, SD
• Sebastian Middle School, Jackson, KY
• St. Joseph’s Secondary School Rush, Dublin, Ireland
• St. Mark’s Community School, Dublin, Ireland
• Tallaght Community School, Dublin, Ireland
• Ticonderoga Central School, Ticonderoga, NY
• Willsboro Central School, Willsboro, NY

Criteria

“Attaining ‘School of Distinction’ status recognizes a successful year-long journey to raise student aspirations and build a college-going culture school wide,” said Steve Boyce, who leads the “School of Distinction” program.

Through end-of-the-year portfolios and reports, schools document the impact and power of their work.

“These 33 schools are not only helping their Scholars become college ready, but they’re also sharing their best practices and lifting up other schools across the country and beyond,” said CFES President & CEO Rick Dalton.

Examples of activities developed by award-winning schools include:

• Corporate Partners (Eximius College Preparatory Academy, Bronx, NY) Attorneys from Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP in NYC provided a professional development experience titled C.L.A.S.S. (College, Leadership, & Success Seminars) to CFES Scholars from Eximius College Preparatory Academy. During the seminars, attorneys provided lessons on professional etiquette, networking, the college search process, and goal setting. Mentors provided guidance to Scholars and helped them map out their college and career goals.
• CFES Live (Governor B. Dole Middle School, Honolulu, HI) Every week CFES Scholars from Governor B. Dole Middle School shared college and career readiness information on their school-wide broadcasts. Students took ownership of the segment and used CFES-created resources to help raise student aspirations throughout the year.
• Melody of Mentoring (Crown Point Central School, Crown Point, NY) Crown Point has worked hard to build a complex mentoring program that has been successful in engaging students. The program has grown from a teacher-student mentoring model to a blend of community, peer and teacher mentors meeting in-person and through video chat. This mixed model has proven effective for motivating students and developing leadership skills.