How education nonprofit 12+ builds a ‘college-going culture’ in the schools it serves

“Around the Corner” is a PhillyCAM show that offers local social impact leaders the opportunity to share what impact their work is having on the Philadelphia area. 

During the 2013-2014 school year, neighborhood high schools Kensington Health Sciences Academy and Penn Treaty School saw only 20 and 45 percent of its graduating classes enroll in college, respectively.

Ray John and the 12+ team are trying to get that other 80 and 55 percent enrolled, too. The nonprofit provides college-focused resources, tutoring and mentorship to students at those schools who might not otherwise see themselves in education past senior year. (12+ also serves public magnet school Hill-Freedman World Academy, which began its high school expansion in 2013.)

It’s not just about targeting the highest-achieving students, though. It’s about creating a “college-going culture” within the schools as well as forming relationships with every individual student.

“Hearing the stories of these students and building these relationships with them is one of the best parts of our job,” said John, the organization’s cofounder and CEO in his “Around the Corner” interview with Generocity Editor Julie Zeglen. Learn more below.

PhillyCAM is Comcast channel 66/966 HD/967 and Verizon FIOS channel 29/30 in Philadelphia.