Our impact

In her own words

Alena, a recent graduate of UC Merced, speaks about her experience with First Graduate® and what being the first college graduate in her family means to her.

Our Students

55%

Female

44%

Male

1%

Genderqueer/Other

91%

Qualify for free/reduced lunches

99%

BIPOC

In the fall of 2025, there will be 452 students in San Francisco that will receive free college and career coaching through First Graduate. We make a 12-year commitment to each student, starting the summer after sixth grade through college graduation and into their early careers.

Our students experience a rigorous five-week Summer Session through our partnership with Aim High; year-round academic instruction and tutoring; high school and college counseling; mentoring; internships; career exploration; and college application and financial aid application coaching–all through First Graduate.

We continue to partner with the Mission Beacon Center at Everett Middle School, with James Denman Middle School, and with Leadership High School. We have just added two new partnerships:  Visitacion Valley Middle School, and Lowell High School. We also work collaboratively with Aim High, Mission Graduates, San Francisco Achievers, City Arts & Leadership Academy, and several other CBO’s.

College/Career Advising
0
College Acceptances
0
College Graduates
0
In Scholarships
0 .k

Outcomes

Throughout their 12 years with First Graduate, each student and their family has a coach assigned to address individual student needs. Coaching includes family home visits, monthly student meetings, parent and student conferences, and interface with teachers, administrators, counselors, and programmatic partners to stay on top of students’ academic performance. Students are evaluated every semester by our staff according to a rubric that includes attendance and school performance, measured by progress reports and final report cards.

 

Student Success

First Graduate® 8th graders took part in a family meeting on high school applications
100%
First Graduate® high school graduates enrolled in a two or four-year college:
99%
First Graduate® students who graduate college within 6 years
78%