Grad Cincinnati Inc

GRAD Cincinnati advocates a school-based culture where rigorous coursework, a college education and a fulfilling career are expectations of all students.

GRAD believes:
• every child can rise to his/her potential;
• parent and community involvement supports students and strengthens schools;
• teachers and students benefit from training and support;
• the strongest approaches are evidence-based and
• all stakeholders should be committed and accountable.

GRAD Cincinnati uses four strategic components in eight Cincinnati Public Schools: Ethel M. Taylor Academy, Hays Porter School, Rees E. Price Academy, Roll Hill Academy, Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School, Riverview East Academy, Oyler School, and Western Hills University High School. These components are customized to meet each school’s academic, counseling and scholarship needs in support of students while engaging parents and bringing community involvement and resources needed for student to succeed in college or career.

Bearcat Buddies Tutoring - Provided in partnership with the University of Cincinnati (UC) Center for Community Engagement to eight GRAD Cincinnati schools. UC students volunteer to tutor GRAD students in math and reading once a week throughout an academic semester.

After School Programming - Provides additional academic support for students to maximize learning opportunities, youth development and to coordinate family engagement activities that improve student performance and deepen involvement in school.

Resource Coordinators in Community Learning Centers - Community Learning Centers support students and their families with social services and parent involvement activities. Wraparound support services help students overcome challenges and barriers that negatively affect learning.

College Counseling, Summer Institutes and College Scholarships - Students attending GRAD Cincinnati high schools have the opportunity to receive one-on-one college and career readiness counseling; participate in college visits, career field trips, and summer institutes; and to receive additional funds for college.

GRAD Cincinnati is a recognized leader in school-based organizations, serving as a lead agency and a partner of the Cincinnati Public School District to implement and facilitate programming that supports academic growth, personal development, parent engagement and community involvement. Since 2001, GRAD’s work within the Cincinnati Public Schools has increased the academic rigor and academic expectations throughout urban elementary and high schools. The GRAD model promotes a college and career-going culture to economically disadvantage youth by improving schools’ curricula, supporting professional development, teaching classroom management skills and by providing college access and social supports that result in rigorous academic standards and parent involvement throughout its community of schools. The program supports 4,000 students and nearly 200 teachers, principals and counselors in the Cincinnati Public Schools.

Based on 2018-19 GRAD Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools’ data, The following outcomes and outputs were accomplished.

• 100% of GRAD students are transitioning to college, military or employment.
• 100% of GRAD students completed a college application.
• 100% of GRAD scholarship recipients were accepted to the college of their choice.
• $2,312,439 in both scholarship and financial aid was leveraged for the graduating class of 2019.
• 942 students participated in after school programming at the GRAD Cincinnati schools.
• 8,671 meals were served to students in the after school programs.
• 231 GRAD students participated in mentoring programs within the GRAD schools.
• Students received 5,627 tutoring sessions from the University of Cincinnati tutoring partnership, Bearcat Buddies Program.
• 330 K-6 Cincinnati Public Schools students were tutored by Bearcat Buddies.

Below are GRAD’s 2020-21 academic year goals.

• Raise $250,000 to continue the work in the current GRAD schools.
• Expand the College Access Program to transition with GRAD seniors as they enter their freshman and sophomore years of college.
• Purchase Signal Vine, a social media platform that increases interaction between the college access counselors and the GRAD students.
• Secure funding for an ACT Preparation Program.
• Maintain our present programing.