AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

The goals of the APS Foundation are to:
• Create a college and career bound culture in APS through the development of College and Career Centers in six APS high schools;
• Support our students, teachers and classrooms by facilitating philanthropic and community support for APS; and
• Continue to steward an effective scholarship program created through the generosity of our community.

OurCollege and Career Centers offer the following activities for students.
• Intrusive advising/mentoring
• One on One, small group and large group delivery methods,
• Parent engagement strategies,
• College and career exploration activities,
• FAFSA Support and Workshops,
• Credit recovery, night school,
• Find your future, Taste of Careers Tuesdays and Fridays,
• Alumni Engagement,
• Internship opportunities,
• Wrap around services,
• College enrollment support,
• Concurrent enrollment assistance, and
• College visits and partnerships.

The APS Foundation has been assisting APS students and families for 30 years, has deep partnerships with community and up to a 25 person board of directors who assist in the governance and operations.

Currently there are one full time and three part-time staff persons.

Here are some examples of how we have impacted APS students:

A higher percentage of students served by the CCC at Hinkley High School completed FAFSA's compared to those who chose not to use the services (85% and 29%, respectively). This suggests that working with the CCC to learn about FAFSAs and receiving assistance in completing them increases the numbers of families who submit the FAFSA for college financing.

Both Rangeview and Hinkley conducted organized college visits with students and 456 students participated in those organized visits. The support the CCC provides, helps students and their families to visit campuses so that they can decide which postsecondary institutions are suitable for them.

A number (548) of 2014 high school graduates were concurrently enrolled in high school and college courses before they graduated. Concurrent enrollment helps students persist through their college careers.

Hinkley graduates saw a $2.2 million increase in scholarships awarded to 2015 graduates compared to those who graduated in 2014. The CCC helps students identify potential scholarship opportunities and provides support while students complete the applications.