2015-16 State of Education in Tennessee | Page 51

Preparing All Students for Postsecondary Success at THE Soulsville Charter School At The Soulsville Charter School in Memphis, winner of the 2015 SCORE Prize for high schools, the goal is to provide 100 percent of students the opportunity to enroll in postsecondary education. The journey to postsecondary at Soulsville doesn’t just start with the college application process. Students participate in seminar classes both junior and senior years and work with faculty mentors and the dedicated four-person college and career counseling staff to plan their paths after high school. Each summer students are engaged in individualized enrichment opportunities including college programs, internships, and academic camps. Students work with their mentors throughout the second semester to find and plan their own summer enrichment opportunities based on their goals and interests. In their senior year, all Soulsville students complete applications to at least one postsecondary institution. Students are encouraged to apply to multiple institutions and various types of institutions. Nearly all Soulsville students are accepted to multiple institutions. The school’s college and career counseling team works with each student individually to determine what type of opportunity, from a four-year college to a technical program, best fits that student’s goals and skills. Once students have matriculated, an alumni liaison works to connect them with colleagues and services at their institution to help them thrive in a new environment. 5 10