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Rainier Scholars 

Description

Rainier Scholars is a rigorous and comprehensive educational program serving students over an 11-year journey from 6th grade to college graduation. Rainier Scholars works to prepare, place and support low-income students of color who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree. Through academic excellence, Rainier Scholars develops tomorrow's leaders.

Mission Statement
Rainier Scholars cultivates the academic potential of talented and motivated young scholars from ethnic minority backgrounds. By offering access to exceptional educational opportunities and ongoing comprehensive support, we work to increase college graduation rates and to develop new generations of leaders.
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Rainier Scholars
2100  24th Ave S Ste 360 
Seattle 
WA
98144-4646 
(206) 407-2111 

Sarah Smith 
Executive Director 

Programs

Rainier Scholars Programs

The Rainier Scholars program is divided into four phases:

Academic Enrichment (6th grade)
Through an intensive 14 months, scholars learn skills for academic success and learn subject content two to three grade levels beyond their current school work. The goal is to prepare and place scholars in college preparatory programs in public and private schools.

Academic Counseling and Support Services (7th – 9th grades)
Once scholars earn placement, we ensure they thrive by providing ongoing support including monthly visits to student's schools, skill building workshops, summer enrichment opportunities and social and service learning activities. We partner with families to create a long-term relationship for student success.

Leadership Development (10th – 12th grades) 
During high school, we support college readiness with career guidance and internship opportunities, college planning services and five intensive leadership retreats. Scholars learn the attributes and skills of effective leaders and experience hands-on learning with leadership ethics.

College Support (Freshmen – Seniors)
Once scholars are admitted to four-year colleges, comprehensive services include a college retreat for all incoming freshmen, personalized college counselor support and a campus visit during their first year. Workshops and retreats are designed for each college level. Internship placements and career connections facilitate the building of professional networks and career opportunities.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

To date, 100% of Cohorts I, II, III and IV scholars have achieved high school graduation and college admissions; 95% have multiple four-year college options.  Acceptances include prestigious schools such as Yale, Columbia, Stanford, U Penn, Williams, Dartmouth and Occidental.  Rainier Scholars has 100% college matriculation with more than 150 scholars at 63 colleges and universities in 23 states. Our first college graduates will emerge this spring.

As a long-term comprehensive program model, Rainier Scholars makes an 11-year commitment to every scholar. We continue to seek general operating support from our donors to honor the promise we have made to support students from 6th grade to college graduation. In addition, Rainier Scholars continues to build organizational capacity with the development of alumni support services and career networking activities. We seek connections with organizations and businesses with potential internship placements for high school and college students as well as entry-level jobs for college graduates.

Evaluation

Rainier Scholars (RS) is dedicated to providing promising students of color with academic opportunities and support otherwise unavailable to them, from 6th grade all the way through college. Now in its 10th year, RS is unique in its focus on providing long-term, intensive support to high-achieving, low-income students of color who would otherwise be challenged to attend and succeed in college.

Proven Success
More than 95% of scholars who complete the initial 14-month enrichment phase earn placement in advanced learning programs in public or private high schools. In addition, Rainier Scholars has achieved a 100% high school graduation rate with an admissions rate of 100% to four-year colleges or universities.

Use of Best Practices
While significant growth of Rainier Scholars’ current model would be challenging to achieve (due in part to constraints on financial aid at the secondary level that limit the number of scholars who are able to attend private high schools), Rainier Scholars staff and leaders are active participants in the public policy conversation around education reform. Their expertise is a valuable resource in the discussion about how best to increase academic achievement and opportunity for low-income students of color on a large scale.

Because research shows that college retention rates for first-generation, low-income college students remain strikingly low, RS continues to expand its college-support programming. RS front-loads as much College 101 content as it can into summer courses and internships before scholars begin college. Once students are in college they speak with a RS counselor at least once a month. RS staff also visit all freshman scholars on their college campuses.

Financial Health
Revenue streams are divided between individual giving, foundations, corporations, and United Way funding. RS receives no government funding.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
6/10/2011 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/22/2005 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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