PEAK EDUCATION
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Mission Statement
Peak Education disrupts the status quo by closing opportunity gaps in our community. We believe that every student deserves to reach for their full potential and that all willing learners can do so. We do this by working to enact change at multiple levels beyond the individual students that participate directly in our program. Our work impacts families, schools, and our city to further access to education as well as social and economic inclusion.
About This Cause
Peak Education disrupts the status quo by closing opportunity gaps in the community. We believe all students deserve to reach for their full potential and all willing learners can do so. We do this by working to enact change at multiple levels beyond the individual students who participate in our program. Our work also impacts families, schools, and city to further access to education and social/economic inclusion. Serving 400 students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in Colorado Springs from 7th grade through the completion of college, we offer a range of resources for students to obtain meaningful postsecondary and career pathways. Meeting with students during the school day, three to five times a month through various programming options, we deliver a curriculum centered on ‘Four Peaks’ that lead to student growth and change including: Social Skills & Mental Health; Self-Advocacy & Life Skills; Postsecondary & Career Preparedness; Community Engagement. Ninety-percent of our students are the first in their family to complete a college degree, 87% identify as students of color, and 90% qualify for Free and Reduced lunch. Despite 91% of middle income jobs requiring a postsecondary credential, the postsecondary entrance rates from our partner schools range from 17-42% meaning many students are being left behind In Colorado Springs, we are an unduplicated organization with a focus on closing the gap between city public schools, state, and national enrollment rates to a postsecondary option. We utilize a program design framework that captures students' knowledge through three lenses: Transfer, Meaning, and Knowledge. Our programming is grounded in these areas and staff assess student learnings through a variety of means and respond accordingly. We approache evaluation through formative and summative indicators of success. Formative indicators are influenced by the National College Attainment Network’s common standards (cmquickref2021.pdf (ymaws.com). This includes reviewing student’s GPAs, attendance, and enrollment in college preparatory classes. Summative evaluations include tracking high school graduation rates, post-secondary trajectories of students who participate (i.e., what kinds of degree, certificate, or workforce paths do they take upon graduating high school) plus scholarship and financial aid dollars earned. Our programs have a record of producing strong outcomes including 100% of recent students graduating on-time (compared to approximately 80% of our primary school partners), and 100% matriculating to a postsecondary option including one student entering military service. Peak Education’s class of 2022 earned scholarships and full tuition grants worth over $730,000. The most meaningful metric is qualitative: the relationships cultivated with students and their families. Program areas contribute to larger metrics of postsecondary success and have evaluation criteria of their own. For example, in the mentoring program, success is evaluated through pre- and post-surveys given to mentees, post surveys for mentors, mentor and mentee retention, recruitment of new volunteers, and attendance and enthusiasm at events. Donations will be used to support in-school programming (character development, financial literacy, and self-advocacy skills), community and near peer mentoring, service learning opportunities, and college/career counseling for students in the 2023-2024 school year.