Model and Strategy
College Track is a national college completion organization that equips students from underserved communities to pursue a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Founded in East Palo Alto in 1997, the organization now operates 13 centers nationwide, including three in the Bay Area—East Palo Alto, Oakland, and San Francisco’s Bayview–Hunters Point. College Track serves students who face some of the highest barriers to college completion: the vast majority are first-generation college students, students of color, and come from low-income households.
The organization’s model is distinguished by its duration and depth. College Track makes a 10-year commitment to each student, beginning the summer before 9th grade and continuing through college graduation and into early career. This comprehensive, wraparound approach integrates academic support, social-emotional wellness, college and financial advising, and career development into a cohesive, long-term plan for each scholar.
In high school, scholars receive academic tutoring, workshops focused on study skills and time management, and guidance on college readiness. They participate in college tours, develop leadership skills, and receive wellness support to build resilience. Financial literacy and aid navigation are introduced early to ensure students and families can make informed choices.
Once scholars matriculate to college, College Track continues to provide one-on-one support. College Thrive Coaches offer personalized academic, financial, and career counseling. Scholars are connected with campus resources, internships, and mentorship opportunities, and receive ongoing guidance as they work toward degree completion. College Track’s post-college programming aims to support scholars as they transition into the workforce. Services include mentorship from professionals in students’ fields of interest, access to job pipelines from employer partners, and opportunities to build social capital through networking and alumni events.
In 2024, College Track launched a refreshed program model to reflect the evolving needs of students and the changing landscape of higher education and workforce expectations. This new iteration emphasizes stronger data systems, more integrated advising, and deepened partnerships with colleges and employers. At its core, College Track’s strategy remains the same: to provide the sustained, holistic support that students need not only to access college, but to thrive in it and beyond.
Impact
College Track’s impact is rooted in a comprehensive, data-informed approach to long-term student success. The organization makes a 10-year commitment to each scholar, beginning in 9th grade and continuing through college graduation and early career development. This sustained engagement yields outcomes that far exceed national averages for first-generation college students.
College Track’s model consistently delivers strong postsecondary outcomes. Among high school seniors, 100% apply to a four-year university, and 98% matriculate to either a two- or four-year institution. Persistence rates remain high, with 87% of college scholars returning for a second year and 72% for a third. Most notably, College Track reports a 60% six-year graduation rate—nearly triple the national average for students with similar backgrounds.
“Going into high school, I never saw myself going to college. I felt like I was not smart enough, I was not capable enough. I went to the first meeting [at College Track]. They sat us down and told us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves in ten years. I imagined myself in a superhero power pose wearing business casual, looking professional. I didn’t know it at the time, but they planted a seed for what I am today.” — Xitlali, College Track East Palo Alto scholar and 2024 UC Irvine graduate
The program’s effectiveness is driven in part by a staff that reflects the lived experience of its scholars: 84% of employees identify as people of color and 62% are first-generation college graduates. This alignment fosters trust and relatability, enabling deeper engagement with students and families. In the Bay Area, demand for College Track’s services has grown steadily, particularly in districts where college guidance and resources are limited.
College Track has also made strategic investments in its data infrastructure and evaluation capacity. Under the leadership of a newly appointed Vice President of Program Evaluation and Research, the organization is expanding its use of real-time data to assess program fidelity, scholar progress, and long-term outcomes. These systems enable College Track to iteratively refine its model and scale best practices across its 13 national sites.
An innovative college partnership model further enhances outcomes. College Track currently partners with 18 colleges and universities that reserve 153 admissions slots annually and provide $5.3 million in dedicated financial aid. These partnerships offer benefits such as cohort-based admissions, early engagement, and ongoing campus support—reducing financial and social barriers to persistence and graduation.
College Track’s decade-long investment in each scholar, coupled with its strategic systems approach and institutional partnerships, has established the organization as a leader in equitable college completion. Its model not only supports individual student success but also advances systemic change across the education continuum.
Leadership
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Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D.
President and CEO
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Rodolfo Rudy Elizondo
Chief of Education
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Jason Rivera
VP, Program Evaluation and Research
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Katherine DeVinna
Executive Site Director, San Francisco