Onward We Learn

Scholarship program:in fy 2024, we provided $816,139 for scholarships to 624 students to support postsecondary success. These resources were critical to supporting college persistence and college completion efforts. In conjunction with these scholarship resources, independent researchers studying onward we learn discovered that students in the program had a first-year retention rate in college of 75.4 percent, which was 10.3 percentage points higher than the study's matched comparison group.

Onward we learn fafsa student support: one of the most important milestones in the onward we learn program is a student's submission of the fafsa form (free application for federal student aid). Fafsa completion is predominantly a 12th grade activity, but it is often discussed and highlighted throughout the high school experience. In fy 2024, onward supported the completion of more than 1,000 fafsa forms. This included an 84% fafsa completion rate among onward students in the program as well as providing fafsa support for other students attending schools in providence and pawtucket. Onward we learn was a statewide leader in fafsa support, which was needed due to the many delays and difficulties associated with the fafsa process during this year.

The success of the organization's program primarily lies in our seamless system of steady adult support for students from grade 6 to high school graduation. We place a team of 25 full-time middle school and high school advisors in 35 schools in our target districts throughout the academic year to personalize the college-bound experience for the students in our programs. These advisors forge relationships with students, encourage them to pursue high academic goals and run various after-school, weekend, and school vacation and summer programs to meet students' academic, personal and social development, college readiness and career exploration needs. Advisors are a diverse group of young professionals who understand the challenges that young people and disadvantaged communities face, since many of them are alumni or come from rhode island's urban communities.