Nearly one-fifth of Jefferson County Public Schools seniors who say they intend on going to college and have filled out a student aid application won't be attending college in the fall, according to data collected by the district.
The city will now throw its first pep rally to celebrate college goers and to encourage students who may experience summer melt--which is being used to describe students who get lost in the shuffle during summer. “As a community, we weren’t coming together to say congratulations, this is what you’ve done, this is what you can do, these are the resources to help you get through your journey. So because of that I noticed the void and this is me trying to fill it,” said organizer DeWana Hadder. The term summer melt, says JCPS college-and-career readiness specialist Pam Royster, was originally meant to describe students who paid their deposit to attend college but who didn’t show up. JCPS has extended that definition. According to JCPS data 90 percent of JCPS seniors students say they intend on going to college, but Royster says a more accurate depiction of “intent” would be the 69 percent of seniors who complete their financial aid (FAFSA) forms. The JCPS college going rate is 57 percent. Now, the I’m Going to College Pep Rally is meant to provide students with information to make the transition to college easier. Students will have a chance to ask questions to college students and to be connected with resources that help them transition into college. Hadder says the pep rally will include college student leaders who will connect soon-to-be freshman. “They’re going to be able to ask these student leaders questions as far as resident life, student life. We’ll have representatives from KHEAA there to answer questions about financial aid.” The pep rally will take place at the Muhammad Ali Center at 9:30 Saturday morning. Guests include Mayor Greg Fischer, and Superintendent Donna Hargens.
