Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) will significantly expand the presence of Future Centers in district-managed high schools during the 2024-2025 school year to enhance post-high school opportunities for students.

“Our goal is for every IPS graduate to have the tools to pursue a fulfilling career of their choosing,” said Melody Coryell, executive director of postsecondary readiness for IPS. “From looking at the workforce data in Indiana and around the country, we know that most jobs our students are preparing for will require some kind of education or job-related training beyond a high school diploma.”

The centers assist students in identifying their post-graduation path—enrollment, employment, or enlistment—to ensure each student is supported in pursuing their next steps toward a fulfilling career.

Each high school campus will host a Future Center staffed with at least one Postsecondary Readiness Counselor, College Specialist, Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator, Career Academy/Career-Related Program Coordinator, Writing Center Specialist, and Graduation Coach.

Postsecondary readiness counselors will work with IPS students in grades 9-11 to support 21st Century Scholars, plan college visits, teach Xello lessons, and foster a postsecondary-ready culture among students. College Specialists will assist seniors with college applications, FAFSA filings, scholarship applications, and persistence to college. WBL Coordinators will manage all work-based learning opportunities within the district and support students with career advising while organizing career fairs and resume workshops.

Career Academy Coordinators/Career-Related Program Coordinators will manage pathways on their campuses. Writing Center Specialists will provide college-style centers supporting writing skills among students and teachers by bringing various tutors into schools. Graduation coaches will oversee cohort enrollment and graduation rates to help students stay on track for graduation.

These centers partner with academic counselors and are staffed by educators focused on postsecondary planning. They serve as hubs where students and families can connect with community-based organizations, higher education partners, military recruiters, and employers. The mission-aligned partners drive year-round programming opportunities for advancing student postsecondary plans.

Coryell noted that the newly expanded Future Centers would not only enhance student opportunities but also help IPS comply with new state laws. Starting from the 2023-2024 school year, FAFSA completion became mandatory in Indiana. Additionally, these centers ensure all 11th and 12th-grade students experience a Career Discovery Meeting.

Several positions were piloted during the 2023-2024 school year yielding positive results; notably achieving a district-wide FAFSA engagement rate of 100% and a completion rate of 60.6%, surpassing other districts in Marion County and Indiana—a counter-trend against an approximate national decrease of 11% in FAFSAs submitted.

The updated Future Centers are expected to further increase FAFSA completion rates allowing more students access to financial aid making college more affordable and accessible.

Coryell highlighted that efforts through Future Centers are already producing promising outcomes:

For the Class of 2023:

• 64.2% intended to enroll in a two- or four-year college/university or trade program.

• 33.1% planned to pursue a career after graduation.

• 2.7% intended to enlist in a branch of the United States military.

For the Class of 2024:

• 72.2% plan to pursue enrollment in higher education or trade programs.

• 23.6% plan full-time employment.

• 4.2% plan military enlistment.

Future Centers were initially launched in Fall 2018 supported by a $2.87 million Lilly Counseling Initiative Grant before expanding further in 2021.

###