“Onward” Consortium: Mary Walker, Columbia, Cusick, Curlew, Inchelium, Northport, Republic, Selkirk & Wellpinit School Districts

Nine small school districts in Northeastern Washington are working together to meet a common goal: prepare more students for postsecondary education without remediation. “Onward,” a partnership between students, parents, schools, businesses and colleges – Eastern Washington University, in particular – is the creation of the rural, high-poverty school districts of Mary Walker, Columbia, Cusick, Curlew, Inchelium, Northport, Republic, Selkirk and Wellpinit.

Driving the partnership and pilot program is the knowledge that family income is a strong predictor of college access and success, and the idea that one way to help level the playing field in life for the kids in their districts is to prepare more students for education beyond high school. Through Onward, which starts in the 7th grade, schools will provide students with the academic support and guidance they’ll need to qualify for admission at any Washington four-year public university. In turn, students commit to taking a rigorous course of study and developing academic and career plans. One program goal will be to increase the number of low-income students enrolled in the higher-level coursework that will prepare them for college.

Success will be measured by examining whether the group’s low-income students are enrolling in college at the same rate as the most advantaged students in the state. To learn more about the Onward program, contact Jerry Dyar, Mary Walker High School counselor at (509) 258-4533 or email.