Career Connections for At-Risk High School Students

Youth economic advancement

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

“Option” schools, such as continuation high schools, are designed to serve “Tier 3” students, i.e., those who are at least 4 classes behind their age-appropriate grade level and demonstrating behavioral, academic and social needs that require the highest level of intervention from the school district. Sharefest began service to these schools in 2009 and is the only community-based organization embedded in seven option schools in South LA/Harbor areas rife with violence and poverty.
Due to the impact of COVID and demographic shifts, traditional high schools are retaining more of their Tier 3 students, rather than referring them to option/continuation schools. Recognizing that these schools are not prepared to meet the needs of these students, Sharefest adapted and piloted Career Connections at Gardena High School in 2023-24 and, based on the success of the program, has been invited to expand to Banning (Wilmington) and Narbonne (Harbor City) High Schools in 2024-25.

Career Connections delivers credit-eligible courses at the school site that encompass foundational personal growth work in Socio-Emotional Learning, Purpose Education, Professional Development, College/Career Access, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy. Coursework includes career awareness, exploration and developing a career plan. Learning is enhanced with panel discussions and field trips to expose students to potential career opportunities, particularly those that do not require a college degree to enter.
Student cohorts of 15 – 25 attend class daily, 80-90 minutes, Monday through Thursday, throughout the semester. Instructors help students develop a vision for the future, a plan to achieve it, and the resources necessary to succeed. Culminating activities include mock job interviews with corporate volunteers and the purchase of a professional suit of clothes.
Upon graduation, we support alumni for 12 months to help them make the transition to college/career, including mentorship, system navigation, and continued access to Sharefest’s resources, i.e., network of corporate mentors, job opportunities, workshops, panel discussions, etc. We also offer small financial incentives for achieving benchmarks such as enrollment in college/trade school, job application, interview preparation, etc. Participants are assisted in accessing employment as well as placed into internships, apprenticeships and jobs both directly and through partnerships with other organizations.

1) Students who have fallen behind will complete high school and feel confident there is a path for them to achieve a prosperous future. Students often come to us feeling demoralized and “beaten” by the educational system. We help them overcome feelings of “failure” and envision a future in which they are a valued and an important part of the community.
2) Traditional high schools will be able to meet the needs of a growing population of at-risk students.
3) Local businesses that are in need of reliable workers will have a new pipeline of entry-level employees with the foundational training necessary to be effective, long-term assets to the company.
L.A. County will experience a financial boost. Helping students at high risk of dropout to complete high school and find a path to economic security will alleviate the $392,000 each high school dropout costs the state (California Dropout Research Project, 2007) while providing companies the workforce they need to thrive.

We track student progress toward college/career success, including credits earned, graduation, and completion of a career plan. For alums, we track college matriculation, resume development, job/college applications submitted, job obtainment and other career milestones. Through an Intake/Exit Form administered at the beginning and end of each semester, we capture student characteristics, measure changes in their social-emotional development, and solicit feedback on program impact. With the assistance of an evaluation consultant, we have developed a student tracking system in which all data is stored, analyzed and reviewed each semester.
Results from our pilot cohort of traditional high school students include: 77% of students said they were more likely to attend school because of the Sharefest program, and 85% agreed that the course increased the likelihood that they would graduate high school. The vast majority reported growing in self-confidence, communication and other abilities.