Rochester high school becomes national success model

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A long-running partnership between the University of Rochester and East High School has helped boost the school's graduation rate from 33% to over 85%, earning the URochester-East Educational Partnership Organization a national award for community-engaged education. The program is being recognized as a model for how universities and Rochester schools can collaborate to improve student success and well-being.

Why it matters

The turnaround of East High School demonstrates the positive impact that can result from a university-school district partnership focused on supporting underperforming students. As more school districts struggle with low graduation rates and limited resources, the Rochester model provides a blueprint for how to leverage community engagement and university expertise to transform struggling schools.

The details

The URochester-East Educational Partnership Organization was created to prevent the closure of East High School, which had been plagued by low graduation rates. Through the partnership, the university provided academic support, social services, and teacher training to help get East High back on track. Over time, the school's graduation rate climbed from just 33% to over 85%.

• The URochester-East Educational Partnership Organization was created to prevent East High School's closure.
• East High School's graduation rate has increased from 33% to over 85% through the partnership.