First Graduate's effective college success program helps more than 350 San Francisco-based students each year. We make a 10-year commitment to each student, starting the summer after sixth grade through college graduation; our third cohort of students just completed the program and became the first in their families to graduate from college!We recruit our students from San Francisco public middle schools: Everett, Gateway, Horace Mann, James Lick, Marina, Roosevelt (all part of SFUSD) and KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy (a public charter school) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco. The newest cohort was selected in May 2014, the 2015-21016 class has 374 members. We seek to double that number within five years.Our program provides students with a comprehensive array of support, including: an intense five-week Summer Session for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students; year-round academic instruction and tutoring; high school and college counseling; mentoring; family engagement activities; career exploration activities; and college application guidance.To-date, 100% of all First Graduate high school seniors have graduated from high school and enrolled in college. They are attending schools such as San Francisco State University, Harvard, Chapman University, the University of California, CalPoly San Luis Obispo, Middlebury College, Tufts University, and more.Our students receive:Coaching and Guidance - Our experienced staff tailor program activities to meet the individual needs of students and track their progress toward the goal of college success. Our team works closely with students, families, tutors, mentors, teachers, and other community-based programs to ensure that students are successfully completing each step on the way to becoming college graduates. Students meet regularly with coaches for advisory meetings to track their progress and address concerns. We also use technology to stay in touch with our students.Academic Support -Each student participates in more than 300 hours of academic instruction and tutoring each year through our rigorous school-year and summer academic sessions.School Counseling - We help students transition from their middle schools to academically rigorous high schools. We also provide intensive college counseling services, including standardized test preparation, college application planning, financial aid workshops for students and parents, access to summer enrichment programs, college visits, and finding college scholarships.College Support - We communicate with students monthly and visit them once a year at their college campus. We also help our college students find paid summer internships.Mentoring - College-educated volunteers provide our students with insight into college and professional careers. We also link our younger First Graduate students with older students for peer mentoring.Career Exploration - We organize career panels and events, resume and networking workshops, and job shadow days to educate students about career opportunities available to degree holders.Family Engagement - We educate our students' families so they can support their children while they are on the path to become first generation college graduates. We have an active Parent Association that helps welcome new families to the program, provides peer support, and creates fun activities for First Graduate families