RISE TOGETHER EDUCATION INC

Description

In the affluent city of Palo Alto, the median household income is more than double that of the US. Despite this, 10% of Palo Alto High School students are considered very low-income. The average cost of attending college in the US is about $36,000/year. A college education is instrumental in breaking the cycle of poverty, but it is out of reach for many of these students. Rise Together Education works to remedy this issue by providing both support and financial resources to low-income Palo Alto High School students who have been accepted to college. Applicants apply through the Paly Community Scholarship Program, which provides a common application for many need and merit based scholarships. RTE requires that applicants be in 12th grade at Palo Alto High School, from a low-income family, and plan to attend a 4- year college or a 2-year community college. RTE selects those students whose Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is at the lowest end of the spectrum, generally $0-$1,000 per year based on data provided by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). With the help of our supporters, RTE has helped 31 Paly graduates earn bachelor’s degrees, with an additional 5 earning associate degrees. Most of this year's students are working part-time and attending school full-time and earning an average of 3.26 GPA. As we look forward, we continue to scale up to support even more deserving students than ever before.