Career Compass of Louisiana was founded in March 2006 as a 501(c)(3) public charity to bridge the gap between high school and post-secondary education. Kacy Edwards and Julie Scott, had identified a desperate situation: far too many students were either graduating or dropping out of high school with no direction for their future. The obstacles were numerous but surmountable: students needed help locating and completing college and financial aid applications, paying application fees, researching schools that matched their abilities and interests, scheduling high school courses and dual enrollment, obtaining ACT testing information, and many other college preparations. These needs were first addressed by partnering with two public high schools in EBRPSS to serve as college and career coaches.

Immediate growth occurred as other high schools and districts quickly identified the value in Career Compass’ program and its short- and long-term impacts on students and communities. Career Compass has grown from 2 coaches in 2006 to now 27 coaches in 19 school districts. About 7,500 students in 70 high schools across the state will receive college and career coaching from Career Compass. In addition to their senior program, in 2008, Career Compass successfully launched a pilot program to assist 8th-11th grade students with post-secondary plans, recognizing the need to educate students as early as possible to set them on the right track for a “college-bound” senior year. The 8th-11th grade coaching program has expanded to serve 5,000 students in eighteen schools across 10 school districts.

The overarching goal of Career Compass is simple: to make college access a reality for Louisiana high school students. Current data shows that 98% of the students assisted by Career Compass successfully apply to and are accepted by postsecondary institutions. By tracking students after their first year of post-secondary education, results consistently show that 80 percent or more students who were assisted by Career Compass remain enrolled in their programs, nearly twice the state average of less than 50 percent.