Interview: Achieve Atlanta’s Tina Fernandez on Doubling the Number of Atlanta Public School Students Graduating From College by 2025
Discover an assortment of previous interviews with prominent individuals such as Sen. Cory Booker, civil rights activist Dr. Howard Fuller, Harvard professor Karen Mapp, former U.S. Department of Education secretary John King, and more. These discussions cover various topics, including the success of Newark’s school reforms, equity in education, family engagement, and the Trump administration. Access the entire archive right here.
For Tina Fernandez, the pursuit of educational equity is deeply personal. Growing up in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley and attending Harvard University, Fernandez confronted firsthand the disparities within the education system.
"I had the opportunity to witness what my college peers had received in their K-12 education and the opportunities they had in their schooling that were simply absent in my community," Fernandez expressed.
This realization motivated Fernandez to immerse herself in the field of education, particularly in underserved communities like her own. Following her graduation, she worked as a bilingual teacher in the South Bronx in New York City. She later pursued studies at Columbia Law School and engaged with social justice issues concerning young people. Additionally, she taught at the University of Texas School of Law.
Presently, Fernandez continues her mission as the executive director of Achieve Atlanta, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students in the Atlanta Public Schools system to successfully enroll and persist in college. Established in 2015, Achieve Atlanta assists APS students by offering operational and financial aid to students, schools, and various nonprofit partners.
Achieve Atlanta provides need-based scholarships and collaborates with other organizations to enhance and expand college counseling within Atlanta Public Schools. Furthermore, the organization supports students throughout their college experience. To date, Achieve Atlanta has awarded over $11 million in scholarships to 2,235 students. The district encompasses 52,000 students and 17 high schools.
Furthermore, Achieve Atlanta is developing a platform that utilizes data from Atlanta Public Schools graduates to assist future students in finding colleges that align with their needs and preferences. This platform, supported by a $622,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2018, focuses on identifying colleges that are academically suitable for students while considering factors such as affordability, school culture, location, and academic programs.
recently conducted an interview with Fernandez, delving into Achieve Atlanta’s objectives and Fernandez’s personal educational journey.
This interview has been edited slightly for clarity and length.
: Can you provide some insight into the origins of Achieve Atlanta and its history?
Fernandez: Around 2014, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Woodruff Foundation, a prominent philanthropic institution in Atlanta, engaged in discussions to better understand the state of postsecondary degree attainment among Atlanta Public Schools graduates. They commissioned a study to delve into the issue and gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. The hired consultant analyzed public data and issued a report revealing that only about 14 percent of the ninth-grade cohort in Atlanta Public Schools were projected to earn any form of postsecondary degree within six years of high school graduation.
Given these statistics and considering that by 2025, approximately 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require postsecondary credentials, the Woodruff Foundation recognized the need to make a substantial targeted investment in addressing these challenges. Thus, the launch team conceived the idea of establishing an organization solely focused on significantly increasing the number of APS students earning postsecondary credentials or degrees. This marked the birth of Achieve Atlanta, and I was appointed as the inaugural executive director. We commenced our initiative in July 2015.
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I understand that Achieve Atlanta utilizes data to assist students in finding colleges that are an academic and personal fit for them. Could you elaborate on the significance of this approach?
As part of our scholarship program, our students agree to the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) agreement and share their academic and financial progress with us. Additionally, we have data-sharing agreements with all of our partners. Through our observations over the past few years, we have noticed an increase in first- to second-year persistence rates for our students. However, we have also observed that a significant number of students, especially those attending two-year colleges, are not persisting at high rates. This has led us to prioritize and ensure that students are making informed choices regarding their college decisions, considering both academic and financial aspects. We collaborate with the College Advising Corps and Atlanta Public Schools counselors to guide students on finding a good match in terms of academics. However, they lack easily accessible data on what constitutes a good academic match for each student.
To address this issue, we applied for and received a Gates Networks for School Improvement grant in 2018. This grant has allowed us to delve deeper into understanding the current state of match and fit for APS students. We are developing a technology platform that pulls APS-specific and student academic data to generate a list of suitable colleges for each student. This will enable counselors, advisers, and students to engage in more meaningful conversations when it comes to college choices.
This initiative is crucial because extensive academic research across the country reveals that many students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, tend to under-match. Under-matching refers to the situation where students attend less selective schools that do not align with their academic capabilities. It has been found that under-matched students also have lower persistence rates. Conversely, students who attend more selective institutions tend to persist at higher rates, possibly due to the better resources available. We aim to utilize available data to help students make well-informed decisions about their college options.
Is the system currently in the data-gathering stage?
Yes, we are at the beginning stages. We received the grant this year and have spent the past few months analyzing APS data and conducting focus groups with various stakeholders. Our goal is to determine the extent of under-matching among students and identify the underlying reasons for this phenomenon.
When can we expect this system to be accessible for public use?
We plan to launch the tool in the fall of 2019.
Could you provide more information on how you and your staff at Achieve Atlanta collaborate with Atlanta Public Schools, educators, counselors, and students to reach and support students?
We have established a formal agreement with the district, including a memorandum of understanding that outlines the nature of our collaboration, data-sharing procedures, and the objectives for supporting students. Our role is to offer financial, operational, and strategic support to the district, with the aim of developing a comprehensive college advising program across all high schools within the district.
In partnership with the district, we have evaluated areas where there are gaps in college advising capacity. To address this, we have provided funding to two non-profit organizations to introduce additional advisers into the district. Through our grant to the College Advising Corps and our collaboration with an organization called OneGoal, we have placed 27 additional college advisers across APS high schools. Additionally, we have implemented several cohorts of OneGoal classes at various high schools to enhance college advising for students during their junior and senior years.
We have also identified barriers that hindered student access to the SAT and the opportunity to take it during their junior year. This prevented them from having sufficient time to retake the exam if needed or submit their scores when applying to college. To overcome this challenge, we partnered with the College Board to implement SAT in the school day within the district. This approach has proven effective in increasing the number of low-income students taking the SAT and has resulted in better college selections for students.
What types of indicators are you referring to in this context?
In regards to college access, we are currently monitoring various factors. These include the frequency of students meeting with their college advisor each semester. We have set targets regarding the number of students who should apply to at least three colleges, with at least one safety school, one match school, and one reach school among them. We also have targets for the completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), as well as the number of students applying for the Achieve Atlanta scholarship. Ultimately, our goal is to increase the number of graduating seniors from APS (Atlanta Public Schools) who seamlessly enroll in college in the fall after high school graduation.
Can you provide some insights into the enrollment numbers of students in college now compared to when you started?
When we began in 2015, the data for that year showed that out of the senior class, 1,071 students were enrolling in college seamlessly. By seamless enrollment, we mean that they were enrolling in college immediately following high school graduation in the fall.
For the class of ’17, the most recent data we have, 1,416 students seamlessly enrolled in college. This represents an additional 345 students and a 32 percent increase in seamless college enrollment over a span of two years. We have received the class of 2018 data from the National Student Clearinghouse, and the district is currently reviewing it to determine the seamless enrollment number and rate for that class.
Furthermore, we have observed an increase in the number of students accessing funds to pay for college. Prior to the launch of Achieve Atlanta, less than half of the seniors were completing the FAFSA. In 2015, around 1,134 students completed the FAFSA. In 2017, the number increased to 1,540 students, representing an increase of over 400 students. This rise in FAFSA applications has led to more students being eligible for the Pell Grant, resulting in an estimated additional $2 million in federal aid for the students.
Regarding persistence, we have set goals for the number of students who continue their college education from their first year to their second year and beyond. In 2016, our first cohort, we saw 100 more students persisting to their second year of college compared to the previous year. Our analysis has shown that our first-to-second-year college persistence rates surpass national and Georgia state rates for similar students. This is particularly notable as we primarily serve African American and Pell-eligible students. Our persistence rates are demonstrating promising outcomes.
Currently, we do not have a class that has completed a full four years of college. This applies to the 2016 cohort. However, next year, we will be able to assess the number of students who successfully graduate within four years and compare it to previous completion rates. Additionally, we will continue tracking their progress for six years, as this is the timeframe many colleges use to calculate graduation rates.
What are your goals for the future?
Our goal is to double the number of APS students who earn a postsecondary degree by the year 2025.
How does Achieve Atlanta support students and promote their continued enrollment in college once they are on campus?
First and foremost, we provide the Achieve Atlanta scholarship. Georgia is one of two states without comprehensive need-based aid for students. Given that our district has a predominantly low-income population, prior to the introduction of the Achieve Atlanta scholarship, most APS students attending college could only rely on federal grant funds, such as the Pell Grant, which typically covers a little over $5,000 per year. However, the cost of attending a public institution in Georgia ranges from $15,000 to $20,000 per year. This presented a significant financial gap for these low-income students in terms of funding their college education.
For our students residing in the state of Georgia, we have established partnerships with 10 colleges and universities throughout the state. These partnerships encompass a technical college, two associate degree programs, and seven four-year colleges and universities, including both public and private institutions. Through these partnerships, we collaborate with higher education institutions using a cohort model to provide comprehensive support to our students. Each campus designates liaisons who serve as points of contact for Achieve Atlanta scholars. We have data-sharing agreements in place and set targets for our students, such as meeting regularly with academic advisors, accessing academic and social-emotional support services, completing FAFSA applications, and renewing the Achieve Atlanta scholarship. We regularly meet with our partners to monitor the progress of our students and address any challenges they may be facing by utilizing university resources.
For students who do not attend partner institutions, we have awarded grants to two nonprofits: Beyond 12, a national organization, and Edu-Tech Enterprises, a local nonprofit. These organizations provide coaching and advising services to our students using different approaches. Beyond 12 utilizes near-peer coaches and primarily relies on virtual communication methods such as texting, FaceTime, and phone calls to provide ongoing assistance and guidance. On the other hand, Edu-Tech adopts a more hands-on approach, focusing mainly on supporting students in two-year colleges who often face additional constraints like transportation issues and family obligations. Through these partnerships, our aim is to ensure that all Achieve Atlanta scholars in the state receive the necessary coaching and advising support to succeed in college.
The primary source of funding for Achieve Atlanta scholarships comes from the Whitehead Foundation, an arm of the Woodruff Foundation.
In terms of providing advice to students during the college selection process, Achieve Atlanta operates as an intermediary organization that supports high school counselors and College Advising Corps advisers who directly assist students. While I cannot speak on behalf of these organizations, I can share some general advice. Students are encouraged to start early in building their college lists, which should include a range of options like safety, match, and reach schools. They should also engage in discussions about their financial circumstances with regards to college costs and explore how they and their families can afford to pay for their education. Furthermore, support is offered in preparing their college application packets and ensuring timely submission of all required documents to universities.
Once students begin receiving acceptance letters and financial aid awards, our advisers and counselors work closely with them to understand the contents of the award letters and the true costs associated with attending each institution. Meaningful conversations, involving both students and their families, take place to help make informed decisions about the most suitable college options from both academic and financial perspectives.
As for my personal education journey, it plays a significant role in shaping my work and approach. I grew up in the border community of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, an area that has garnered national attention due to its proximity to Mexico and the current political climate. My mother, an immigrant from Mexico, was unable to pursue higher education but obtained her GED when I was 15 years old. My father, a first-generation college graduate, worked as a public school teacher. I was raised in a vibrant community within one of the poorest congressional districts in the country.
Upon entering Harvard University, I was confronted with a stark realization of the educational inequality that exists in our nation. I saw firsthand the stark differences in the K-12 education and opportunities provided to my college peers compared to what was available in my own community. This experience ignited a passion within me for educational equity and its deep connection to racial equity in our country. Throughout my college years, I actively engaged in various public service programs that aimed to uplift low-income and under-resourced communities. Following my graduation, I joined Teach for America and taught bilingual education to fourth and fifth graders in the South Bronx.
My time as an educator further deepened my understanding of the challenges surrounding educational equity, solidifying my commitment to making a difference in this field. I later pursued a law degree and spent five years in private practice before becoming the director of pro bono legal services programs at the University of Texas School of Law. Throughout my tenure, I dedicated significant efforts to advocating for youth rights and addressing social justice issues, particularly those affecting undocumented individuals.
This cause is deeply personal to me. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had a fulfilling career and life, largely thanks to the transformative opportunity I had to attend an esteemed Ivy League institution. Witnessing firsthand the power of education in changing lives, I am acutely aware that it remains inaccessible to far too many individuals in our country, especially black and Latino students.
Considering the work being done by Achieve Atlanta, with its focus on college enrollment and persistence, I am optimistic about the positive impact it can have. My hope is not just for the city of Atlanta, but primarily for its students. Our ultimate vision is for every student graduating from Atlanta Public Schools to have the opportunity to pursue higher education and reap the multitude of benefits it offers. Even today, obtaining a college degree is the most reliable path to upward mobility in our country. Statistics show that individuals with a college degree tend to live longer lives, earn higher lifetime incomes (often exceeding $1 million more), experience lower unemployment rates, and find greater job satisfaction. By empowering our students to achieve their dreams, we aim to cultivate fully engaged citizens who can access all the advantages a city has to offer.
One of the driving factors behind my passion for this work is the alarmingly low social mobility rates in Atlanta. Raj Chetty’s research in the Opportunity Project shed light on this issue a few years ago, revealing that a child born into poverty in Atlanta has a mere 4 percent chance of ascending to the highest-income bracket during their lifetime. Our city also suffers from significant income inequality compared to other areas in the country.
My objective for Atlanta is to foster an equitable city that lives up to the legacy of the civil rights movement, which originated here and continues to be championed.
