This report documents the experiences of seven cohorts of students from the UCLA Community School and track their pathways to and through college using four measures: (1) postsecondary plans, (2) immediate college enrollment, (3) college persistence (first to second year, and four-year pathways), (4) college completion (within six years). While the school is preparing almost all graduates to enter college and college enrollment and initial persistence rates are higher than the national average, alumni experience challenges persisting through college. This report asks questions about how the school can better prepare students to persist and analyzes the role of K-12 alumni support programs. This report is supplemented by a series of portraits of persistence, and infographic.

Suggested Citation

Quartz, K.H., Dimagiba, A., Jacobo, S., Murillo, M.A., & Amador, V.(2020). ​Creating persistent community: The challenge of aligning supports for first-generation college-going students.​ Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Center for Community Schooling.