Mt. Hope High School & Roger Williams University
Project Title: Freshmen Mentor Program: 9th Grade Day
PK-12 Students Involved: Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Mentors & the Ninth Grade Class
College Students Involved: 9 Leadership Students
Other Partners: Roger Williams University Admissions, Bristol Substance Abuse Task Force
Working together, Roger Williams University students and Mt. Hope High School juniors and seniors are improving the freshman retention rate at Mt. Hope High School. The RWU student leaders train the Mt. Hope juniors and seniors as mentors, teaching leadership, team building, and communication skills. The Mt. Hope mentors then lead the 9th grade class through a day-long event at Roger Williams called 9th Grade Day. During the first part of the day, the freshmen learn about college readiness and experience life on a college campus. Then, the 11th and 12th grade mentors lead the freshmen in team building exercises they've learned from the RWU student leaders.
Launched three years ago, Mt. Hope credits this program with a 2% reduction in its dropout rate and an 89% college entrance rate as of the 2009 school year.
