Across Bexar County, more young people than ever are taking next steps toward college and career success — and this momentum is no accident. It is the result of unprecedented alignment among school districts, higher education partners, youth development organizations, philanthropic and business leaders who share a singular goal: ensuring every young person in our community is truly future ready.

As educational leaders across the Future Ready network — including UP Partnership and the seven public school districts — we witness daily the energy and determination of our students, educators, advisors and families. Today, we are proud to share meaningful progress — not just in individual districts, but across the entire county, guided by thorough data analysis from our community systems-change partner, UP Partnership.

A community alignment years in the making

In 2022, leaders across sectors united around the Future Ready Bexar County Plan, anchored by a North Star goal to increase postsecondary degree or credential program enrollment after high school graduation to 70% by 2030. To reach that shared goal, partners committed to focus areas — Healing, Access and Voice — and more recently realized we also needed to add Systems Support to provide a holistic approach toward helping our young people unlock their maximum potential. This commitment has reshaped how partners across Bexar County work together.

Schools, colleges, nonprofits and community agencies are now aligning advising practices, strengthening dual credit pathways, elevating youth voice and coordinating mental health supports in far more intentional and connected ways than before the Future Ready Bexar County plan launched.

This collaboration is creating conditions for measurable gains.

Educational data is rising, reflecting upward progress

Last year, data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) showed that 56% of Bexar County’s Class of 2023 enrolled in a postsecondary program at a Texas institution. When UP Partnership analyzed the broader National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) dataset — which also includes students who enrolled outside of Texas — the enrollment rate rose to 62%. This six-point difference demonstrates how aligned advising, application support, and student pathways are turning into measurable gains for young people.

For the Class of 2024, progress accelerated again.

Click here to read the remaining article published on the San Antonio Report. 

This article was written by Cathy Jones, CEO of UP Partnership, and the superintendents Roland Toscano, East Central ISD; Eduardo Hernandéz, Edgewood ISD; Gerado Soto, Harlandale ISD; John M. Craft, Northside ISD; Jaime Aquino, San Antonio ISD; and Jeanette Ball, Southwest ISD.