Diplomás
Our Network
Diplomás is a collective impact effort uniting 23 cross-sector partners to increase the college attainment and quality of life of San Antonio’s Latinx youth.
Our Core Beliefs
Our work is driven by these core beliefs:
San Antonio’s economic viability is directly tied to Latinx student success.
College is for everyone, though people take different paths to get there; effective systems are welcoming and inclusive.
Successful collaboration is marked by community partners who share responsibility for the success of our students.
Where We Focus
Creating alignment between partner institutions to ensure equitable access to dual credit opportunities.
Streamlining available resources to students with a focus on the college admissions process.
Increasing access to existing test prep resources.
Supporting Dreamers to get into and complete college.
Our Impact on San Antonio’s Latinx Youth
Working together, we have increased the rate at which local high school students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), considered a leading indicator of postsecondary enrollment.
Diplomás targeted districts that serve more than three-quarters of all Latinx students in the county’s public schools. FAFSA completion rates went up by an average of 17 percent in those districts, and continue to rise.
Guiding Pathways
When we work together, we unlock the potential of every student.
Guiding Pathways is a grant-funded project of Diplomás which focuses on bridging divides and working to create equity for all populations. We are helping to ensure that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, income or citizenship status have access to high-quality dual credit courses.
Diplomás partners collaborated to create a simple but comprehensive “college readiness toolkit” which is accessible to all families and practitioners. To create clear pathways and increase access to dual credit classes, partners are working vertically, from elementary through college, to align curriculum, advising, and operations.
Diplomás Signature Event: Growing Up in San Antonio
Growing Up in San Antonio is a professional development conference for practitioners supporting Latinx Dreamer students. The conference held sessions such as: Supporting Undocumented Students and Families in Pre-K-12, Making the Invisible Visible: Supporting Undocu-Students in Higher Education, Activism and Allyship, The Power of Peer Mentoring, and also included a student experiences panel and presentations from partners from the legal community on knowing your rights.
By The Numbers:
When 26 institutions across San Antonio make an explicit commitment to Latinx youth and families and make them a priority in their systems, change happens.
