Think College Now – Oakland K-5 School Nurtures the Belief that College is Possible
Today, only one in 20 high school students in the Oakland Unified School District is eligible to attend a California public university. Concerned with the low college attendance numbers within the district, David Silver joined with other committed parents in 2003 to found Think College Now.
Think College Now is a program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade that nurtures the belief that college can be the next step after high school graduation for all students despite their current economic situation. About 91 percent of students who attend Think College Now are at or near the poverty line and will be the first in their families to attend college. Think College Now, a community-based elementary school with a college focus, strives to get parents involved in the school to help encourage their children’s academic endeavors.
In 2008, Think College Now was one of only three Oakland schools to receive a California Distinguished School Award. Also for the 2006-2007 school year, Think College Now led all Oakland public schools in Academic Performance Index (API) growth. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports Think College Now with a grant for a performance management system designed to help increase student achievement.