Who we are. What we do. Where we work. Why we do it.

CollegePath LA is a community organization of volunteers who help public high school students explore careers, apply to college and thrive once they get there. We have developed a model project at John Marshall High School, an urban school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. We share our know-how and curricula with other schools and organizations. 

     Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college education. Many speak a language other than English at home. They need personalized guidance to navigate the bewildering college application process. Marshall, like other large public high schools, has only one college counselor. We help fill this resource gap by drawing on the talents, experience and goodwill of people in our community.

     We coordinate with Marshall’s principal, teachers and college counselor to offer campus workshops on topics ranging from career choices to SAT preparation to college essay writing. We also organize social events outside of school that bring students together with each other and with community volunteers.

     Students flourish in this support network, which includes recent Marshall graduates who return to share candid tales of college life. Adult volunteers are gratified to make a difference in the lives of students. The community benefits when its citizens are better educated. We believe engaged volunteers become advocates for public education. Everybody wins!

CollegePath LA began when a small group of community members and teachers helped about 30 John Marshall High School seniors with their college essays. The urban school, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, had about 3,500 students, but only one college counselor.

 News of the project spread through the community, with support from a city councilman. In December 2009, about 40 people came to an organizational meeting at Susan Philips’ home near Marshall High School. Participants included young, seasoned and retired professionals with experience in college and high school counseling, education, real estate, law, journalism and other field.

 The first volunteers signed on in 2010. The first initiative was developed to work with high school juniors on career exploration and college applications. Since then, the program has evolved and grown to include about 500 volunteers. Nearly 5,000 students have participated in workshops focused on careers, personal statement writing and financial aid (FAFSA) applications.  

Our History

CollegePath LA is a project of Community Partners, a nonprofit organization under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service.