ACES Program Announces Changes to Enhance Support and Increase College Enrollment and Completion from MCPS to MC and USG

The Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program, a collaboration among Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College (MC), and the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), is set to implement a strategic program revision that will enhance support for students and increase college enrollment and completion rates, particularly among those traditionally underrepresented in higher education. This evolution of the ACES program is driven by 10 years of rigorous reviews of the program’s effectiveness and an in-depth understanding of the current educational climate and the impact on students and families.

The new approach, known as the ACES Pathway to Success, enhances the already successful model that guides student access to college through to completion from MCPS to MC and USG, with minimal or no debt. The Pathways to Success model promises to further reduce financial burdens and foster economic and social mobility for our students, families, and the broader Montgomery County community. Key features include increasing cohort sizes from 60 to 75 students per grade level beginning with the recruitment of Grade 10 students in the 2024 - 2025 school year. Students who enter the program, and their families, will be asked to make an earlier commitment to the Pathway to Success at the start of Grade 12.

Enhanced support will be provided for students who continue the pathway to Montgomery College and USG.

Marking its tenth anniversary, the ACES program has consistently evaluated its impact and success across the high schools and college campuses it serves. Data on ACES Scholars who committed to the MCPS to MC to USG pathway demonstrates the benefits and impact of this college enrollment and specialized career readiness program:

• 99.3% high school graduation rate vs the overall MCPS graduation rate of 89.6%
• ACES Scholars earn more credits per semester at MC compared to non-ACES students
• 96% of ACES Scholars who attend USG graduate with a bachelor’s degree

"After a decade of dedicated service and numerous success stories, it's clear that our program works," said Karen Callender-Price, executive director of ACES. "However, we recognize the need for a strategic realignment to better serve our students amidst the rising costs of higher education and the unique challenges they face."

The program's successes over the years can be attributed to its case management approach that combines academic support, financial literacy and planning, personal academic coaching, career readiness and the development of those career competencies essential to obtaining a college degree.

According to Callender-Price, "this restructuring allows us to concentrate our resources on students who stand to benefit the most, ensuring more personalized guidance and support."

With changes effective beginning with the 2025 cohort, the ACES program aims to double the number of students attending Montgomery College and USG, thereby increasing the rate of college graduates within the community significantly. “Our commitment to expanding opportunity and unleashing potential remains steadfast," Callender-Price added.

For more information about the ACES program and the upcoming changes, please visit https://www.acesmontgomery.org/.