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College Partnership Program (CPP)

The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) College Partnership Program (CPP) is a successful collaboration involving FCPS, colleges and universities, parents, and the community. 

The primary goal of CPP is to increase the number of students, particularly first generation and minority students who enroll in and succeed in college. Collectively, the colleges and universities that partner with FCPS in the CPP offer application fee waivers, campus tours, and scholarship opportunities.

Information for High School Students:

Every high school in Fairfax County has a school-based College Partnership Program. Each year, there is a recruitment drive for the College Partnership Program.  The program is selective and participants are chosen through an application process.  Interested students should contact the Director of Student Services or the CPP advocates at their local high school to obtain an application.

• Student Recruitment and Selection for School Year 2012-13

School staff members, known as advocates, organize monthly student CPP meetings.

• List of Advocates

Information for Middle School Students Only

The College Partnership Program operates as an after-school program and is open to all students.  Eighth grade students apply for membership in their high school CPP program through their middle school CPP Advocate.

Services provided by the College Partnership Program include:

Academic Counseling

The CPP monitors students' grades and notifies students and parents if the student's GPA falls below 2.5. Specific methods for boosting academic achievement (such as utilizing school resources, employing good organization and study skills, and establishing a support system) are topics covered in the CPP Advocates' Guide to Monthly Meetings. CPP advocates are encouraged to work with students' school counselors to schedule individual conferences with students on an as-needed basis.

Career Exploration

Goal setting, identifying personal interests, and college and career planning are career-related topics that are covered in the Advocates' Guide to Monthly Meetings. In addition. the CPP schedules guest speakers and field trips to colleges and businesses throughout the school year.

College Readiness

Academic and social skills that are important for a successful college experience are reinforced with CPP students. From the traditional "etiquette dinner" at the CPP Summer Academy to an SAT preparation course offered to CPP rising seniors prior to the start of the school year, students are provided with a variety of opportunities to ensure that they are ready for the total college experience.

Personal Development

In addition to the topics outlined in the Advocates' Guide, CPP advocates organize community service activities for students that are critical to their personal development. CPP student leaders are identified by advocates and nurtured through the CPP's Student Leadership Council (SLC). SLC members are invited to participate in special workshops and presentations on topics like public speaking and online social networking dos and don'ts. SLC members are often tapped to give "testimonials" about their experiences in the program, and they serve as hosts and masters of ceremony at the annual CPP Senior Recognition Ceremony at the end of the school year.

Parent and Community Involvement

A very important component of the CPP is its Parent Education Program (PEP). PEP provides parents with important information throughout the school year on a variety of topics ranging from how to communicate with your teen to specialized academic programs and resources that are available in FCPS. The CPP's Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meets every other month during the school year to obtain updates on upcoming events and provide feedback on past events. The CPP is represented at traditional FCPS community events such as College Fair/College Night and ESOL Regional Parent Meetings. In addition, local professional organizations have sponsored events for CPP students. For example, The Color of Justice is a day-long event that exposes CPP students to professions in the legal system. At Exxon Mobil's shadowing day, students meet young professionals in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

Expectations:

• Students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in core classes
• Students are expected to attend all CPP activities
• Parents are expected to be aware of student CPP activities and monitor their student’s attendance and grades