OUR BLOG

In 2024, Christel House did something we’d never done before. For the first time, we took a key element of our proven model into non-Christel House schools. Through the College & Careers Collaboration, we partnered with four high schools to deliver the kind of career coaching, life skills, and real-world opportunities that have been instrumental to the success of Christel House graduates.

In the U.S., we know that three out of four high school graduates say they don’t feel prepared to make decisions about their college or career paths.¹ Post-secondary enrollment rates are declining, often because young people are unclear about the value of a degree, how that would translate into a well-paying career, and how they would pay for college. In other words, young adults are not setup to identify and achieve their educational and career goals.

Christel House has always known that true success is not defined by graduation day alone. Preparing young people for their futures requires more than a commitment to rigorous academics. It takes confidence, exposure, and consistent support that stretches far beyond the classroom. It takes more than college & career software and career fairs too – young people need a dedicated guide to help them access resources, make connections, and take action to reach their goals.

Engaging with external partners in this way was a new chapter for us, and the first year of implementation has already shown why it matters.

Why take this step?

High schools are anchors in their communities, serving hundreds and thousands of students each year. But even the most dedicated teachers and counselors face limits. There are only so many hours in a day, and with large cohorts and stretched resources, individualized career guidance can fall through the cracks. Too often, students graduate without the networks, confidence, or clarity to chart their next steps.

The Collaboration was designed with and for schools to bridge that gap. Not by replacing what schools already do well, but by adding the consistent, intentionally structured support that turns potential into opportunity.

What We Saw in Year One

The numbers tell part of the story:

• 658 classes on practical skills like writing résumés, preparing for interviews, applying to college, managing finances, and mapping career pathways.
• 1,607 one-on-one coaching sessions with Christel House career coaches, helping students, map a post-graduation plan and believe in their ability to realize the goals they’ve set.
• 57 career and college events, from university tours to workplace visits, which gave many students their first chance to envision themselves on a college campus or in a professional environment.

Beyond the numbers are countless moments of discovery. The student who says, “I never thought college was for me, but now I can see myself there.” Or the young person who realized for the first time that their passion could become a career.

The Road Ahead

For over 25 years we’ve built our schools on a comprehensive full-circle model that pairs rigorous academics with daily nutrition, healthcare, counseling, family engagement, and career support from early years through careers. It’s long-haul by design and indivisible by principle. That remains the core of Christel House. After everything we have learned across the globe, we were able to explore how we can remain true to the Christel House mission while being an active contributor beyond our walls. Through this collaboration, we have been able to apply a focused slice of our college-and-careers know-how, in partnership, where schools ask for it and where it can help students thrive.

We see the communities around our schools as part of our responsibility, too. So, we brought what we’ve learned from guiding graduates into higher education and quality work, and we did it shoulder-to-shoulder with partner school teams who share the same ambition for their learners. This is a timely Christel House innovation that aims to be useful, at the margins that matter for students’ next steps.

What we learned in year one is straightforward: targeted collaboration can unlock progress for students in places we don’t directly operate. The path ahead is to grow this carefully, with more partners, and more schools, but without losing the essence of who we are and the magic of the Christel House touch. And while our schools remain our flagship; this collaboration is one more way we show up for the broader ecosystem, so more young people finish strong and begin futures of their own choosing.