Organizations and programs that can help with your college goals

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Education Fund
1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-665-1400
Email: info@philaedfund.org
Provides the College Access Program to middle and high school students from select partner schools. Through its College Access Centers, this program provides personalized college advising, college prep, career development workshops, and information about financial aid and scholarships.

College Access Center locations
Center City
The Gallery I, Street Level, 9th & Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-574-1341
Managing Coordinator: Jade Roane, jroane@philaedfund.org
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

North Philadelphia
Rivera Building, 2603 N. 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19133
215-739-9360
Managing Coordinator: Candace Powell-Kinard, cpowell@philaedfund.org
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

West Philadelphia
Enterprise Center
4548 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
215-476-2227
Managing Coordinator: Stephanie Booth, sbooth@philaedfund.org
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Philadelphia Futures
230 S. Broad Street, 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-790-1666
Email: information@philadelphiafutures.org
Sponsor-A-Scholar supports motivated students in neighborhood high schools in earning a college degree. The organization prepares students from low-income families to enter and succeed in college by providing mentoring, academic enrichment, college guidance, and financial incentives.

PhillyGoes2College
City Hall, Room 115
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-686-0315
Email: info@PhillyGoes2College.com
Referral center in the Mayor’s Office of Education – connects college degree-seekers with organizations that will help them through the college application process and the search for financial aid and scholarships.

Philadelphia Academies
230 S. Broad Street, 13th floor
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-546-6300
Manages career academies at 14 public high schools that focus on nine career areas. Each academy has a curriculum centered around a theme that gives students practical applications related to their studies. Students are also given opportunities to take college trips and participate in internships. Pre-college information and access to college scholarships are also provided.

Project GRAD Philadelphia
2000 Hamilton Street, Box #865
Rodin Place, Suite 201
Philadelphia, PA 19130
267-386-4631
Email: pgradphila@gmail.com
Helps students get through high school and to college through professional
development, community involvement, and systematic change.

YESPhilly
1231 N. Broad Street, 2nd floor
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-769-0340
Email: info@yesphilly.org
Prepares out-of-school youth for college or employment by providing GED and pre-college classes, counseling, and support.

GEAR UP at Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
High school program: Monifa LaGrone, 215-751-8933 (mlagrone@ccp.edu)
Middle school program: Aisha Burton, 215-751-8457 (aburton@ccp.edu).
Provides college-readiness activities for students at several high schools and middle schools in the District, including Fels, Furness, Overbrook, and Germantown
High Schools, and Arthur, Vare Middle School, and Smith.

Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-686-5322
Offers access to a variety of resources and programs related to college-going.
To find a neighborhood branch, visit http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/brnlist.cfm.

School District of Philadelphia
College Readiness & Accelerated Programs, Office of Secondary School Reform
440 N. Broad Street
2nd Fl., Portal A – Suite 212
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-400-4130
Email: askocca@phila.k12.pa.us
Offers college-awareness resources, college-readiness programs, and college tours for students in grades 7-12. On-campus college summer programming is also provided.