College Inquiry

CARA’s College Inquiry program works to develop a comprehensive postsecondary access infrastructure for high schools that supports first-generation college students, low-income students, and students of color from postsecondary exploration, to application, to enrollment.

The College Inquiry program embeds college and career exploration in all grades through a comprehensive, field-tested curriculum. We work deeply with a school’s leadership, teachers, and counselors to build capacity around postsecondary access in order to increase students’ enrollment into good match colleges and other high-quality destinations.

Whole School Theory of Change

Organizing for Access: Building School Capacity to Support Students’ Postsecondary Pathways

Report: CARA (2020)

This report is the result of three years of research at 7 NYC public high schools who worked with CARA’s College Inquiry program to improve their postsecondary planning infrastructure. It explores the challenges schools face and surfaces successful practices for curriculum implementation, professional development, and college counseling support.

Program Model

Staff Capacity Building Curriculum College Office Support

Building staff capacity to support students through early postsecondary exploration and the stumbling blocks of the enrollment process is a key part of College Inquiry’s whole-school model.
- Consistent coaching for team members on the planning and development of postsecondary access programming. Coaches are experienced teachers and school counselors deeply familiar with the landscape of public schools
- Professional development, both whole staff and for targeted teams, engages staff members beyond those in the school’s College Office
- Resources to develop administrators’ ability to lead postsecondary work
- Research-based staff and student surveys to guide programming
View Table of Contents for Professional Development Tools
- Flexible, multi-year curriculum
- Lesson plans available in print and online
- Engaging, inquiry-based lessons designed for first-generation students
- “Connection to Home” extensions to engage and educate families in the planning process
- Tailored scope and sequence
- Lessons can be embedded in advisory, college and career seminars, and/or academic classes
The curriculum develops students’ experiences in four areas:
1. Mapping the Landscape
2. Understanding the Application Process
3. Affording Future Opportunities
4. Exploring Careers
The structure and rationale for CARA’s curriculum is based on current research into access to higher education as well as the collective experience of our staff as practitioners in a diverse range of high schools and community based organizations.

View a part of a sample lesson or a sample curriculum map.
View our High School Curriculum Table of Contents
Strong 1:1 advisement for each student by a knowledgeable, trained staff member is a pillar of the College Inquiry program. CARA coaches provide tailored development to each counselor, growing their professional capacity and knowledge across a range of advising skills. Coaches ground their support of the college office with tangible tools and templates to support enrollment. Our College Office Resources are made by counselors, for counselors, and provide tools for staff to move beyond helping students with access steps and empower counselors to become true leaders of postsecondary access work at their school. This includes:
- Putting strong, efficient systems in place;
- Understanding local college systems and pathway programs;
- Tracking milestones;
- Connecting with college professionals;
- Troubleshooting during the financial aid process;
- Collaborating with other staff, students, and families
View Our College Office Resources Table of Contents

How College Inquiry Works

See College Inquiry’s Program Rubric

View case studies of College Inquiry’s work in schools here and here.

Identify Space

School administration identifies possible instructional spaces for postsecondary access curriculum

Strategize

School assembles small team of administrators, teachers, and counselors representing all grades

CARA Coach and team assess existing college and career access work, identify goals, and create school action plan

Implement

Team creates curriculum scope and sequence

Surveys for students and staff examine knowledge and attitudes

Whole staff professional development to build knowledge and engagement

Develop

Coach supports the college office, developing their systems and providing tools and resources

PD for large and small staff groups, based on areas of need

Guidance for administrators on supporting and supervising postsecondary access work

Reflect and Revise

Mid and end-of year reports and retreats allow for reflection on goals

Annual curriculum map revision

At the end of a 3-4 year engagement, results in a self-sustaining postsecondary access program with a lasting curriculum scope and sequence

“CARA has shaped our college access work and brought it to another level where students feel 100% supported in the college process.”

“Five years ago we relied on 1 College Counselor to reach 400 seniors; we now have 10 Right to College Peer Leaders, 3 College Bridge Peer Leaders, and College Prep classes for 90% of our juniors and seniors, none of which would have been possible without CARA’s expertise in training and curriculum support.”

Kate McKeon

College Counselor, High School of Fashion Industries

“CARA has been instrumental in helping our region reimagine what effective postsecondary advising looks like.”

“They brought with them a wealth of training resources and prioritized making sure that they made sense for our rural schools. CARA’s trainings are hands on and practical, where we learn by doing rather than by listening to a lecture. Their school-based solution strategies come from years of research in schools and focus on systemic changes to ensure that all students have the support they need to reach their postsecondary goals.”

Amy Ly

Director, Elevate/United Way of The Blue Mountains

“As a new school just beginning our journey to support students with postsecondary planning, we’ve depended heavily on CARA to design curriculum, coach our teachers, and build out a comprehensive vision and a program for our students.”

“CARA has been invaluable in offering individualized supports to teacher teams, and guiding us through professional learning. CARA lessons are so well-designed and time-tested, we often use CARA materials not just to support students, but to help teachers deepen their practice as advisors and counselors.”