Vista PEAK Preparatory students now have a new resource to help them plan for a successful transition to college and career. APS and the APS Foundation recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new College & Career Center at the school. This is the fifth center in APS.

College and Career Centers provide students with critical information and guidance on everything from high school graduation requirements to filling out college applications and essays. The centers also teach students how to apply for financial aid, pursue internship opportunities and navigate the boundless variety of potential career options.

With the opening of this new center, 96% of all APS high school students now have access to a College and Career Center in their neighborhood school. Since the first center opened at Hinkley High School in 2014, they have served more than 11,000 APS students and helped them secure more than $59 million in scholarships. The centers have also played an essential role in boosting the district’s 4-year graduation rates, which have increased nearly 25% in the last five years.

The centers are operated by the APS Foundation. See the full ceremony video here.