Program Overview

A Supportive Pathway to a Bachelor’s Degree

ACES students come from underrepresented populations in higher education and are often the first in their family to pursue college. In unison with our 14 high school partners and a dedicated team of community college and university-based student success coordinators, we wholeheartedly invest in the potential of our students, fueling their aspirations for academic and professional growth. ACES serves as a catalyst, bridging the gap between dreams and reality, by providing indispensable academic guidance, college preparation, scholarship support, and equipping students with the necessary career readiness skills for their future accomplishments.

We work to bridge identified gaps in public education by providing a seamless pathway of support that starts in high school, continues through community college, and to the attainment of a bachelor’s degree to ensure that college completion is possible, especially where support is needed most. The result is a sharp increase in college readiness, college applications, and graduation among students enrolled in ACES, who can then join the region’s workforce and contribute back to the local economy.

For every Scholar, ACES provides the following core services over a sustained period of six years:

Individualized coaching
College application and financial aid support
Transition support first to community college, then to a four-year institution, and finally, into a career
Leadership development programming and opportunities
Career readiness training and skills

Recognizing Promise in Our Students

The mission of ACES is to increase baccalaureate degree attainment and professional success for students who have been historically underrepresented in the higher education system. ACES is a collaboration among Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove, designed to provide a structured and supportive pathway to college completion.

Together with our 14 high school partners, community college and university-based coordinators, we invest in the promise of our students—helping them achieve their academic and professional dreams. ACES helps to make those dreams possible by providing the academic and college guidance, scholarship support, and career readiness students need to succeed.

Program Partners

Montgomery County Public Schools: High School Coordinators identify students that will benefit from ACES and provide support and interventions to keep them in a college-going mindset. This includes both academic and student support, test preparation, assistance with college applications and financial aid/scholarship applications, and scheduling college visits.

Montgomery College: Campus Coordinators from Montgomery College plan workshops geared toward life skills and leadership development, provide one-on-one academic coaching and ongoing support when they enroll, and assist with the transition process.

The Universities at Shady Grove: ACES Scholars transfer to one of the 80+ undergraduate degree programs offered by nine top Maryland universities on the conveniently located campus in Rockville. An ACES Success Coordinator connects Scholars to additional scholarships while continuing with support, leadership initiatives, career readiness, and internship opportunities.

Parent Engagement

ACES highly values parent engagement as a critical component of student academic achievement. We equip families with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to support their children while on the ACES Pathway through a variety of outreach efforts. Our activities include but are not limited to, individual parent meetings, annual workshop series, referral to community resources, and volunteer opportunities.

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