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College March

Each year, EL Education high schools bring their communities together to celebrate students graduating and heading to college with a tradition called The College March, established by our New York City partner, NYC Outward Bound. Today, communities across the country participate in celebratory marches to local post offices where students can drop off their college applications and feel celebrated for their accomplishments through parades, shout-outs, and rallies. The tradition inspires hope and pride in communities as older students show younger students what is possible.

2021 College March

The 11th Annual College March is back in-person this year celebrating milestones for thousands of seniors in EL Education public schools nationwide. Check out the list of marches below and reach out to your local school to join the celebration. Use #collegemarch on social media!

Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI – December 1, 2021

One hundred seniors, fueled by inspirational speeches from district leaders and education leader Angela Duckworth, walk before the entire school and local community to the post office where they mail transcripts, test scores or letters to someone important to them.

The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA – December 17, 2021

Seniors walk together to the local Post Office to mail their materials as their school community cheers them on.

Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School, Queens, NY – December 10, 2021

Hundreds of MELS students line the campus drive with signs and cheers for the 12th graders mailing their college materials.

Open World Learning Community, St. Paul, MN – December 10, 2021

Open World Learning Community families and special guests gather together with 12th grade students for a celebratory lunch and march to mail college materials.

The James Baldwin School, New York City, NY – December 10, 2021

The James Baldwin School community, prepared with signs, celebratory glee, and accompanied by the Black Fire Percussion drumline, cheers for 12th grade students as they march to the community post office, where they are addressed by Principal Crystal Davis.

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME – December 17, 2021

12th grade students will march down Portland's main boulevard to the downtown post office where the whole student body, family, friends will greet them for a brief ceremony including remarks from the Portland Mayor, city superintendent, student, and recent alum.

Community School for Social Justice, Bronx, NY – December 16, 2021

Community School for Social Justice gets all grade levels involved in a week-long College March initiative that culminates in a school-wide celebration of 12th graders mailing letters of appreciation to supportive people in their lives!

Join Online

Join the conversation using #CollegeMarch on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tag @ELeducation and @NYCOutwardBound so we can amplify the celebration!

2020 March

The 10th Annual College March is going virtual! Revisit this year's live stream event on the NYC Outward Bound Schools Facebook page.

The half-hour event featured EL Education & NYC Outward Bound Schools alumni speakers Maleka Stewart (Channel View) and Luis Hernandez (Brooklyn Collaborative), along with the founder of the College March and former AP of WHEELS, Jenny Rodriguez.

Explore our Padlet board dedicated to the Class of 2021 filled with good wishes and messages of congratulations.

Four Rivers Charter Public School, Greenfield, MA

Four Rivers Charter Public School, Greenfield, MA

River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC

River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC

William Smith High School, Aurora, CO

William Smith High School, Aurora, CO

Realms High School, Bend, OR

Realms High School, Bend, OR

Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI

Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI

The Greene School

The Greene School

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington D.C.

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington D.C.

Open World Learning (OWL), St. Paul, MN

Open World Learning (OWL), St. Paul, MN

Codman Academy, Dorchester, MA

Codman Academy, Dorchester, MA

The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning, Nevada City, CA

Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning, Nevada City, CA

In the News

2019 March

Every December, thousands of seniors in EL Education public schools march together to a local post office to mail in their college applications. This tradition inspires hope and pride in communities across the country, as the seniors show younger students and families a new vision of what is possible. Originally celebrated at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (one of 11 NYC Outward Bound Schools built on the EL Education model), these marches are now part of the rhythm of the year at schools across the country.

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington DC *College March held on November 1st

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington DC *College March held on November 1st

Codman Academy, Dorchester, MA *College March held on December 6th

Codman Academy, Dorchester, MA *College March held on December 6th

Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI *College March held on November 21th

Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI *College March held on November 21th

Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

Open World Learning, St. Paul, MN

Open World Learning, St. Paul, MN

2018 March

That's a wrap! The 2018 College March was a huge success on December 14th, with more than 2,300 seniors in 12 cities marching to the post office to deliver their applications with the support of volunteers, postal workers, younger students, families, and even state senators! Check out some of the highlights from marches across the country below, and add words of encouragement for students to the 2018 photo album on Facebook.

The Kurt Hahn School, Brooklyn, NY

The Kurt Hahn School, Brooklyn, NY

World of Inquiry, Rochester, NY

World of Inquiry, Rochester, NY

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington DC

Capital City Public Charter School, Washington DC

Open World Learning Community, St. Paul, MN

Open World Learning Community, St. Paul, MN

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME

WHEELS, New York, NY

WHEELS, New York, NY

Channel View High School, Queens, NY

Channel View High School, Queens, NY

In the News

Participating Schools

Congratulations to the following schools for marching to the post office to deliver their applications as part of the 2018 College March.

  • Brooklyn Collaborative, Brooklyn, NY
  • Leaders High School, Brooklyn, NY
  • Kurt Hahn School, Brooklyn, NY
  • James Baldwin School, Manhattan, NY
  • WHEELS, Manhattan, NY
  • Channel View School for Research, Queens, NY
  • MELS, Forest Hills, NY
  • Gaynor McGown EL School, Staten Island, NY
  • Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI
  • World of Inquiry, Rochester, NY
  • Codman Academy Charter Public School, Dorchester, MA
  • Open World Learning Community, St. Paul, MN
  • Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME
  • Capital City Public Charter School, Washington, DC
  • Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning, Nevada City, CA
  • Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

2017 March

Check out 2017 College March news stories and find yourselves in our 2017 #CollegeMarch photos:

Mayor of Rochester honors World of Inquiry seniors who marched to City Hall
Spectrum News captures joyful World of Inquiry College March
Portland Press Herald covers Casco Bay High School College March
Tag yourself in the 2017 #CollegeMarch photo album on Facebook
Download the College March lesson plan to use with your students

Congratulations to all the seniors, families, and school communities who marched in 2017!

History

The College March originated with the NYC Outward Bound Schools network which implements the EL Education school model, and has since spread to schools across the country. This year, seniors from 25 schools in 11 cities will be marching as friends, family, and community members cheer them on from the sidelines and sidewalks.

2016 College March

Check out coverage and proud moments from last year’s march celebrating the class of 2017.