Future Centers

The mission of Future Centers is to facilitate student success, create a future-forward culture, and assist students in creating an actionable plan by the time they graduate from high school.

Each of the five comprehensive high schools have a Future Center staffed by a dedicated Future Center Navigator to create, organize, and implement career and college activities focused on student success beyond high school. In partnership with the school counseling department, the Future Centers help to address the gaps, determine metrics for success, and develop a coordinated plan for effective service delivery.

RVA Future Centers were launched in fall 2015 as an initiative of the City of Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building and the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation. Future Centers are physical spaces that serve as school-based advising centers in the five comprehensive high schools, with satellite services provided at specialty and alternative schools. In these centers, students can define their college and career plans and receive guidance and support to execute them. Future Center Navigators partner with school counselors to assist students with developing and executing post-secondary plans.

 

Transforming one day dreams into day one plans.

 

Future Centers are a hub for students and families to meet with community-based organizations, higher education partners, military recruiters, employers, and other stakeholders. Future Center staff have identified mission-aligned partners to drive year-round programming opportunities for students to advance postsecondary plans. They collaborate with departments in the Academics Office to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to successfully complete high school and plan for their future.

Future Centers take a 3-E postsecondary approach by guiding students to successfully transition to Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment upon graduation. Students have access to support services, including college and career readiness skill building, technical assistance, and more. Ensure that students who graduate from Richmond Public Schools are prepared for the next step in life —

• ENROLLMENT - Assist students with admission to 4-year and 2-year colleges and universities, technical/trade school, or industry certification by working with students one-to-one to identify strengths and interests and provide guidance to the most appropriate opportunity; coordinate college/career opportunities for those who may not have access otherwise by identifying scholarships opportunities; assist with financial aid and scholarship applications; arrange college tours; match students with industry mentors; collaborate with college prep and other community organizations; organize college fairs; corporate and business visits
   

• ENLISTMENT - Assist students who wish to enlist in the United States Armed Forces by providing access to military recruiters and recruitment events; provide access to preparation and remediation for qualifying assessments, including ASVAB and Workplace Readiness
   

• EMPLOYMENT - Assist students with job preparation skills, including soft skills necessary for on-the-job success, such as effective communication, time management, sense of urgency, and accountability; provide access to job recruiters; arrange job/hiring fairs; provide resume writing workshops and mock job interview opportunities; refer students to vetted employers on the RPS Opportunities Hub.
   

 

Pursuant to section 23.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, post secondary education and employment data published by the State Council of Higher Education on its website is available to all high school students and their parents/caregivers HERE