Case Study: Chicago Public Schools achieves a 13% increase in college enrollment and 20% reduction in summer melt with Naviance by PowerSchool

Focusing on Transitions to Improve Postsecondary Outcomes with Naviance by PowerSchool

Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third-largest U.S. district serving more than 361,000 students, faced significant postsecondary transition challenges: roughly 30% of students who intended to go to college failed to matriculate each fall ("summer melt"), and many students struggle earlier during the critical 8th-to-9th grade transition.

CPS implemented Naviance by PowerSchool as part of its Learn.Plan.Succeed requirement and a district-wide transition strategy—including the Freshman Connection, summer transition counselors, and college and career coaches—to identify at-risk students, provide targeted outreach, and support career pathways. As a result, college enrollment reached 68% (a 13% increase in two years and a 36% increase since 2006), summer melt dropped by 20%, and about 1,000 additional students overcame barriers to enroll the following fall.

Chicago Public Schools

Patrick Milton

Executive Director of the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising