Where we are
Our footprint
We bring the rootEd model to new states through our close partnerships with mission-aligned community institutions, state leaders, and philanthropists.
Currently, rootEd advisors are in 200 high schools, serving almost 20,000 students in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, and Idaho.
students
high schools
Spotlight on
missouri
rootEd began in Missouri in 2019 in a handful of rural communities. After demonstrating a successful track record in these pilot schools, we responded to the high demand for college and career advising in schools across the state and launched rootEd Missouri in 2021.
rootEd Missouri is a unique public-private partnership between rootEd, Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Ozarks Technical Community College, and is partially funded by $10 million in federal COVID relief funds through the Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative. This initiative has brought the rootEd model to 135 rural high schools across the state.
our missouri partner
“By 2028, an estimated 65 percent of Missouri’s jobs will require some level of postsecondary training or education, but only 47 percent of the state’s working age population currently has any postsecondary credential. Community colleges play a valuable role in narrowing this gap, particularly for rural students. We’re thrilled to continue to partner with rootEd Alliance to help students realize their potential.”
— Dr. Hal Higdon, Chancellor, Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) is a public community college in Springfield, MO. OTC upholds a mission to promote student learning through accessible, high-quality, affordable workforce training, and provides both technical and general education that is responsive to the educational needs of the community and its diverse constituencies.
Thank you to rootEd for giving [my rootEd advisor] Arie the opportunity to guide us in this monumental point in our lives. She listened, she shared her knowledge, and helped us find a way to pursue our dreams.
— Lacey, Hollister High School, Class of 2022
Spotlight on
Texas
With over one million rural students, Texas is home to about 10 percent of the nation’s rural student population – the largest in the country. Despite strong high school graduation rates, rural Texas has one of the lowest college attainment rates in the country, and thousands of middle-skill jobs in the state go unfilled as employers struggle to find job candidates equipped with the necessary postsecondary credentials.
Closing this skills gap presents a significant economic and human capital opportunity for Texas, especially for the state’s rural counties that face significantly higher poverty rates than the rest of the state.
To help address this need, rootEd expanded to Texas in 2020 and is now working with 41 rural schools across the state, particularly in East Texas, West Central Texas, and the Coastal Bend.
our Texas partners
Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas is committed to strengthening the economic vitality across our 19-county region by investing in the success of residents and businesses. Workforce Solutions offers a broad range of services to meet the needs of employers, support jobs and training for individuals, and provide career education to students.
“Approximately two thirds of jobs that pay a living wage require some type of education or training beyond high school. Workforce Solutions and rootEd Alliance are committed to making meaningful improvements in rural student outcomes by increasing postsecondary enrollment and successful transition into quality careers for students from our partner high schools.”
— Mary Ross, Executive Director, Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas
our Texas partners
Education to Employment Partners (E2E) is community-based nonprofit organization working to bring together people, resources, information, and services to increase educational and job attainment in the Coastal Bend region of South Texas. E2E develops youth and adult initiatives, conducts professional development for educators, leads education forums on behalf of regional stakeholders, and establishes programs designed to increase postsecondary and career success.
“Education to Employment Partners (E2E) is proud to be a rootEd Alliance Regional Partner in the Coastal Bend region of South Texas. E2E has historically worked to help close equity gaps for rural students – a mission well-aligned with rootEd’s. By partnering with rootEd, E2E now has the resources and program model to place dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with individually with ALL students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service.”
— Jeffrey West, Executive Director, Education to Employment Partners
our Texas partners
“Kilgore College is grateful for our partnership with rootEd Alliance. This partnership has enabled the College to embed rootEd advisors into our rural-serving high schools to promote postsecondary opportunities. The synergy created through this collaboration is changing student lives and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.”
— Dr. Brenda Kays, President, Kilgore College
Kilgore College is a public community college in Kilgore, Texas. Kilgore provides a student-centered environment that focuses on student access, success and completion through partnerships with area high schools, universities, and businesses.
our Texas partners
Region One Education Service Center serves over 439,000 students and educators in eight counties in South Texas including Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata. Region One works to assist school districts in improving student performance, operate more efficiently and economically, and implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Texas Commissioner of Education.
“Region One Education Service Center is proud to partner with rootEd Alliance to continue expanding college readiness opportunities to youth throughout our region. Guidance and exposure to current high on-demand career fields and programs give our future professionals the experience and knowledge necessary to excel in their chosen career. Through our Office of College, Career & Life Readiness we aim to equip our youth with up to date advising that will ensure they reach their life-long goals and maximum potential.”
— Dr. Daniel P. King, Executive Director, Region One Education Service Center
Spotlight on
Arkansas
rootEd Arkansas is a partnership between rootEd Alliance, Heartland Forward, and the Arkansas Department of Education focused on strengthening the talent pipeline in Arkansas’s rural communities and developing their local economies. Launched in the fall of 2024, rootEd Arkansas is initially focusing on rural communities in the Ozark Mountains and the Arkansas River Valley.
our arkansas partner
Heartland Forward is a policy think-and-do tank dedicated to being a resource for states and local communities in the middle of the country. To do so, Heartland studies broad economic trends and builds data-driven and community-tested partnerships, programs and policies to address the needs of the heartland – all while helping to change the narrative about the middle of the country and kick-starting economic growth.
“At Heartland Forward, we're proud to partner with rootEd Alliance in Arkansas to provide students with the resources and guidance they need to build their futures and achieve success. This program guides students toward the best postsecondary pathways for their unique interests and talents while showcasing their opportunities in their local communities.”
– Ali Jeffrey, Director of rootEd Arkansas
