Network for College Success at the University of Chicago

Network for College Success at the University of Chicago NCS partners with high schools to improve outcomes for all students

The Network for College Success partners with educators, school leaders, and districts to build transformational high school experiences that prepare all students for academic, career, and community-based success after graduation. Our mission is to cultivate postsecondary readiness and success for students by translating research into practice and supporting high school leaders to organize their schools for improvement. We operate from a position that views effective high schools as essential to repaying the educational debt (see Gloria Ladson-Billings) owed to Black & Latinx students and communities. NCS began with a small group of Chicago Public high school principals looking to respond to the high school research published by the UChicago Consortium on School Research. Over the past 17 years, we have purposefully expanded our model to deepen our supports for district and school improvement. Through a national network of cross-school learning communities and job-embedded coaching, NCS supports district leaders, principals, teachers, counselors, and staff to:

- Strengthen school leadership
- Build high-functioning teams that drive improvement
- Improve teaching and learning
- Build educators’ collective efficacy
- Support student success in the 9th grade transition
- Prepare students for postsecondary success

As the school year begins, NCS hopes every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their dreams--and w...
08/24/2026

As the school year begins, NCS hopes every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their dreams--and we are committed to co-constructing the conditions in schools that sustain those powerful learning environments.

Impact results from year three are in: Middle and high schools implementing student success systems with the support of ...
08/13/2026

Impact results from year three are in: Middle and high schools implementing student success systems with the support of The GRAD Partnership continue to achieve substantial progress in reducing chronic absenteeism and course failure rates. As schools nationwide continue to struggle with chronic absenteeism and a slow post-pandemic academic recovery, these results add to the evidence that student success systems can produce real progress that accelerates over time.

Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eRQe5Cc6

Last week, NCS hosted over 60 educators and administrators for Leading Professional Learning Communities. Participants e...
08/06/2026

Last week, NCS hosted over 60 educators and administrators for Leading Professional Learning Communities. Participants explored how their identities shape their leadership and practiced powerful team meeting protocols. Thank you to everyone who joined this learning experience!

NCS is so grateful for the continued support of Chicago White Sox Charities and McCormick Foundation! It's because of pa...
07/20/2026

NCS is so grateful for the continued support of Chicago White Sox Charities and McCormick Foundation! It's because of partners like the Chicago White Sox that our work to improve student outcomes is possible.

What if your district’s technology could flag a student who is struggling before chronic absenteeism set in—and connect ...
07/13/2026

What if your district’s technology could flag a student who is struggling before chronic absenteeism set in—and connect staff with the right intervention automatically?

That’s the vision in the Student Success Systems Playbook: a free, interactive playbook collaboratively developed by Digital Promise, the GRAD Partnership, CORE Districts, Network for College Success, and Preva Group.

Transitioning from isolated technology solutions to an integrated, custom data ecosystem allows schools and districts to dramatically cut the time lag between a student needing help and receiving it. Learn more and explore the playbook: navigatestudentsuccess.org

06/30/2026

"To see students not as problems to solve, but people to know; not as data points to manage, but as young people whose lives and identities and aspirations and experiences matter."

NCS Executive Director Krys Payne gave powerful framing to Freshman Success work during her opening remarks at the National Freshman Success Institute.

Today we honor Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and a pivotal moment in our nation...
06/19/2026

Today we honor Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. As we reflect on its significance, we recognize that the work toward equity continues and reaffirm our commitment to creating greater opportunities for Black and Brown students.

Happy Pride Month from NCS!❤️ The full expression of one's identity is always something to be celebrated.
06/16/2026

Happy Pride Month from NCS!❤️ The full expression of one's identity is always something to be celebrated.

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