Ayers Scholars in Tennessee’s Most Economically-Challenged Communities
Parsons, Tenn. – Today, top leaders from the Ayers Foundation Trust released their annual student-by-student analysis showing students supported by the nationally-recognized Ayers Scholars Program are demonstrating major gains in their pursuit of education and training beyond high school.
This year’s analysis showed a record of nearly two-thirds of the Class of 2024 graduates in the high schools served by the Ayers Scholars Program pursued a college degree, technical training, or military service immediately after high school.
In some of the counties served for the first time during the 2023-24 school year by the Ayers Scholars Program, the increase in college-going actually jumped by over 20 percent in just one year.
In East Tennessee’s Meigs County, for instance, the reported college-going rate the year prior to Ayers Scholars support was 39%, but 64% of seniors decided to pursue education and training after high school – a 25 percentage point increase in just one year.
The same was true in Middle Tennessee’s Houston County with a 22 percent gain from the previous year, as well as West Tennessee’s McNairy County which saw a 16 percent gain over the previous graduating class.
Among all ten counties first served by the Ayers Scholars Program during the 2023-2024 school year, the average gain jumped by nearly 10 percent in the single year.
“It is important to note that we serve all students in these high schools, and we work individually with them, one student at a time, to help them determine their best next step after high school,” said Dr. Burton Williams, CEO of the Ayers Foundation Trust.
“For many, that’s a traditional four-year or two-year college degree program, but for others it may be military service, or a shorter term credential and training at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). It’s our goal to meet students where they are and help them go as far as they want to go.”
Founded in 1999 in a single high school, the Ayers Scholars Program last year served students in 33 high schools across 21 of Tennessee’s most economically-challenged counties in all three grand divisions of the state. By providing schools with full-time, trained advisors, Ayers counselors are able to give students the guidance and support they need, from 8th grade through college or another postsecondary path.
The Ayers Foundation Trust recently announced that an additional seven counties have been selected to participate in the Ayers Scholars Program. One of those is Hardeman County.
Thanks to state funding through the Governors Rural Education Foundation, students in Clay, Hancock, Hardeman, Johnson, Lake, Van Buren, and White counties will begin receiving support from the Ayers Scholars Program beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. With this expansion, the Ayers Scholars Program will be operating in and supporting students in 28 of the state’s most economically at-risk and distressed rural counties.
“We want to again thank Governor Lee and the General Assembly for the investments they are making to expand and support the number of at-risk and distressed counties our Ayers Scholars Program can serve,” said Janet Ayers, President of Ayers Foundation Trust.
“The state’s investments in the future lives of these students and in developing the workforce of our state and in these local communities is clearly paying off. We’re grateful to be part of this vital work.”
For more information about the Ayers Scholars Program and the many programs of the Ayers Foundation Trust, please visit AyersFoundationTrust.org.
Read more local news by clicking here.
Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by following Hatchie Press on Facebook and Subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.
Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.
