THA College Readiness Program

Tulsa Honor Academy is on a mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success. We are committed to ensuring 100% of our scholars are on a path to go to and graduate from a college of their choice.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, 94% of THA scholars identify as people of color (84% identify as Hispanic), 65% qualify as English Language Learners, and 93% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Our scholars are disproportionately disadvantaged in regards to educational access and opportunities. In the 2020 AmericanCommunity Survey 5-Year Estimates, 34.1% of those who identify as white alone (not Hispanic or Latino) in the City of Tulsa (defined by TPS boundaries) have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to only9.7% of those who identify as Hispanic alone.

Tulsa Honor Academy began serving 12th grade in the 2022-2023 academic year. In THA’s first graduating class, 93.67% of scholars will be first generation college students.

Tulsa Honor Academy’s College Readiness Program is critical to achieving our mission of matriculation to and success in college by serving as a bridge between the academically demanding and structured environment provided by THA to the multifaceted challenges of college. Our team works relentlessly to address the issues most often faced by students of color and first generation students such as college planning, college admissions and financial aid, and college persistence.

THA’s College Readiness Program is unlike any other in the area. Supports include:

• ‍College Visits: To build a culture of college going, THA takes scholars to college campuses each year.Exploring each campus and interacting with college students allows scholars to engage with the collegiate environment and envision themselves attending college. Each year, each scholar visits one university at minimum.
• ‍Curriculum: College Readiness is integrated throughout the advisory curriculum in grades 5-10. These lessons include 3 components: self-reflection, college knowledge, and career connections.
• ‍College Seminar: Every scholar at THA is enrolled in our College Seminar courses during both their junior and senior year. Our College Seminar courses focus on topics of college planning, the application process, and persisting in college. Junior Seminar focuses on ACT preparation, the cultural, academic, and financial match process, college wish lists, scholarships, summer enrichment, and personal statements. SeniorSeminar focuses on application strategies, admission applications, financial aid and scholarships, and transitioning to college.
• ‍Internships: To prepare scholars for college, careers, and beyond, each eligible scholar completes a semester-long internship with a community partner. Partners range from large corporations to nonprofit organizations in the City of Tulsa.
• ‍Family Partnerships: One of THA’s key school beliefs is “parents are our partners.” Family investment in the college going process is crucial for scholar success. THA’s College Readiness Team walks alongside families to support them in understanding the college journey and completing key financial aid components such as Oklahoma’s Promise and FAFSA.

Tulsa Honor Academy’s College Readiness Program is centered on ensuring our scholars are prepared to go to and graduate from a college of their choice.