New initiative equips Bridgeport Promise with data-driven tools to expand scholarships and strengthen student outcomes.
College Possible today announced a new partnership with the Bridgeport Public Education Fund to support the launch of Bridgeport Promise, a scholarship and mentoring initiative designed to expand college access and success for students across Bridgeport, Connecticut. Through this collaboration, the Bridgeport Public Education Fund will adopt College Possible’s CoPilot student success technology to track student progress, inform mentoring, and measure long-term outcomes in enrollment, persistence, and graduation.
Set to serve more than 200 high school students this year, starting with the Class of 2026, Bridgeport Promise Scholars will receive financial and academic support from many of the partner Connecticut colleges and universities. With CoPilot, the program will ensure students remain on track to qualify for scholarships and equip staff with actionable insights on student needs, resources accessed, and program impact.
National research shows that students who receive consistent mentoring and college advising are significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college. According to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), students who meet one-on-one with a school counselor to discuss their future are 6.8 times more likely to complete the FAFSA and 3.2 times more likely to attend college. Studies also show that early, sustained college and career advising, starting before high school, can dramatically improve persistence and completion rates, underscoring the importance of programs that combine mentoring, family engagement, and data-driven student support.
“Too many capable students are held back from pursuing or completing college because they lack the guidance, resources and consistent support systems that other students may have,” said Dr. Siva Kumari, CEO of College Possible. “By investing early, connecting students with mentors and using data to anticipate their needs, we create the conditions for every learner to thrive. These investments not only change individual lives but also strengthen communities and the workforce for generations to come.
As Bridgeport Promise expands its capacity, the CoPilot software program will be used as early as sixth grade, ensuring students and families are aware of the program and how to qualify for it, thereby maximizing student achievement. The software will also equip program leaders with actionable insights on student needs, resources accessed, and program impact. Recognizing that college admission and selection is a family decision, Bridgeport Promise plans to offer a parent academy. This academy will utilize CoPilot to provide a family-centered portal for collecting data and delivering dashboard insights to Bridgeport Promise staff.
Beyond monitoring eligibility for the Bridgeport Promise scholarship, CoPilot will enable the community partners and programs to track all interactions, reflections, and survey data—helping providers and staff better understand student experiences. By connecting with the National Student Clearinghouse, CoPilot will also allow Bridgeport Promise to monitor acceptance, persistence, and degree completion, providing a comprehensive view of student progress through postsecondary education.
“Bridgeport Promise is about opening doors earlier, starting in middle school, and ensuring that students and families have the guidance and resources they need to achieve a college degree,” said Faith Villegas, executive director of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund. “With CoPilot, we’ll be able to track progress and strengthen wrap-around services to include mentoring, tutoring, etc. This is a vital step in making sure every Bridgeport student has a pathway to success.”
The addition of Bridgeport Public Education Fund expands CoPilot’s growing network of partners nationwide. Today, CoPilot supports more than 1,700 users across 50 organizations and maintains a 99% partner retention rate, reinforcing its role as a trusted solution for organizations advancing college access and success.
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About College Possible: Founded in 2000, College Possible is one of the nation’s largest and most successful college access and success programs. Through its proven coaching model, the organization has supported nearly 100,000 students in earning a college degree and achieving economic mobility. With a proven coaching model, providing personalized interventions that help students navigate college access, retention, and degree completion. To extend the impact of this work, College Possible also leverages CoPilot, a student success technology platform that helps partners and institutions track progress, strengthen advising, and measure outcomes. Today, CoPilot supports more than 1,700 users across 50 organizations and maintains a 99% partner retention rate. Nationwide, College Possible students are three times more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree within six years than their peers from similar backgrounds. Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates regional sites in Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and Austin, TX, and has established Catalyze partnerships in California, Minnesota, New York, and Tennessee. Learn more at CollegePossible.org
About Bridgeport Public Education Fund
Founded in 1983, the Bridgeport Public Education Fund is dedicated to improving education outcomes for all Bridgeport students. Through initiatives like Bridgeport Promise, BPEF provides scholarships, mentoring, and family engagement programs to ensure every student has access to a promising future.
