Indy Scholars
Persist, thrive, and complete postsecondary credentials and degrees.
Learn more about Indy Scholars
About Indy Scholars
Indy Scholars exists to ensure students across Marion County—beginning in middle school and continuing through college graduation—persist, thrive, and complete postsecondary credentials and degrees. We focus on students with the greatest barriers to success, helping them navigate systems, build confidence, and secure both academic and career outcomes.
Why Indy Scholars Matters
Too many students enroll in college but never complete or graduate without direction and economic security. Indy Scholars closes that gap by combining deep relational support, institutional navigation, data accountability, emotional health supports, and intentional career alignment. By leveraging Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program and a robust scholarship strategy, we aim to ensure that scholars graduate debt-free and prepared for work and life.
Indy Scholars: Empowering students. Strengthening families. Expanding opportunity.
Who We Serve
Indy Scholars serves PLA scholars and students from partner schools throughout Marion County, supporting their journey from grades 6 through postsecondary completion. Many of our scholars are first-generation college goers and need sustained, proactive support to succeed.
Our Model: Scholars’ Advocate
At the core of Indy Scholars is the Scholars’ Advocate, a relationship-driven coach and navigator who:
- Builds sustained, trust-based relationships with scholars and families,
- Removes academic, financial, and personal barriers,
- Supports scholars’ emotional health and well-being,
- Helps scholars clarify and pursue meaningful career aspirations,
- Guides scholars through middle school, high school, college, and credential completion.
Advocates use structured touchpoints and real-time data to intervene early, monitor progress, and keep scholars on track.
Unique Indiana Opportunity: 21st Century Scholars
Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program is a state-sponsored, early college promise that covers tuition for eligible students attending in-state public colleges and universities. Because this program is distinct to Indiana and incredibly powerful, Indy Scholars makes 100% eligibility and enrollment a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring scholars leverage this benefit to minimize college costs. In addition, we support scholars in winning additional scholarships to cover room, board, and fees, moving them toward debt-free college completion whenever possible.
Key Outcomes & Success Metrics
Indy Scholars is accountable for measurable results aligned to scholar success:
Persistence:
90% year-over-year enrollment and reenrollment
Credential Completion:
75% earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within the expected time
Career Outcomes:
80% secure career-aligned employment, advanced education, or paid training within six months
Career Clarity:
95% have a documented career plan within 90 days
Career Progress:
85% complete at least one planned career milestone annually
Well-Being:
80% meet defined wellbeing thresholds each term
Equity:
All groups achieve similar results, with no more than a 5% difference between them
Advocate Performance:
90% of Scholar Advocates will meet persistence and completion targets
Partnerships & Career Exposure
Indy Scholars works with:
- PLA schools and district partners,
- Higher education institutions,
- Community organizations,
- Employers offering meaningful internships and jobs.
These partnerships expand access to experiences that link education and careers, embedding exposure to real-world opportunity into the scholar journey.
