Peer Coaches are high school seniors supporting college readiness in the Tucson Metro Area

A collaborative initiative between PCAN and Arizona Serve, made possible through AmeriCorps, designed to empower high school seniors with the tools and training they need to support college and career readiness in school.

Over five years, peer coaches have ensured all students have access to the resources they need to succeed in 9 districts

This includes, the Amphitheater, Flowing Wells, Indian Oasis-Baboquivari, Marana, Sahuarita, Sunnyside, Tanque Verde, Tucson and Vail school districts.

Over the past five years, 100+ Peer Coaches have boosted college enrollment in 19 high schools across Pima County

Insights at a glance

There is an ecosystem of support that has seen an increase in students applying to college among other pathways, demonstrating the effectiveness of peer to peer support in students' academic and career aspirations

The program benefits each coach, the peers they serve, and college going at their school

Benefits of service

Key Benefits for Host Schools

Hands-on support for students on college and financial aid applications.
Sessions on career exploration and financial planning, facilitated by the peer coaches and support staff.
Building capacity to address educational access, and improve overall post-secondary enrollment rates.

Key Benefits for Peer Coaches

Each coach receives training to aid them and their peers in post-secondary pursuits.
Collectively, coaches participate in workshops centered on college search and readiness, among other topics.
Upon completion, each coach earns a $1,565 education award and Certificate in Civic Leadership and Service through Prescott College

How to host the program and become a peer coach

Ready to get involved? Have questions? Reach out!

Schools can enhance their students' college and career readiness by integrating Peer Coaches into their counseling teams, providing a workspace, and supporting the coaches on this journey.
Schools interested in hosting the Peer Coach Program can reach out to the Metropolitan Education Commission today, while high school seniors aspiring to become Peer Coaches can apply in the Spring of 2025.