PIRATES TO RAIDERS PROGRAM
Latino/a/x students in the Phoenix-Talent area, in partnership with their own families, the school district, and the university, will begin a journey in the fall of their 8th grade year that, when successfully completed, will lead to admission to Southern Oregon University and the opportunities provided by a university education.
Southern Oregon University and the Phoenix-Talent District are committed to working together to increase opportunities that support Latino/a/x/ students as they gain the skills to access post-secondary opportunities. This partnership leverages a wide range of resources to prepare 8th grade students for high school success and college readiness by providing a continuing support structure of social and family assistance, academic support, mentorship and strategic programming through 12th grade.
The Pirates to Raider Pathways program provides students with the tools they will need to succeed in college application and scholarship processes. Upon completion of high school requirements and upon meeting university admissions standards, Pirates to Raiders participants will be granted full admission to SOU. Students in the program also receive individualized coaching to better access the:
- Diversity Scholarship through the Southern Online Scholarship Application (SOSA)
- Accelerated bachelor's degree pathway
- Scholarships available for those pursuing the master’s teaching program at SOU
By creating these enhanced pathways, we can ensure an upwardly viable future for young Latino students, the Rogue Valley and the State of Oregon.
Vision
Pirates to Raiders will assure every Latino/a/x student in the districts have the ability to access a university education at Southern Oregon University. As the Latino/a/x population in the school district continues to grow, it is our responsibility to provide educational opportunities beyond high school for those students. A partnership of students, their families, the school district, and the university will help to ensure a strong and viable future for both the Rogue Valley and the State of Oregon. This partnership will leverage resources to prepare students for college course work as well as provide assistance and mentoring through application and financial aid processes.
Goals
Program Goal: Provide students with the sustained motivation and skills to successfully complete high school. Prepare students for college course work, as well as provide social assistance, academic support, mentorship and strategic programming.
Parent Outreach Goal: Expand parent engagement in student education. Improve the overall process for Latino families by providing useful information, appropriate services, and the array of resources necessary to guide their student into a pathway of success.
Student Outreach Goal: Provide specific services and framework for academic growth, leadership, high school graduation and a successful post-secondary launch.
Outcomes
To improve the college admissions process for families of our Hispanic students by providing information, services, and the resources to help Latino students and their families.
To increase the number of Latino student who graduate from high school.
To increase the number of Latino students who will successfully attend a university.
To increase the number of Latino students who earn a bachelor’s degree and/or advanced degrees.
To increase the number of bi-cultural and bilingual teachers in the Rogue Valley.
MEDFORD TO RAIDERS PROGRAM
AS OF JUNE 2023, SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (SOU) AND MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT (MSD) COLLECTIVELY HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO DISCONTINUE MEDFORD TO RAIDERS (M2R) AT THE END OF THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.
May 30, 2023
OFFICIAL PROGRAM COMMUNICATION
Dear Medford to Raiders students and families,
After much consideration and discussion between Southern Oregon University (SOU) and Medford School District (MSD) we collectively have made the difficult decision to discontinue Medford to Raiders (M2R) at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. We thank the MSD staff for working hard to support the Latino/a/x students and families in this program since the creation of this partnership in 2014.
There have been many factors that led to this decision, including staffing shortages, limited school spaces, school district hiring timelines, and program demand. While there have been short-term solutions to this, finding a long-term solution that works for both organizations has proven difficult.
SOU is committed to continuing its support to the current and future Latino/a/x students that attend any Medford school. It is our intent to offer all of the SOU-provided program benefits to any students currently enrolled in the program (paying for dual credit/foreign language proficiency test fees, college application fees, pathway to the SOU MAT program, etc.) through the rest of their educational journey, honoring the commitment SOU made when they signed up for Medford to Raiders. While M2R will no longer exist how we have come to know it, SOU is designing a new program that continues to support current and future students in their journey to higher education or other types of training after high school.
Stay tuned! If you are interested in joining this new program, please email us latinoprograms@sou.edu.
PROGRAM AGREEMENT
Starting in 8th grade and continuing through senior year of high school, students and families will be offered services and support from the Phoenix-Talent School District in collaboration with Southern Oregon University in the following areas:
- Exposure to college possibilities beginning in 8th grade
- Promote early college readiness and post-secondary aspirations as they enter high school
- Strategic Cultural Programming
- Help students and families navigate the chronological steps necessary for transition from secondary to
post-secondary institutions
- Provide uniform guidance regarding admissions, financial aid, registration, transfers, and accelerated learning opportunities
- Reduce institutional barriers and cultural roadblocks for students and families
- Embrace parents in this partnership
- Improve middle and high school attendance and graduation rates
- Foster full college participation and degree completion rates
- Commit to support seamless transitions by constructing effective bridging strategies, mentoring
experiences and positive adult relationships
- Provide culturally appropriate college tutors for academic support
- Create a reliable teacher pipeline and foolproof pathway with best practices
PROGRAM RESULTS
Pirates to Raiders (P2R) currently has 5 cohorts, serving 82 students from 8th – 12th grade at Talent Middle School and Phoenix High School. The inaugural P2R Cohort graduated from Phoenix High School in June 2016.
Medford to Raiders has 5 cohorts, serving 150 students from 8th – 12th grade at Hedrick and McLoughlin Middle Schools & North Medford and South Medford High Schools. The inaugural Medford to Raiders Cohort graduated in June 2020.
Programs Stats
Cohort 1 (2011): 34 students
Program Retention: 68%
Cohort 1 (2011-2016): 23 students
HS Grad Rate: 82% (19 students)
College Enrollment: 78% (15 students)
SOU Admits: 10 students
SOU Enrollment: 5 students |
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Coming Soon!
VOLUNTEER IN THE PROGRAM
Pirates to Raiders is a pathway programs for Latino/a/x students in the Phoenix-Talent. The goal of these programs is to offer a support system to make post-secondary aspirations viable options. One of the facets of the program is the academic component. Tutoring sessions are offered in all the program sites.
Program Sites
(8th Grade)
Talent Middle School
Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Academic Support and tutoring
(9th - 12th Grade)
Phoenix High School
9th & 10th Grade Students | Tuesdays @ 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Academic Support and tutoring
11th Grade Students | Thursdays @ 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Academic Support and tutoring
12th Grade Students | Wednesdays @ 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Academic Support, Post-HS Planning and Preparation
AS OF JUNE 2023, SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (SOU) AND MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT (MSD) COLLECTIVELY HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO DISCONTINUE MEDFORD TO RAIDERS (M2R) AT THE END OF THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.
