A critical part of preparing our students for college success is helping them see what’s possible. At Freire Wilmington, we go beyond the classroom to broaden horizons—whether through international travel, immersive career experienceships, or transformative field trips. College visits are one of the most impactful pieces of that exposure. We aim to have every student visit at least one college campus during their time at Freire Wilmington because these experiences can be life-changing.

Research confirms it: visiting a college campus dramatically increases a student’s likelihood of enrolling in postsecondary education. A study highlighted by Trellis Strategies indicated that both educational campus field trips and traditional visits are associated with increased college enrollment rates. And, according to a survey conducted by Niche, 85% of high school seniors who visited campuses reported doing so as part of their decision-making process. But for low-income and first-generation college students, like many of our incredible Freire students, the barriers to these visits are significant. These students reported visiting just half as many college campuses as their peers due to obstacles like finances, transportation, and lack of guidance.

We’re working to close that gap at Freire Wilmington. By providing opportunities for campus visits, we help our students—many of whom are first-generation college students—see that college isn’t just a distant concept but an achievable goal within their reach. Our goal is to have every Freire Wilmington student visit at least one college campus. These experiences give students the confidence to imagine themselves at college, walking through campus, and ultimately earning their degree.

Your support can help make college a reality for our kids. When you donate to Freire Wilmington, you’re not just helping our students visit a college campus—you’re helping them take the first step toward building the future. Together, we can ensure every student has the chance to see what’s possible and realize their full potential.

Thank you for standing with our students and helping to make their college dreams a reality.

Freire Wilmington is all about Graduation x2: graduation not just from high school, but from college, too. The proven Freire model provides five years of challenging, college-preparatory academics plus robust academic, social, and emotional supports that help guarantee our students’ success at Freire, in college, and in their professions. And it works! 91% of the Class of 2024 were accepted to 56 unique colleges and universities, and 2024 graduates earned a collective $6.9M in scholarships and aid.