EMERGE is a nationally-recognized FREE program started in Houston ISD that helps first-generation and low-income students attend and graduate from the nation’s top colleges and universities. The program has helped hundreds of students receive full-scholarships to top colleges such as Yale, Rice, Harvard and Stanford. More importantly, while nationally only about 1 out of 10 low-income students graduate from college, over 95% of all the students EMERGE has served have either graduated from college within 4 years or are on track to do so.

EMERGE was started by Rick Cruz, a Yale alumnus and former teacher in the district, who realized that there were incredible opportunities at top-tier colleges that his students were either not tapping into or were not prepared to pursue. The program started at Chávez High School in 2010, and with the support of the district and from major funders such as Houston Endowment, the program has since expanded to every HISD high school. We encourage you to watch this video to learn more about EMERGE and its impact.