Nonprofit Spotlight: The Boston HERC

Higher education has the power to transform lives, but the path for first-generation students is rarely simple. The Boston Higher Education Resource Center (Boston HERC) bridges this gap by walking alongside students from high school through college completion. Through culturally responsive coaching and family support, the Boston HERC helps to ensure young people can realize their full potential and become agents of change in their communities.

What They Do

For over two decades, the Boston HERC has worked within public high schools and postsecondary campuses to provide a seamless system of support for first-generation students from seventh grade through college graduation.

• Passport to College Program Embedded directly in partner high schools, the organization’s Passport Coaches offer in-classroom, during the school day and one-on-one guidance to help students discover their purpose, navigate the college application and financial aid processes, and map out postsecondary goals.

  
  

• College & Career Readiness Workshops Through partnerships with local professionals and volunteers, students gain practical exposure through resume reviews, mock interviews, career panels, and campus visits.

  
  

• Family & Financial Aid Advocacy Recognizing that college access is a family journey, Boston HERC guides families through complex financial aid applications and scholarship searches to ensure higher education remains affordable.

  
  

• Alumni Success Program Beyond high school graduation, the organization mentors students through their college years to ensure academic persistence, offer career readiness resources, and ease the transition into meaningful careers.

  
  

Their Impact

The Boston HERC serves over 1,800 students annually across ten high school partners in Boston, and recently extended its program to Chelsea and Revere. Since expanding its program to middle schoolers last fall, the organization now serves grades seven through twelve, in addition to its postsecondary students, enabling students to participate in HERC programs for a tenure of eight to ten years.

Its students consistently outperform district and state averages across key educational milestones. The high school graduation rate among the Boston HERC students is 99%, compared to 81% for Boston Public Schools, while the college enrollment rate after high school is 85%, compared to only 52% for the district. Its students are also more likely to remain in college, with an 80% persistence rate.

By empowering youth to overcome systemic barriers and step into their potential, the Boston HERC is continuing to build a more equitable future for students and families across Greater Boston.

To learn more about the Boston HERC, explore volunteer coaching or other opportunities, or support their mission, visit bostonherc.org or email info@bostonherc.org.