9th Grade Success Accelerator

The Accelerator is open to school districts that are ready to make 9th grade success a shared priority across schools. We ask that a senior district leader – such as a superintendent, deputy superintendent, or chief academic officer – lead the application process.

Participating districts should be ready to work with CHSS to:

• Build dedicated 9th grade teams with shared students, clear team leadership, and regular time to meet.
• Put core 9th grade supports in place, including an advisory or seminar, student check-ins, and opportunities for credit or concept recovery.
• Use grades, attendance, and other student data to identify needs, track progress, and guide regular conversations with school, district, and CHSS leaders.

Once you have completed the interest form above, a member of our team will reach out to schedule an introductory call with your district’s leadership. From there, you will be invited to attend a site visit and complete a written application.

CHSS coaches work alongside and across district and school teams to assess what’s in place, identify priorities, and guide implementation of 9th grade success work. 

Our partnership centers on five interconnected areas of practice outlined in our Roadmap: 

1. Data: Timely, shared information on grades, attendance, and student experience.
2. Teams: Building effective teacher-staff teams that meet weekly.
3. Interventions: Identifying root causes, choosing the correct intervention, monitoring progress.
4. Transition: Ensuring a successful start to high school and building belonging.
5. Instruction: Consistent grading and assessment expectations.

The work unfolds in three phases:

• Year 0 (Semester 2 SY26 and Summer): CHSS builds school and district readiness through a collaborative 9th Grade Success Roadmap inventory and support for administrators to put in place systems, structures, and supports that lead to major 9th Grade On-Track gains. Teacher-staff teams assess current practices, analyze historical data to identify priorities, receive individualized coaching and planning, and attend a Summer 9th Grade Success Institute to prepare for strong Year 1 implementation and set data-informed 9th Grade On-Track and attendance goals.
• Year 1 (SY 2027-28): Implementation launches with impactful CHSS Tier 1 supports that teach students essential skills and increase belonging, and 9th grade team meetings that utilize student data and CHSS protocols, tools, and tech to ensure timely and effective Tier 2 interventions. CHSS provides side-by-side coaching, monthly school and district data reviews, and quarterly professional learning to keep schools on track to achieve ambitious goals.
• End of Year 1: Districts receive a year-end data report, review progress against goals, and set priorities and structures for Year 2.

Thanks to national philanthropic support, participation is fully funded during Year 0, the kickoff and planning semester, and through Year 1 of implementation. Beginning in Year 2, districts can choose to continue with CHSS at a subsidized rate as they build on and sustain their progress. Districts typically see per-pupil funding gains and reduced credit-recovery costs that substantially outweigh these incremental costs.

Ninth Grade On-Track Rates across CHSS’ growing partner network have risen by nearly 20 percentage points in the last four years, with the most significant gains observed among Latino and African American students and Multi-Lingual Learners. Partner schools and districts have also seen reductions in chronic absenteeism, increased enrollment in CTE and dual credit pathways, and higher on-time graduation rates.

Indianapolis Public Schools, for example, began partnering with CHSS in the 2021-2022 school year and has since reached its highest graduation rate on record — alongside gains in 9^th Grade On-Track rates, attendance, and student achievement.

As these gains compound, districts can expect a strong financial ROI as well. Find out how much funding you can generate in the first year of partnership with CHSS. 

Interested in learning more? Watch the videos below to see the work in action:

• Aurora Public Schools
• Camelback High School, Phoenix Union High School District
• Hear from district leaders on why they keep choosing CHSS – Making Ninth Grade Count: How High School Districts Are Redesigning Student Success

Ninth grade is the point of greatest risk in high school, and the linchpin for future success.

Students are 3-5x more likely to fail a course in ninth grade than in other grade levels, and students who finish ninth grade on-track are far more likely to graduate on time — it’s a stronger predictor than prior test scores or student background.

But unlike test scores or family background, schools can impact it in real time.

Grades and attendance give teacher-staff 9th Grade Success Teams at our partner schools an early read on who is off-track so that, following a protocol we teach and using a 9th Grade Success App we provide, they can intervene quickly and effectively. And we help partner schools put supports in place for every ninth grader that prevent them from getting off-track in the first place and help them develop skills they need to succeed in high school, post-secondary, and life.