College Choice Foundation to expand to Birmingham schools

A group of Homewood parents started the College Choice Foundation to help low-income students at their high school find a way to afford to attend college. In 2018, the foundation wants to open its services to students in Birmingham City Schools, too.

The foundation was started three years ago by Homewood parents Josephine Lowery, Cassandra Joseph, Nancy Hale and Mark Bateman to work with students on ACT test preparation, filling out applications, taking college tours and applying for scholarships, as well as covering some of the fees that pop up along the way.

Joseph said their college-age students have accepted more than $1.6 million in total scholarships so far, including universities like Boston College and American University, and some are getting ready for study abroad and graduate school. 

Lowery said the ACT test scores for students working with the foundation increased by an average of four points.

“Those stories certainly fuel us,” she said.

This year, the foundation will spread its reach by accepting applicants from Birmingham City Schools who want help applying to colleges and finding scholarships to make higher education affordable. They will be working with several existing education and career-readiness groups established in Birmingham schools. “We like a challenge, so we thought it would be really beneficial to not only the students and families of Birmingham, but also a way of making sure the College Choice Foundation becomes a sustainable type of foundation,” Joseph said.

Lowery said they plan to accept the same small number of students each year because of the level of “intensity” the foundation puts toward one-on-one counseling, assistance and communication with parents and students during their junior and senior years, and even once they enter college.

Applications must be postmarked by May 1. Visit collegechoicefoundation.org for more information.