Vision
La Crosse Promise will economically transform our region, improve our quality of life, and uniquely position the greater La Crosse area as an education-focused community.
La Crosse Promise is working to economically transform our region by positioning the City of La Crosse as an education-focused community. Simply put, we want to maximize the number of students attending college or vocational school upon high school graduation. This not only develops the workforce in our region, but statistics show that education-minded communities experience decreased crime, better health, more stable families, and increased civic participation. Having a goal in life helps us all.
Our Board of Directors, made up of educational leaders, elected officials, community planners, and business people, determined that the success of this project lies with two unifying goals:
1) Place-Based Scholarships
We have designed a method of attracting conscientious, education-minded, success-driven homebuyers to the City by providing scholarships to families who construct new homes in targeted neighborhoods. This will not only reverse the decades-long trend of declining enrollment in the School District of La Crosse, but also rejuvenate the faltering housing market in our City. We believe that a multi-faceted solution is needed to revitalize our most struggling neighborhoods, but a key component is to provide an infusion of families who are committed to the importance of lifelong learning.
2) Future Centers
Simultaneously, we are making sure that our current high school students understand they can have a successful future. For the past two years we have connected families to the resources necessary to achieve their post high school goals. We enhance guidance department efforts through assisting with campus visits, college selection, scholarship applications, and perhaps most importantly, help with financial aid planning. Our goal is to dramatically and immediately increase the percentage of graduating seniors who have post-secondary plans.
