With increasing attention on the struggling DC school system and the growing momentum to develop community-based solutions, this new coalition will work to bring city, community, business, and education leaders together to help more DC families see the connection between college and career success.

"Through its shared mission of doubling the number of college-ready and work-ready graduates, this coalition of business and political leaders, educators and residents, is committed to ensuring the academic success of our students in high school and beyond," said Juanita Wade, Executive Director of the DC Education Compact. "Rarely do we see such a cohesive group of stakeholders who truly understand the importance of working together."

But the sobering results in the Double the Numbers report indicate that there is much more work to be done to improve educational opportunities for all DC school students. In DC, high school graduation, college attendance and college success rates fall far below the national average. These stark figures have severe economic consequences in the District, where more than two-thirds of new jobs require some kind of postsecondary education and the average college graduate earns about 75 percent more than a high school graduate.

"This concerted effort to help our students is being made on a level that has never been seen before in this city," said Argelia Rodriguez, President and CEO, DC-CAP." We aren't starting from scratch; in fact, we have already made great strides toward doubling the numbers, and the difference now, is that all these groups are focusing on one problem, together."