Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado says graduation is not enough

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is using its September awareness month to argue that a diploma does not automatically mean a student is ready for college, work or adulthood. The group is expanding mentoring supports as Colorado’s graduation rate rises and employers warn many graduates still lack key workplace skills.

Why it matters: - Colorado’s rising graduation rate does not guarantee young people are ready for what comes next after high school. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado says mentorship can help students build the guidance, networks and practical skills needed for college, careers and adulthood. - The organization is also positioning mentoring as a workforce-development tool for Colorado employers and communities.

What happened: - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado Month is highlighting the gap between earning a diploma and being prepared for postsecondary life. - Colorado’s four-year graduation rate reached 85.6% for the Class of 2025, according to the Colorado Department of Education. - A national survey found that 84% of participating hiring managers believed most recent high school graduates were not adequately prepared to enter the workforce. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is asking individuals, businesses, schools and community organizations to help young people prepare for what comes next.

The details: - CEO Elycia Cook said a diploma alone does not tell a young person what to do next or how to get there. - The organization says many students lack access to career exposure, professional networks, individualized guidance and trusted adults. - Imari entered the program with a 1.9 GPA and later raised it to 3.1 with support from his Big Brother, Spencer. - Imari now plans to attend college and is getting help understanding the steps required to get there. - Spencer supported Imari by listening, asking questions, reinforcing accountability and helping him recognize his own ability to succeed. - The organization says readiness grows through consistent relationships, real-world experience, encouragement and practice with life skills. - Mentors can help young people set goals, explore careers, prepare for interviews and applications, practice professional communication and persist through setbacks. - Mentors also can connect students to educational and career pathways that may otherwise feel inaccessible. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado says mentors supplement, rather than replace, teachers, counselors, families and workforce-development professionals. - The organization’s goal is for every young person it serves to graduate with a personalized and achievable postsecondary plan. - That plan may include a four-year college, community college, apprenticeship, skilled-trades program, military service, an industry credential or direct entry into the workforce. - Through its Big Futures program, BBBSC provides support with career exploration, college and financial-aid applications, scholarships, apprenticeships, financial literacy, job-readiness skills and postsecondary planning. - This fall, BBBSC is introducing an enhanced mentoring model with optional weekly, staff-led activities for every Big and Little. - The new model preserves one-to-one mentoring while adding experiences tied to the organization’s six IMPACT pillars. - Those activities may include workplace visits, career exploration, financial-literacy workshops, wellness programming and cultural experiences. - BBBSC says the expanded model is meant to reduce barriers tied to cost, transportation, limited networks and similar obstacles. - In fiscal year 2025, BBBSC served 1,641 young people across the Denver metro area and Pikes Peak region. - During that program year, 78% of BBBSC Littles maintained or improved their grades. - Research cited by the organization says youth in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are 52% less likely to skip school, 20% more likely to enroll in college, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, likely to experience a 20% reduction in depressive symptoms and positioned to earn about 15% more over their lifetimes. - The organization directs people to BigLittleColorado.org for mentoring, enrollment, donations and more information.

Between the lines: - The release reframes graduation as a starting point, not the finish line. - It also links mentoring to both student opportunity and employer needs, arguing that soft skills and confidence are built through relationships, not just coursework. - The emphasis on access suggests BBBSC sees opportunity gaps as structural, not simply motivational.

What's next: - BBBSC plans to continue recruiting mentors and community partners during Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado Month. - The organization wants more workplace visits, internships, job-shadowing opportunities and school-based mentoring. - Its expanded weekly activity model will roll out this fall alongside Big Futures support. - BBBSC says it will keep pushing for personalized postsecondary plans for the young people it serves.

The bottom line: - Colorado may be graduating more students, but BBBSC says the next challenge is making sure those students are ready for college, work and adulthood.