Decatur High to roll out Naviance districtwide; OneGoal program expanded for eligible juniors and seniors

Decatur High School leaders told the board on June 10 they will adopt Naviance as a districtwide college and career planning platform for grades 9–12 and continue OneGoal as a targeted two‑year program for eligible juniors and seniors.

Lede facts: the district set an implementation goal that by May 2026 every student in grades 9–12 will complete assigned Naviance activities aligned to career awareness, exploration and planning. OneGoal will continue to serve a cohort of eligible juniors and seniors with intensive, two‑year in‑class supports and wraparound financial aid assistance to improve enrollment and persistence outcomes.

Nut graf: district staff argued the two approaches are complementary: Naviance creates a universal, centralized planning and monitoring platform, while OneGoal provides concentrated coaching, FAFSA support and post‑enrollment stipends for selected fellows.

Principal Dr. Dwayne Spruill said Decatur High’s Class of 2024 graduated at 95 percent and the school seeks to convert high graduation rates into clearer post‑secondary trajectories for every student. He described Naviance features that support academic planning, early warning dashboards, career and pathway exploration for non‑college routes, goal setting and data monitoring. The district’s implementation plan includes a districtwide scope and sequence, monthly counselor check‑ins, prioritized makeup sessions and use of data dashboards to monitor completion.

OneGoal details: Spruill and his team described OneGoal’s benchmarks: FAFSA completion (the district’s stated goal is 100% FAFSA completion for fellows), securing three or more college acceptances to expand options, and building a “best‑fit” college list that meets academic, financial, personal and completion support criteria. OneGoal offers in‑class coaching, SAT prep, FAFSA help and summer bridging, and provides fellowships that can include up to $750 per semester for tuition‑related costs, $500 for eligible personal expenses and $400 toward a laptop. The Decatur High cohort included 110 OneGoal fellows (57 juniors and 53 seniors) with an average GPA of 2.95; staff reported 80% of OneGoal seniors had completed FAFSA as of April 2025, with final statistics to follow.

Training and family engagement: staff said counselors and teachers received platform training and that district plans include parent workshops and FAFSA assistance events. Board members asked about parent training and the district said dedicated parent sessions will be scheduled and that the district and PTSA have historically sponsored FAFSA workshops with community partners.

Equity and access: staff emphasized OneGoal’s wraparound supports aimed at students underrepresented in post‑secondary paths, including travel to college campuses, leadership development and emergency funds to help persistence. The district said OneGoal students had acceptances to colleges in 11 states and that the program includes post‑enrollment supports tied to national partners.

Ending: the board received the report for information; staff did not request a formal vote but asked for ongoing board support for implementation, training and funding of the programs.