This document reports on a seven-year mixed method longitudinal study to help iMentor improve their program and inform the mentoring field as a whole, for the sake of promoting student success in college.
This report introduces readers to the concept and evidence base supporting iMentor’s College Ready Program. The report presents the authors’ findings about how iMentor was implemented in the eight schools chosen for evaluation through the use of interviews with iMentor Program Managers (PMs) as well as an analysis of program data provided by iMentor. The authors found that students’ participation in key activities varied widely within and across schools, and that overall the evaluation schools did not consistently hit iMentor’s benchmarks for program implementation. The report also addresses the observed impact of iMentor on student outcomes, and includes technical appendices. Key findings include: schools struggled to implement iMentor’s College Ready Program as designed; despite challenges, iMentor produced small, positive changes in students’ critical thinking and self-advocacy skills; iMentor did not increase participation in college and career activities; iMentor improved high school graduation rates; and students with stronger relationships with their mentors experienced larger gains.