Park City High School is set to expand its Bright Futures program to include every first-generation student on campus next year, a move designed to provide college readiness support directly within the school day. The expansion comes as the school's Community Council manages a $322,757.98 allocation for the 2025-2026 academic year to support student achievement and school improvement goals.
Bright Futures Program Expansion
The Bright Futures program, managed by the Park City Education Foundation (PCEF), is transitioning to a model that embeds a dedicated Bright Futures Counselor directly into the Park City High School counseling team. This new role, which begins in August, is intended to assist approximately 230 first-generation students, representing a 200 percent increase in the number of students who can access support without barriers such as transportation or after-school conflicts.
According to the Park City Education Foundation, the program will continue to utilize a full-time College Program Manager to coach students through their post-secondary journeys. This existing role has been held by a member of the PCEF team since January 2024. The new counselor position was created through a partnership between PCEF, the Park City School District, and the high school staff to ensure students receive assistance in addition to their traditional counselors.
College Success and Financial Aid
The program's expansion aims to bolster graduation rates for first-generation students. Data from the Park City Education Foundation indicates that over the last nine years, the program has supported approximately 200 students, resulting in 25 college graduates. This represents a 64 percent graduation rate, which is significantly higher than the 60 percent national average for all college students and the 24 percent national average for first-generation students.
In addition to academic and counseling support, Bright Futures provides significant financial assistance to its participants. On average, students receive $2,750 annually in need-based financial aid, along with a $1,000 annual scholarship. The program also provides as-needed emergency aid to help students manage unexpected financial challenges that might otherwise disrupt their education.
Community Council and Funding
The expansion of student support services coincides with the administrative work of the Park City High School Community Council. For the 2025-2026 academic school year, the school has been allocated $322,757.98. The council is tasked with establishing and monitoring school goals and administering the Utah State Land Trust program for the high school.
The council is currently focused on developing a long-range, strategic school improvement plan. This plan spans three years and focuses on setting, monitoring, and assessing goals specifically designed to improve student achievement. The council's membership includes teachers, staff, administrators, and parents.
Council Governance and Participation
The Community Council is composed of various stakeholders, including Chair Stephen Fox and Co-Chair Ben Gallagher. The group meets seven or eight times annually, typically on the third Tuesday of every month at 2:45 p.m. in the PCHS Front Office Conference room, with Zoom options available for remote attendance.
Public participation is encouraged, and any parent with a student attending the school can become a voting member by completing a registration form for principal Mr. Fine. The council maintains public records of its proceedings, including meeting agendas and minutes for previous academic years dating back to 2023.
Funding and Mission
Funding for the Bright Futures program is derived from the generosity of donors, many of whom provide restricted gifts. The Park City Education Foundation noted that all restricted Bright Futures gifts are used exclusively for the program's expenses and are accounted for separately from the PCEF general fund.
This financial structure supports the organization's broader mission to fund educator-powered initiatives that help all Park City students reach their academic and lifelong potential. The foundation recently celebrated the success of its students, including a celebration this past April that honored 11 first-generation college graduates and their families.
Looking Forward
As the new academic year approaches, the integration of the Bright Futures Counselor into the school day marks a significant shift in how the school handles college readiness. By moving support from an after-school or external model into the standard school day, the program aims to maximize matriculation rates for the 230 first-generation students expected to participate next year.
Strategic Student Support
The strategic planning by the Community Council and the expansion of the Bright Futures program represent a multi-faceted approach to student success at Park City High School, combining administrative oversight and targeted social support to address the specific needs of the student body.
