Co-founder Sara Hahn (in 2005) with Laura, one of her 5th grade students who inspired the program! Laura will attend Cal State Chico this fall 2012.

While teaching fifth grade at Brentwood Science Magnet Elementary School, Sara Hahn was inspired by the resilience, motivation, and hope for the future that she witnessed in her students–almost all of whom rode a bus for over two hours a day to avoid their neighborhood schools and receive a better education. Sara realized that if a passionate, caring educator supported the same group of students through middle and high school, the impact on them would be tremendous and life changing. She determined that this commitment would provide an optimal level of learning, giving deserving students the confidence and tools to go to college.

In 2005, Sara began working with a select group of her fifth-grade students as they transitioned into sixth grade, and with the generous support of actor/activist Hank Azaria, co-founded Determined to Succeed. Sara’s original group of students, the students who inspired the program, graduated from high school in spring (2012) and ALL have been accepted and are attending college this fall 2012! Thus, Determined To Succeed has achieved our Mission for the first time in our history, with a high school graduation rate and college enrollment rate of 100%! According to the California Department of Education, the 4-year high school graduation rate in the LAUSD has averaged 54% and only 63% of those high school graduates go on to college, 12% less then the state average. This first graduating class has set the bar very high for generations of Determined To Succeed students to come.

Our second group of students culminated from 8th grade from Paul Revere Middle School. They will enter Alexander Hamilton High School this fall (2012). Our third group of students will begin 7th grade at Palms Middle School this fall (2012). Determined To Succeed has established positive, sustainable, long-term relationships with Palms Middle School and Alexander Hamilton High School that will benefit our students and program for years to come.