OUR IMPACT

Helios Education Foundation's strategic approach brings vision, rigor, and commitment to tackling educational challenges in Arizona and Florida. We back the most-promising solutions to the systemic problems that perpetuate opportunity gaps, building a strategic and equitable response for all students in both states. 

We maintain a data-driven focus to our work, emphasizing three areas that are essential to getting students on track for college attainment: 

  • Ensure that students are reading proficiently by the end of third grade
  • Increase college enrollments
  • Increase attainment of two- and four-year college degrees  

Helios Education Foundation is grounded in four core beliefs—Community, Equity, Investment, Partnership—and with one purpose: to create opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education. 

For 20 years, our commitment has been to support educational excellence for all students and close opportunity gaps that continue to exist among historically underrepresented and low-income students. We know that making improvements in these groups, who are represented in all schools, will result in improved outcomes for all.

The following charts highlight the opportunity gaps among students in Arizona and Florida in our three areas of focus.  

Improving education outcomes in Arizona and Florida

The Arizona third-grade reading proficiency data from the Arizona Department of Education’s 2024 AASA shows that low-income, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic students had the lowest passing third-grade reading proficiency scores in Arizona.

The Florida third-grade reading proficiency data from the Florida Department of Education’s 2024 FAST Assessment shows that low-income, Black and Hispanic students had the lowest passing third-grade reading proficiency scores in Florida.

Third-Grade Reading

The Arizona college-going data from the Arizona Board of Regents’ 2023 Postsecondary Attainment Report includes Arizona public high school students enrolling within one year after graduation in 2022. The data shows that low-income, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic students in Arizona had the lowest rate of college enrollment. 

The Florida college-going data from the Florida Department of Education’s 2023 Know Your Schools Portal includes Florida public high school students enrolling in a Florida postsecondary institution within 16 months after graduation in 2022. The data shows that low-income and Black students in Florida had the lowest college enrollment rate. 

College-Going

The Arizona postsecondary education attainment data from the Lumina Foundation/U.S. Census Bureau shows that American Indian or Alaska Native and Hispanic students in Arizona had the lowest degree attainment rate. 

The Florida postsecondary education attainment data from the Lumina Foundation/U.S. Census Bureau includes Florida residents ages 25-64 with a two-year degree or higher in 2023. The data shows that American Indian or Alaska Native and Black students in Florida had the lowest rate of attaining a degree from a postsecondary institution. 

Postsecondary Education Attainment:

Although Arizona and Florida are very different states, the data show that persistent opportunity gaps exist and need improvement across all student populations – with an emphasis on those from low-income and historically underrepresented communities. To ensure educational success for all students, it’s critical that we move the needle on third-grade reading, college-going and postsecondary attainment.

Additionally, both states have committed to achieving postsecondary attainment goals, including:   

  • Arizona: Achieve60AZ Action Plan – As presented by Helios partner organization, Education Forward Arizona, reaching this goal by 2030 will mean that 60% of the state’s population of working adults (ages 25-64) will have a certificate, license, or degree—contributing to greater economic and individual prosperity, reduced social spending, and a more vibrant state economy for all Arizonans. 
  • Florida: SAIL to 60 – As monitored and tracked by Helios partner, Florida College Access Network (FCAN), the Strengthening Alignment between Industry and Learning (SAIL) to 60 initiative seeks to increase to 60% of working-age adults in the state with a high-value postsecondary certificate, degree or training experience by 2030. 

Reaching these goals isn’t just a postsecondary education issue. Preparation begins with our youngest students and builds as they progress through elementary, middle, high school on to postsecondary education.

  1. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA
In Arizona and Florida: