PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — An announcement made by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday spotlighted 3 area schools that were chosen to take part in an upcoming project.  Louisiana High School (Louisiana R-II School District), Clopton High School (Pike County R-III School District), and Palmyra High School (Palmyra R-I School District) have been selected to participate in the Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative during the 2021-22 school year.

This new program, which was introduced just this fall, is a partnership between the Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative and rootEd Alliance. For the past 3 years rootEd Alliance has been working in Missouri helping to clear a path to higher education for rural students. They work to bring together high-impact organizations and educational institutions to support rural students of all academic levels and interests as they pursue and complete postsecondary education. They help to ensure that students are provided with dedicated support, tools, and resources as they chart their pathways to stronger economic futures.

Multiple factors were taken into consideration when choosing the 40 high schools that the program is currently serving. School and community needs, along with surveying the impact that COVID had on the surrounding area. More schools continue to be included in the initiative as the year goes on.