Education & Scholarships
Education is a catalyst for economic mobility. Yet a low diploma attainment rate in Merced County creates a barrier to high-wage jobs, perpetuating the cycle of generational poverty and limiting access to higher education.
The data
69.4% of Merced adults graduated High School
82.9% State Average
87.7% National Average
65% in ELA
79% in Math
Merced students who fell below standard
53% and 65% State Average, respectively
31% of Merced students complete college preparatory classes
44% State Average
Our commitment
CFMC invests in innovative and supportive programs to expand learning opportunities. To this end, we support:
+
Intensive case management and tutoring for vulnerable students in the foster care and/or juvenile justice systems
+
Increased access to arts, music, and STEAM-focused programs, empowering students to explore new disciplines and prepare for a technology-centered future
+
Scholarships that provide financial means for students across the entire county to pursue career technical training, community college, or university studies
Merced College,
Dreamscape Learn
CFMC is proud to be the first philanthropic grant to support Merced College as a pioneer in bringing virtual reality (VR) and immersive storytelling techniques to local students through Dreamscape Learn.
-
This innovative educational platform creates a highly engaging and interactive learning environment that levels the academic playing field for academic achievement. Dreamscape Learn is a proactive step toward bridging the educational divide, ensuring that students from underrepresented backgrounds have equal access to cutting-edge resources and opportunities, and fostering equity in every aspect of the academic approach.
Research at ASU found that the virtual reality approach, which combines experiential learning, cinematic storytelling, and immersive technologies, dramatically enhances student engagement and improves learning outcomes. Merced College, at the forefront of educational innovation, enthusiastically embraces these new modalities of education to meet the needs of our students and create engaging learning experiences.
Why is an investment like this so significant? The impact on student performance is clear, students were 1.7 times more likely to earn an A in their assignments than their counterparts in traditional laboratory settings. The considerable achievement gaps in the conventional program between the lowest and highest-performing demographic groups were nearly eliminated. Based on these outcomes, ASU has replaced all traditional intro biology labs with Dreamscape Learn’s Immersive Biology in the Alien Zoo.
Genevieve Egbunno
Genevieve Egbunno, a PhD candidate at UC Merced, received a $10,000 grant from CFMC to complete her initial field study trip to Nigeria. Ms. Egbunno studies conflict in homes and marriages in southeastern Nigeria resulting from female empowerment for financial and economic independence.
HPEC After School
HPEC After School was founded in October 2008. For over 15 years, HPEC has served students at risk of failing school. Outside of the classroom, HPEC addresses "risky classroom behaviors" developing the skills needed for socio-emotional development. HPEC serves students year-round through after-school & summer academies. With the capacity to serve up to 20 students, HPEC provides targeted services to families that need the most support, including minority, low-income, sober living residential facilities, and foster youth.