INDY SCHOLARS

Persist, thrive, and complete postsecondary credentials and degrees.

About Indy Scholars

Indy Scholars exists to ensure students across Marion County—beginning in middle school and continuing through college graduation—persist, thrive, and complete postsecondary credentials and degrees. We focus on students with the greatest barriers to success, helping them navigate systems, build confidence, and secure both academic and career outcomes.

Why Indy Scholars Matters

Too many students enroll in college but never complete or graduate without direction and economic security. Indy Scholars closes that gap by combining deep relational support, institutional navigation, data accountability, emotional health supports, and intentional career alignment. By leveraging Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program and a robust scholarship strategy, we aim to ensure that scholars graduate debt-free and prepared for work and life.

Indy Scholars: Empowering students. Strengthening families. Expanding opportunity.

Who We Serve

Indy Scholars serves PLA scholars and students from partner schools throughout Marion County, supporting their journey from grades 6 through postsecondary completion. Many of our scholars are first-generation college goers and need sustained, proactive support to succeed.

Our Model: Scholars’ Advocate

At the core of Indy Scholars is the Scholars’ Advocate, a relationship-driven coach and navigator who:

  • Builds sustained, trust-based relationships with scholars and families,
  • Removes academic, financial, and personal barriers,
  • Supports scholars’ emotional health and well-being,
  • Helps scholars clarify and pursue meaningful career aspirations,
  • Guides scholars through middle school, high school, college, and credential completion.

Advocates use structured touchpoints and real-time data to intervene early, monitor progress, and keep scholars on track.

Unique Indiana Opportunity: 21st Century Scholars

Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program is a state-sponsored, early college promise that covers tuition for eligible students attending in-state public colleges and universities. Because this program is distinct to Indiana and incredibly powerful, Indy Scholars makes 100% eligibility and enrollment a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring scholars leverage this benefit to minimize college costs. In addition, we support scholars in winning additional scholarships to cover room, board, and fees, moving them toward debt-free college completion whenever possible.

Key Outcomes & Success Metrics

Indy Scholars is accountable for measurable results aligned to scholar success:

Persistence:

90% year-over-year enrollment and reenrollment

Credential Completion:

75% earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within the expected time

Career Outcomes:

80% secure career-aligned employment, advanced education, or paid training within six months

Career Clarity:

95% have a documented career plan within 90 days

Career Progress:

85% complete at least one planned career milestone annually

Well-Being:

80% meet defined wellbeing thresholds each term

Equity:

All groups achieve similar results, with no more than a 5% difference between them

Advocate Performance:

90% of Scholar Advocates will meet persistence and completion targets

Partnerships & Career Exposure

Indy Scholars works with:

  • PLA schools and district partners,
  • Higher education institutions,
  • Community organizations,
  • Employers offering meaningful internships and jobs.

These partnerships expand access to experiences that link education and careers, embedding exposure to real-world opportunity into the scholar journey.

McKinney-Vento Act

The McKinney-Vento Act protects scholars from discrimination based on their lack of a permanent residence. Homeless Scholars are eligible to receive a variety of services including: transportation services, free meals under the school nutrition programs, limited English proficiency class, gifted and talented programs, and special education services based on a scholar’s eligibility. Homeless Scholars will not be denied enrollment based on lack of proof of residency. Please consult the McKinney-Vento Act Liaison if you need assistance. The PLA Network does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or national origin in any employment and/or educational opportunity. No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity for which the PLA Network Board is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. The PLA Network values diversity. Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is committed to making its websites accessible for all, including individuals with disabilities, and strives to ensure accessibility currently and as new technologies emerge. PLA welcomes questions and input on its sites' accessibility at each development phase. Please contact our Call Center at 888.655.0777 or submit feedback to Communications@PhalenAcademies.org if you encounter an issue accessing any portion of the network's websites.