• Founded in California in 1970 and in Arizona in 1984, MESA is the most established informal math, science and engineering education program for students in grades 6-12. 
• MESA promotes skills in math and science as the key to entrance into a four-year degree program for low income, minority and first generation college-bound students.
• In a study of the transcripts of 2006 Arizona high school graduates, the Arizona Board of Regents identified disparities in the percentage of high school graduates eligible for admission to our state's universities:

                               --70.3% of Asian American students eligible

                               --56.5% of White students eligible

                               --35.3% of Latino students eligible

                               --32.4% of African American students eligible

                               --25.7% of Native American students eligible

• The same study revealed that only 40% of high school graduates completed the ABOR curricular requirements in Math, and only 62% completed the requirments in Science.  African American, Hispanic and Native American students completed these requirements at rates significantly lower than their White and Asian American peers.
• Arizona ranks 43rd in the nation in the percentage of high school graduates who attend college, and 39th in the percentage of younger adults with a college degree.
• According to a report commissioned by the Governor's P-20 Council, Arizona has consistently ranked among the top five states for job creation in the last five years, yet only 1.6% of jobs paying above the median wage do not require post-secondary education.
• Creation of a world class workforce has been identified as a primary goal for economic development in our state.
• The Pathways to College Network has identified the following strategies, which form the foundation of MESA's approach, as the key to success for college-bound students:

                               --High Expectations and Academic Rigor

                               --Positive peer support

                               --Positive relationships with adults, effective mentoring

                               --Teaching of analytical thinking, learning, comprehension and writing skills

                               --Making math relevant to students' interests, lives and career goals

                               --Providing post-secondary, financial aid and career information