On Friday, December 12, 2025, nearly 700 high school seniors around the city braved the bitter cold to celebrate the College and Career March. Now in its 15th year, the March is one of NYC Outward Bound Schools’ most joyful annual events and a powerful symbol that with perseverance, hard work — and the necessary school support — all students can graduate and go on to lead fulfilling, purposeful and economically secure lives.
The tradition has evolved from students once mailing their college applications to now sending letters of gratitude to counselors, mentors, teachers, family and friends.
A School Without Walls (SWOW), which opened its doors in 2022, is graduating its first class of seniors in 2026, and participated in the event for the first time. Set against the epic backdrop of lower Manhattan, the march took seniors to the Church Street post office, where they mailed thank you letters.
“We made many great memories and it was fun spending time all together,” said Lulu, a senior at SWOW. “We should continue this tradition at SWOW because it’s nice to see everyone come together. It feels great to be part of our first graduating class because we’re the leading example and we’re the face of the school.”
“It felt very inspirational and extremely fun to be a part of,” added Leair, an 11th grader who helped photograph the event. “I’m very excited to participate next year, not as a photographer or journalist, but as a participant!”
Across the city in Queens, the same excitement rippled through a crowd of seniors at the Institute for Health Professions at Cambria Heights (IHPCH), as they gathered in the school’s gym, ready to head out into the cold.
Tailoring the tradition to their own community, IHPCH seniors pay their gratitude forward by not only writing thank you letters to their supporters, but also letters of advice and encouragement to younger students at the nearby PS 147 Ronald McNair. The seniors then hand-deliver those letters at the culmination of the march.
“Stay focused on your work and stay true to who you are,” said Theresa, a senior at IHPCH, to a group of 7th and 8th grade students gathered around her. “I was them once,” she said, as she headed back to school. “And I wish I had this in middle school because I was going through it!”
The College and Career March has grown and spread over the years, and is open to any high school interested in participating. To help others replicate the practice, NYC Outward Bound Schools created a set of open source resources.
The beloved tradition continues to have its strongest roots at NYC Outward Bound’s Compass Rose Schools, which are the network’s deepest and longest-standing partners. A testament to the collective work taking place at these schools, the graduation rate at Compass Rose Schools annually outpaces the citywide average (right).
For more impact data:
High School Graduation Rates
Compass Rose Schools vs. Citywide Average
- All Students 92%
- 83%
- Black Students 90%
- 80%
- Latinx Students 83%
- 79%
- Special Education Students 85%
- 65%
See photos from the 2025 College and Career March:
