Peak Education Opens Doors for First-Gen Students in Colorado Springs

Peak Education is on a mission to close the opportunity gap for students in Colorado Springs. Through long-term mentoring, college and career guidance, and family support, Peak starts working with students as early as 6th grade—continuing with them through high school, college, and even into the start of their professional lives. Many of these students are the first in their families to pursue higher education, and Peak is there every step of the way to ensure they have the tools, confidence, and community to succeed.

We were proud to provide a small grant to Peak Education in recognition of its impactful work. The organization stood out to us for its commitment to mentoring and motivating under-resourced youth and helping them access the education and opportunities they deserve. We put some questions to Peak Education CEO Carlos Jiménez to learn more about how his team is transforming futures in Colorado Springs.

Kars4Kids: Who are the young people you serve — in terms of age, community, and background?

Carlos Jiménez: At Peak Education, we start working with students as early as 6th grade and continue walking alongside them through high school, into college, and even into the early stages of their careers. Most of our students are the first in their families to pursue higher education, and many come from lower-income backgrounds here in Colorado Springs. We serve youth who have incredible potential, but who often don’t yet have the resources, mentorship, or exposure they need to see all the opportunities available to them. Our role is to be that trusted guide and support system — for both students and their families — as they navigate these critical years.

Kars4Kids: What are some of the biggest challenges your students face when it comes to education and opportunity? How does Peak Education step in to help them overcome those challenges?

Carlos Jiménez: One of the biggest challenges is access. In Colorado Springs, about 92% of living-wage jobs require a degree or credential beyond high school, yet only 17% of our young people are earning one within 10 years of graduating. That’s a huge gap. And it’s not because students aren’t smart or motivated — it’s because they often lack the guidance, the “instruction manual,” so to speak, for how to get there. At Peak Education, we step in with mentorship, college counseling, leadership development, and family support so that our students not only dream about their future but have the tools and encouragement to make it real.

Kars4Kids: Your Core Program begins in middle school and stays with students through high school. What difference does that long-term support make in their lives?

Carlos Jiménez: The long-term nature of our Core Program is transformational. Middle and high school are critical years when young people are asking big questions about who they are and who they want to become. By staying with them for seven years or more, we build deep trust — not only with the student but with their families. We can walk them through ups and downs, academic challenges, financial aid processes, and personal struggles. That consistent presence means they’re not navigating those challenges alone. It’s the difference between a one-time intervention and a sustained relationship that helps a student launch successfully into college or a career.

Kars4Kids: The Future Scholars Academy is designed for middle schoolers. We’d love to hear more about this program. What do you hope they take away from that experience?

Carlos Jiménez: Future Scholars Academy is all about sparking possibility. For many of our middle school students, it’s the first time they set foot on a college campus, the first time they’re asked to imagine themselves in a professional career. We design the program to be engaging and fun — with team-building activities, exposure to college life, and skill-building workshops — but at the heart of it is confidence. We want students to walk away believing, “I belong here. I can do this.” That sense of belonging at an early age can change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life.

Kars4Kids: The N.E.X.T. Summer Program gives teens exposure to careers and real-world experiences. What has been most exciting or surprising about this program for students?

Carlos Jiménez: What’s most exciting is watching students connect what they’re learning in school to the real world. When they tour an aerospace company, tour a dental program, meet an officer, or an entrepreneur, suddenly the math class or writing assignment feels relevant. One surprising thing is how many students discover interests they didn’t even know they had. A student might walk into a workshop on healthcare thinking it’s not for them and walk out saying, “I could see myself doing this.” That spark of discovery is powerful — it widens their sense of what’s possible.

Kars4Kids: The College Success Program helps students once they’ve graduated high school. Can you give us an overview of this program? What kinds of support make the biggest difference for students as they transition to college?

Carlos Jiménez: College is a huge transition, especially for first-generation students. The College Success Program is designed to make sure our scholars don’t just get to college, but thrive there. We provide mentoring, check-ins, and scholarships that ease financial burdens. But what makes the biggest difference is the sense that they’re not doing it alone. If they hit a roadblock — maybe financial aid issues, homesickness, or navigating a new environment — they know they have a community to turn to for guidance and encouragement. That safety net helps them persist and graduate.

Kars4Kids: Your Community Mentoring program pairs students with adult role models. How does this work? Can you share how those relationships impact a young person’s outlook and opportunities?

Carlos Jiménez: Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have. Many of our students don’t have someone in their immediate circle who’s gone to college or built a career in a field they’re interested in. Our Community Mentoring program pairs them with adults who can say, “I’ve been there, I’ve done this, and you can too.” That encouragement matters. I’ve seen mentors inspire students to push through challenges, to believe in their own potential, and to imagine futures that once felt out of reach. It’s that extra voice reminding them to keep going.

Kars4Kids: You’ve developed InterWoven, an app that helps families navigate the college process. How are students and parents responding to this tool?

Carlos Jiménez: We’re in the early stages of piloting InterWoven, and right now we’re focused on connecting youth with peers who are already in college. Those connections matter — when a student from high school gets to ask real questions and hear from someone like them who’s thriving on a college campus, it helps them see themselves in that space. That shift in perspective can be life-changing.The parent portion of the platform is still being developed, but our vision is to create a place where families can access clear information about the admissions process, financial aid, and scholarships — and just as importantly, connect with other parents who are navigating the same journey. We want InterWoven to become not just a resource, but a network of support that makes the path to higher education feel less overwhelming and more achievable for both students and their families.

Kars4Kids: What experiences in your own life have shaped the way you lead Peak Education?

Carlos Jiménez: I grew up in a lower-income household, and I thought my pathway to college might be through sports. It wasn’t until a teacher in ninth grade pulled me aside and asked, “Why aren’t you in the honors program?” that I started to see my potential differently. That one moment, and several mentors who came alongside me after, changed my trajectory. I went on to graduate from Colorado College, something I never imagined when I started high school. Those experiences taught me how critical mentorship and encouragement are, and they shape everything I do at Peak Education. I want our students to hear, just like I did, “This is for you and you can do this.”

Kars4Kids: What’s next for Peak Education — what do you hope to achieve in the coming years?

Carlos Jiménez: We’re in an exciting season. We’ve just opened our new College & Career Readiness Center downtown, which will be a hub for students and families. We’re also expanding our partnerships with school districts — through Future Centers in high schools and programs like the D2 Promise with Pikes Peak State College. Looking ahead, we want to impact not just the 400 students in our Core Program, but thousands more across the region through our services we offer in partnerships. Our vision is to ensure every young person in Colorado Springs has the support they need to access education beyond high school and step into a meaningful career. Ultimately, we’re working to stop talent from being wasted and to build a stronger community for everyone.