Tufts Near Top of Teach for America List

Tufts University is among the schools contributing the highest number of graduating seniors this year to Teach for America, the national organization that places college graduates in urban and rural schools.

Tufts ranked sixth among medium-sized schools—defined as colleges that have between 3,000 and 9,999 undergraduates—up 14 spots from last year, with 35 graduates joining the program. Approximately eight percent of Tufts’ graduating seniors applied to this year’s corps. A total of 241 alumni have taught as corps members during Teach for America’s 23-year history.

The University of Texas at Austin was the number-one contributor among large schools, with 73 graduates joining Teach for America, and Spelman College contributed the most among small schools, with 27.

Teach for America works with communities to expand educational opportunities for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 1990, the organization recruits a corps of college graduates and professionals to commit to teaching for two years in high-need schools. This year more than 11,000 first- and second-year corps members will teach in 48 urban and rural regions across the country. The 5,900 incoming corps members represent more than 800 colleges and universities in the United States.