Expanding into Southwestern Pennsylvania
Through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments, 12 Plus’ launch of new partner schools– Aliquippa, Cornell, and Clairton– marks the organization's latest expansion and commitment to supporting workforce development pathways.
12 Plus is proud to announce its expansion into southwestern Pennsylvania, launching new partnerships with Aliquippa, Cornell, and Clairton high schools through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments.
For over a decade, 12 Plus has worked with partner high schools in underserved communities across Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ. By embedding our staff directly in each school, the organization has helped tens-of-thousands of students find their path beyond 12th grade — whether that's college, a trade, or entering the workforce.
This expansion marks an exciting leap in 12 Plus’ growth and impact as we bring our services to brand new communities – both sharing our programming and expertise while learning from the region’s students and leaders. This new chapter is made possible through the support of The Heinz Endowments, who’ve championed the launch of our model and work in this region.
The Heinz Endowments works to grow an exemplary, sustainable Pittsburgh region where everyone prospers and belongs. Their work in Arts & Culture; Civic Participation; Climate, Environment & Health; Community & Economic Development; Food Systems; Veterans; and Workforce is supported by reliable data based on results-focused goals. The Endowments is among the 60 largest philanthropic organizations in the United States, distributing approximately $90 million in grants annually.
Southwestern Pennsylvania is new ground for 12 Plus, but the mission has not changed. The same in-school, whole-school approach that has guided students in Philadelphia and Camden — personalized advising, deep partnership with school communities, and challenging what’s possible for our students — will take root at Aliquippa, Cornell, and Clairton high schools this upcoming fall. We’re excited for the opportunity to support the pathways that matter most to students and families across Allegheny and Beaver counties. Alongside college advising, the region's first cohort of 12 Plus staff will build relationships with trade programs, industry certifications, and other workforce development partners, widening what "success beyond high school" can look like for every student.
Aliquippa High School
Cornell High School
Clairton High School
“Southwestern Pennsylvania is the next chapter in a mission we’ve spent over a decade building, making sure every student, no matter their zip code, graduates with a real plan and the support to see it through, whether that means college, a trade, or meaningful work. We’re excited to bring that belief to this region, and deeply grateful to The Heinz Endowments for standing behind it.”
This partnership reflects a close alignment of missions. The Heinz Endowments’ focus on workforce development and long-standing commitment to economic mobility in the Pittsburgh region mirrors the belief that has always driven 12 Plus' work: that a student's zip code should never limit their future.
For 12 Plus, this expansion is both a milestone and a beginning. What started as a small, community-rooted effort at one school in Philadelphia has grown to serve over 7,000 students annually across 15 high schools; all because students, schools, and supporters believed in what it could become. Bringing that same belief to southwestern Pennsylvania — one school, one student, one relationship at a time — is exactly the work ahead. 12 Plus is deeply grateful to The Heinz Endowments for standing behind that work, and for helping bring our mission to a new region.
Believe. Act. Inspire. has always been 12 Plus' charge, and with The Heinz Endowments' partnership, it now reaches southwestern Pennsylvania.