Expanding What Is Possible in Accessing College and Career Opportunities for Students in Rural Oklahoma

At the Community Funding Accelerator (CFA), we believe that communities already have the vision and leadership to create meaningful change. Our role is to help them access the funding and support needed to bring that vision to life.  

Our partnership with The Academies of Oklahoma (TAO) reflects what becomes possible when a proven local model gains the resources to grow. 

In rural Oklahoma, where students have historically had few pathways into high-wage careers, TAO is opening new doors. TAO’s innovative model anchors on life planning, a student-led process that focuses on setting goals, exploring interests, and ensuring students graduate with a clear path forward. As an Early College high school, TAO students can explore career interests and begin taking college courses as high school juniors. At its founding school in Seminole, 53% of seniors have earned or are on track to earn an associate degree before finishing high school, compared with 9% statewide, and 67% have completed at least one year of college debt-free. Behind these numbers are students building a foundation for futures that once may have felt out of reach. 

These outcomes are impressive, but strong outcomes alone could not meet the growing demand. TAO had a vision for reaching more students. However, they lacked the resources to expand. To help close that gap, CFA supported TAO in securing a $7.2 million federal Charter Schools Program Replication and Expansion grant. 

This investment will help TAO expand its model and build workforce-aligned pathways connected to regional employer needs in healthcare, business and IT. Over five years, TAO plans to grow from 424 students to more than 2,100, including a school already open in Blanchard, OK and a fourth in Canadian County scheduled for 2027–2028. 

For us, this partnership reinforces a core belief: when local leaders are equipped with the resources to build on what works, more students and communities can share in the results. We are proud to support TAO as it brings college and career opportunities to more families across rural Oklahoma. 

Watch the video below to hear TAO’s story and learn how CFA’s partnership is helping turn TAO’s vision for growth into expanded opportunities for students.