How Do You Triple Your University Going Rate in a High Poverty Rural District? - with Dr. Chris Nesmith, Superintendent, Elma School District
Dr. Chris Nesmith, Superintendent · Elma School District

Watch this conversation
Video published on the EdUp Experience channel on YouTubeOpen on YouTube
What this conversation answers
- 01
How does a rural district with 79% free & reduced lunch go from 8% to 24% university going rate?
- 02
Why does the bifurcation between career kids & university bound kids need to end?
- 03
What should higher ed know about the students K-12 is now sending them with both career credentials & university level academics?
Show notes
It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Chris Nesmith, Superintendent, Elma School District
This episode is brought to you by Beyond Survival: Reporting from the Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance is a documentary account from the front lines of the most consequential upheaval in higher ed in generations!
This episode is sponsored by the MSCHE 2026 Annual Conference, where we will be podcasting live, keynoting, & facilitating a pre-conference workshop from December 9-11 in Philadelphia!
This episode is also sponsored by the InsightsEDU 2027 Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!
YOUR cohost is Andrew Ko, Founder, Kovexa
YOUR host is Elvin Freytes
- How does a rural district with 79% free & reduced lunch go from 8% to 24% university going rate?
- Why does the bifurcation between career kids & university bound kids need to end?
- What should higher ed know about the students K-12 is now sending them with both career credentials & university level academics?
Listen in to #EdUp
Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!
Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio
● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience
We make education YOUR business!
P.S. Want access to early ad-free episodes, & to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed? Well, we have an app for that!
Join EdUp Leadership!
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp. Subscribe and never miss a conversation.
We make education YOUR business!
