Pleasantville High Partnership With Stockton Lifts Applications, Enrollment

PLEASANTVILLE, NJ — Pleasantville High School students had weekly access to Stockton University admissions counselors this past school year through a pilot program that brought the college process directly into the building.

Every Thursday, counselors Grace Hind and Michelle Puerta worked from a dedicated office at the school, answering questions about applications, scholarships and financial aid.

Stockton reported the effort led to a 78 percent increase in applications from Pleasantville High over the previous year and a 57 percent increase in deposits for the fall semester. Hind also admitted 24 students during an Instant Decision Day last spring, according to Stockton.

“We saw an area that is close to campus with students who were hungry for information,” Hind said of the decision to test out embedding a Stockton admissions counselor at the high school.

Among the Pleasantville students planning to attend Stockton are six of the Top 10 Pleasantville 2026 graduates: Ja’vira Blake, Rabi Moya-Luna, Ema Ortiz-Antonio, Marlet Cruz-Diaz, Jeremiah Wright and Rudilania Cruz-Carrasco. Stockton is considering similar models at other regional high schools because of the Pleasantville partnership’s results, Hind said.

“Our regular presence made it less scary for students to ask questions. They knew our faces and that they had someone who genuinely cared who would be there consistently,” she said.

Students said the weekly visits helped make college feel more manageable.

“They introduced me to different opportunities that I could apply for, they helped me navigate through the application process, and they were always giving me advice. Without their support, I wouldn't have known what Stockton has to offer,” Blake, the class valedictorian, said.

Puerta said the students had choices but stayed local.

“These visits allowed us to connect with students and help them overcome challenges throughout the admissions process,” Puerta, '15, said. “As an Educational Opportunity Fund alumna, I was able to share my own experience and reassure students that Stockton is a supportive place where they can succeed.”

Pleasantville guidance counselor Annalysa Coleman said Stockton’s presence is changing how students see college.

“Many students think college is not possible financially, but we work together to find opportunities to make it work,” she said, noting these students also earned their associate degrees while in high school through the Early College program with Atlantic Cape Community College.

Wright said the personal connection shaped his decision.

“I met with (Hind) and (Puerta) every time they visited my school, and they had a huge impact on my decision. Before getting to know them, Stockton was actually at the bottom of my college list. They took the time to answer my questions, put things into perspective, and helped me realize that Stockton was the best fit for me both academically and personally,” said Wright, who will major in Psychology.

Weekly access to counselors eased anxiety about financial aid and applications for first-generation students like Cruz-Diaz and Ortiz-Antonio.

“The process of applying, housing and money are all things that I worried about when deciding on which school I wanted to commit to. The Stockton counselors were there to support and guide me through the process making it less stressful,” Cruz-Diaz, a Psychology major, said.

Ortiz-Antonio, who will major in Health Science, also credits her parents for their support.

“As a first-generation student all my achievements go to them. I can’t wait to show them that their sacrifices didn’t go unnoticed,” she said.