Spelman’s NEON Program Opens College Access for Bexar County Title I Students
Spelman College is widening the path to higher education through its National Education Opportunity Network (NEON), a program giving Title I high-school students across the country the chance to take real Spelman courses and earn college credit before graduation. Nearly 300 students are already participating, making it one of the most significant access initiatives in the HBCU community.
For students in Bexar County, which has 25 Title I high schools, the program offers a major opportunity to experience college-level learning early. Students take Spelman-taught online courses, earn official Spelman credit, and gain the confidence to step onto a college campus already knowing they can succeed. Parents and students are encouraged to ask their school counselors if their campus is participating. If not, they can share the information, because every Title I high school in Bexar County is eligible to partner with Spelman through NEON.
Participation begins at the school level. Students must attend a Title I campus partnered with NEON, where counselors and teachers help identify young people ready for college-level work. After a brief onboarding process and parental permission, students can sign up and begin earning transferable college credit directly from Spelman.
Spelman also makes partnership straightforward. Title I high schools can request to join NEON through Spelman’s admissions and outreach office on the college’s official website. Once a school becomes a NEON partner, its students gain access to Spelman courses, virtual support, and credit-bearing opportunities each semester.
By expanding access in this way, Spelman continues to lead in equity, opportunity, and academic excellence. NEON is not just a program — it is a gateway for hundreds of young people to envision themselves in higher education and take their first real steps toward college success.
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