"You've just got to go to college and learn the other cultures and to see how people live without their families, and try to relate with other people's problems," the Withrow International High School senior said.

Students from Cincinnati Public and West Clermont schools signed a pledge at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center as part of "The College Track: A Community Call to Action."

The community initiative is aimed at raising Greater Cincinnati's college participation rate, ensuring that all students have access to college. Teachers, principals, parents and college access providers also signed a pledge to help students academically and financially meet their goals.

The event preceded Sunday's 6 p.m. broadcast by WCET-TV (Channel 48) of The College Track, America's Sorting Machine, a three-part documentary that examines how low expectations and lack of rigorous preparation limit students' choices and hamper their chances for success. The documentary was funded, in part, by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which pumped millions into Cincinnati Public and West Clermont for redesigning their high schools into small schools of focused interest. West Clermont is featured in the documentary.

Judge Nathaniel Jones, chairman of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, said it's important to eliminate disparities and close gaps if the United States is to be competitive. "The Internet has made us one people, and that means we have to really be prepared to compete with people in all parts of the world," Jones said.

A Withrow International student who attended the event talked about the stumbling blocks to college.

"I don't think people understand that if you want a good-paying job, you've got to have a higher education, more than just a high school diploma," said Rodney Pierson, a 15-year-old sophomore.

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E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com