Educators, business magnates and even the mayor are betting big on a program  aiming to improve two Jacksonville schools by pairing recent graduates with  struggling students in order to provide mentorship.

A coalition of the Duval County School Board, several Jacksonville business  leaders and Mayor Alvin Brown has come together to bring the City Year program  to Andrew Jackson High School and Matthew Gilbert Middle School for the  2012-2013 school year.

City Year is a nonprofit organization that works to partners 17-24-year-olds  with underperforming schools around the country, with the goal of improving what  it calls the ABC's: attendance, behavior and course performance. In return for a  full year of service, the volunteers are trained and provided with a nominal  stipend and college scholarships.