Many school leaders believe that advisories are not worth the investment. The common view is that advisory is a "soft" offering that does not specifically address high-stakes tests, curricula, and instruction. But when executed properly, advisories address students' needs so that test scores improve, classroom instruction is supported, parents are engaged in their children's learning, and students' "relationships" with their own learning are facilitated DiMartino, Clarke, & Wolk, 2003). In other words, an advisory system is one of the best investments a school can make to increase learning for all students, especially the most marginal. The National High School Alliance (2005) supports the creation of advisories and similar relationship-building structures that result in higher student achievement. When linked with student learning plans, portfolios, student-led conferences, project-based learning, and student exhibitions, the advisory becomes the hub of quality relationships that catalyze student learning in a school. Unfortunately, advisories are too often not used to their potential because they are not allocated adequate time and they are isolated from academics. Advisories raise student achievement when they build connections among people and between students and their courses of study. A well-organized advisory program--one that meets frequently, has a curriculum, and is linked to student learning--will transform the school's culture. The components presented in this article create the synergy to do just that.