The Next Generation Scholars Academy program serves students from 6th through 12th grade after school, on the weekends, and over the summer - helping them realize their unique identities, achieve their goals and take command of their futures.
We measure our success by our ability to get Scholars to and through college and their ability to impact their communities. Our core year round Academy program is centered around three components:
Academic Counseling
Community Uplift & Leadership Development
College & Career Exploration
“Facing housing insecurity and other financial issues, I became an angry and sad student. With the help of NGS, there was always a network of stellar, patient tutors who supported me academically, advocates who helped relay my home situation with my teachers, food available for my family, and much needed counseling.
The most impactful support NGS provided was helping to lift the weight I felt, and providing a safety net so that I could focus on being a student.”
- Johnny Ek, NGS Academy ‘15, Pomona College,
Class of 2019
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Academic Counseling
The Academy Program provides socially-relevant, grade-specific material for Scholars from 6th- through to 12th-grade, bolstering the learning experience of their respective schools.
Academics are at the core of the Academy Program. The Academy curriculum varies by grade-level and across the calendar year:
September - May
Scholars meet twice a week at the Scholar House by grade-level. The goal of the Academic Year program is to accelerate and enhance the coursework Scholars complete in their regular classrooms. In addition, 1:1 tutoring is provided to those students who need additional support in a given academic subject.Summer Sessions
Scholars meet five days a week over the course of five weeks. The Summer Academy is designed to be “anticipatory”, preparing them for the upcoming academic year, as well as “exploratory'', allowing students the opportunity to discover new interests and passions. Learn more about Summer Academy programming and applications here.
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Community Uplift Project
The Community Uplift Leadership Development Program empowers Scholars to make a meaningful, direct impact on their communities, while bolstering their applications and candidacy for acceptance and financial support, to competitive colleges and universities.
Additionally, this program is designed to foster durable skill sets that will launch students into their first careers. Starting in the 8th Grade, Scholars begin to plan out their projects, while our staff guides them from idea development to final execution. Each Scholar selects a project that speaks to their aspirations for their community.
Recent Student Projects Include:
Mental Health Lesson Plans
Developing mental health lesson plans created to de-stigmatize mental health services for Latinx communities.
Community Gardens
Creating a community garden to address food insecurity and limited access to healthy, culturally-responsive food.
Affinity Spaces
Establishing affinity spaces that allow Latinx high school students to genuinely express themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
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College & Career Pathways
Getting Scholars to and through college is key to their ability to take command of their futures.
Recognizing that a Scholar’s family support network may not have all the necessary tools to guide Scholars through the college process, Next Generation Scholars assists students and their families in the college evaluation and application process (and where necessary, in the financial aid negotiation process).
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Goals For Each Grade Level
The multidisciplinary curriculum is oriented around seven grade level specific goals:
GRADE 6 – Sparking curiosity and finding strengths
GRADE 7 – Transitioning to independence and purposeful experimentation
GRADE 8 – Applying content and innovating approach
GRADE 9 – Fortifying scholarly independence and understanding the “why” of education
GRADE 10 – Forming an independent identity and honing personal strengths
GRADE 11 – Expressing critical thought and embracing uncertainty
GRADE 12 – Advocating for self and others through effective communication
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