New England Citybridge

CONTACT:

166 Main St.
Concord, MA 01742
978-402-2320

Connie Yepez, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

It is one thing to open excellent private schools to disadvantaged students; it is quite another for them to succeed in a suddenly new and rigorously demanding school environment. New England Citybridge was founded at Concord Academy in 1993, to bridge the gap -- to offer resources to kids from public middle schools in Boston and Cambridge that prepares them for private schools. The Program spans two summers and an academic year; kids start after seventh grade, with a six-week residential summer term learning the ropes in preparation for better education; during their eighth-grade school year they have access to special support–tutoring, counseling, test preparation, and advocacy -- preparing for high school; that next summer they receive a final six-week boost. The results are impressive: 54% gain admission to leading private, or special-admission public, schools; 35% choose to study in the college-preparatory track at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. A secondary program encourages some of the college students who serve as summer teachers to pursue careers in school education -- again, successfully: 73% of the veterans are teachers or school administrators, or pursuing graduate degrees in education. In short, this Program turns talented students on to education. It’s a great system, it’s on a roll, and now it needs to find longer-term philanthropic support. Will you help?

(2003: CULTURE: Education: Formal: School-Related)