Acceleration Academy

The ninth grade transition from middle school to high school can be tricky for many youth. The courses are harder, the workloads are heavier, and students are given more responsibility in addition to dealing with the pressures of new schools, teachers, and friends. Through our experiences working with middle and high school students over the long-term, we've identified this transition year as critical to promoting long-term academic and social success among youth. In response, we launched a new 9th Grade Academy in 2010 to address the unique challenges that come with freshman year.

Based on a successful pilot of the 9th Grade Academy, we expanded this program in 2011 to serve high school Youth Leaders in need of extra academic support and those who for academic or personal reasons need to take a break from their full Youth Leader schedule in Mission Possible! and after school internships.

All students in the newly expanded Acceleration Academy receive individualized support from staff and College Coaches. Academy youth work in small groups or individually with a tutor to finish homework, review key concepts, and develop action plans to get back on track with school and other responsibilities. Academy youth also participate in 21st century skill-building workshops taken from Sociedad Latina's new curriculum, Success in The 21, which teachers critical skills such as time management, effective communication, and self-advocacy with activities that are culturally proficient and suitable for an after school environment. The Acceleration Academy creates conditions where youth can challenge themselves, take on increased responsibility, and enter a pathway that will prepare them for college or career. The Acceleration Academy provides flexibility for Youth Leaders to stay engaged with Sociedad Latina despite academic and/or personal circumstances that would have previously led to their leaving our programs.

Academy youth receive a stipend for their participation and successful Academy graduates are prioritized for paid Youth Leader internships. Once a month, participants volunteer in one of our other programs working to create positive change in our community. 

For more information on the 9th Grade Academy, contact Jennifer Reyes at 617-442-4299 x149 or jennifer@sociedadlatina.org.