Programs that partner with BGA

 

Talent Search

The Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education. BGA students may apply to Talent Search any time throughout middle and high school.

 

Upward Bound Math Science

The Upward Bound Math and Science program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession. BGA students may apply to Upward Bound Math Science in Grade 9, and Grade 10 if space is available.

 

Minds Matter

Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world. We do this by focusing intensely on helping students not only win acceptance into the college of their choice, but ensure that these students are best prepared—academically, socially, and financially—to persist through and succeed in college. BGA students may apply to Minds Matter towards the middle of Grade 9. 

 

Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard University

The Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard University is an exciting and innovative program for motivated high school students with a passion for learning and a desire to excel. Over the course of three consecutive summers, 30 students from public schools in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville engage in a stimulating mix of classes, projects, and cultural activities as they prepare for success in college and beyond. Through small group instruction, sustained support, and close mentoring relationships with college undergraduates, the Academy encourages deserving high school students to expand their vision of what’s possible as they prepare to become viable candidates for admission to challenging four-year colleges and universities. BGA nominates 4 9th Grade students to apply to CSA at Harvard. 

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Boston Debate League

The mission of the BDL is to integrate argumentation and competitive debate into public schools in Boston to develop critical thinkers ready for college, career, and engagement with the world around them. BGA’s After-School Debate program operates English-language teams and Spanish-language teams in middle schools and high schools. Debate team practices are held on-site and led by teachers who serve as coaches. Debate season spans October through March each school year, and students attend up to 4 tournaments throughout the season where they compete against other schools in the Novice, JV, or Varsity divisions.

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Hayden Foundation Summer Programs

Through the generous support of the Charles Hayden Foundation, BGA students are able to attend several college-preparatory summer programs between Grades 10-12. Past programs have included the Juniper Young Writers Program at UMass Amherst, Summer Enrichment at Syracuse University, and the Marist Summer Pre-College Program.  BGA Students are nominated by teachers and the school counselor, and must apply for the program of interest. 

 

Programs open to all Boston Public School Students

 

EmersonWrites

EmersonWRITES is Emerson College's free creative writing program for Boston Public School students. They offer in person courses at Emerson College in poetry, flash fiction, genre fiction, non-fiction, as well as featuring an online fiction section. Courses feature themes with contemporary literature, under-represented voices, and multilingual writing, to name a few. The EmersonWRITES Scholarship, in the amount of $30,000 per year to attend Emerson College, is open to anyone who completes a course with EmersonWRITES and is admitted to Emerson College. Students may apply between Grades 8-12.

 

Teens in Print

Teens in Print exists to give Boston students the tools to effectively share their experiences and perspectives through writing, the platform to reach decision makers who can act on their ideas, and the knowledge to become thoughtful consumers of media. Through their  interactive virtual newsroom and one-on-one mentorship, their extracurricular programs allow students to better their writing skills. They believe that students deserve to not only understand media narratives at a high-level, but to have the confidence to create their own. Students may apply between grades 8-12.