Middle School Support

Excel’s Middle School College Access Program is designed to support students in 5th-8th grade to develop college-going identities and skills essential for success in college and career. The goals of this program are that students are experiencing colleges and universities, talking to their families about their future and goals, and seeing college as a possibility for their future. Excel works with many school year and summer programs to help middle school students prepare for their future. 

  • 5th Grade

    College Experience:

    Every Fall students visit Northeastern, eat lunch on campus and attend a Husky’s basketball game.

    Outcomes:

    Every year students report that due to the trip they are more likely to go to college and speak with their families about their future.

    Ways to support your student:

    • Talk to your student about their experience on the Northeastern trip: What did they see? What did they enjoy? What questions do they have?
    • Talk with your student about what they see for their future and what you envision for them. Are those the same goals or different and why?
    • Also, ask them about their favorite subjects in school.
    • If you or anyone in your family is enrolled in college encourage your student to speak with them about their experience: what classes are they taking, what are their favorite parts, how does it relate to their future goals, what is challenging?

    Programs your student can do over the summer! 

    There are many summer programs available for 5th-grade students – please click here to learn more.

  • 6th Grade

    College Experience:

    Each spring students tour a college, eat lunch, and experience what it is like to be a college student by taking their Math and English classes in a college classroom.

    Outcomes:

    Every year students report that due to the trip they are more likely to go to college and speak with their families about their future and they report that taking their classes in a college auditorium makes them feel like a college student.

    Ways to support your student:

    • Talk to your student about their experience on the college trip: What was it like to take a class in a college auditorium? How is this college different than the college they visited last year? What did they see? What did they enjoy? What questions do they have?

    • Talk with your student about what they see for their future and what you envision for them. Are those the same goals or different and why?

    • Also, ask them about their favorite subjects in school.

    • If you or anyone in your family is enrolled in college encourage your student to speak with them about their experience: what classes are they taking, what are their favorite parts, how does it relate to their future goals, what is challenging?

    Programs your student can do over the summer! 

    Scholarships and Extracurricular Programs:

    • Achieve: Students apply in 6th grade for this 3 year program starting the summer before seventh grade. Students take academic classes over the summer and continue to attend the program on the weekends during the school year. Students from any city can apply- they will provide transportation to the school where the classes are held. Students from any city can apply.

    • TEEP: Students apply in 6th grade for this 3 year program starting the summer after 6th grade. They can also apply in 7th grade.  Students take additional academic classes and experiential learning such as rowing, sailing, yoga, creative writing, photography. Students continue to meet with the program and their peers during the school year. Students can opt to get paid in high school to be counselors for the middle school program and will be provided with additional opportunities for leadership, college counseling and more. Students from any city can apply.

  • 7th Grade

    College Experience:

    In the winter students hear from a panel of Excel alumni currently enrolled in college or other pathways about their experiences. Students have the chance to ask questions of students who sat in their seats just a few years before.

    Outcomes:

    Every year students report that due to the panel they are more likely to go to college and speak with their families about their future. They report that hearing from students who are similar to them makes them believe they can achieve their college and career goals.

    Ways to support your student:

    • Talk to your student about their experience on the panel: What did the alumni talk about? What parts of their experience did you connect with most? What was surprising to you?

    • Talk with your student about what they see for their future and what you envision for them. Are those the same goals or different and why?

    • Also, ask them about their favorite subjects in school.

    • If you or anyone in your family is enrolled in college encourage your student to speak with them about their experience: what classes are they taking, what are their favorite parts, how does it relate to their future goals, what is challenging?

    Scholarships and Extracurricular Programs:

    • TEEP: Students apply in 6th grade for this 3 year program starting the summer after 6th grade. They can also apply in 7th grade.  Students take additional academic classes and experiential learning such as rowing, sailing, yoga, creative writing, photography. Students continue to meet with the program and their peers during the school year. Students can opt to get paid in high school to be counselors for the middle school program and will be provided with additional opportunities for leadership, college counseling and more. Students from any city can apply.

    • SEED: This is a program students attend at MIT – they can apply to start in 7th or 8th grade and continue into high school. Students learn about a different STEM topic each semester- mostly focused on engineering. Students do not have to stay in the program for all of high school if they do not want to. ONLY students from Boston are eligible. Students learn from some of the best experts in the field. This is a great program for a motivated student who wants to spend time learning on the weekend and is excited about engineering.

    • MIT SPARK Classes: Each year in the spring MIT hosts 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in learning from college students about a variety of topics. The events are always on a Saturday and they usually provide food and some swag like T-Shirts. The classes are very engaging and on cool topics like dancing, cooking, engineering, brain science, careers in medicine, etc. Students from any city can sign up for these classes. Students from any city can apply.

    • Crossroads: This is a program students apply for in 7th grade. It is a5 year summer and school-year program that helps teens develop their leadership style and expand their academic, career, and civic horizons. Any students interested in becoming a leader can apply. Students from any city can apply.

    • Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship: This is a special scholarship program for students. They apply in 7th grade and are mentored throughout 8th grade and high school.  The program pays for any school-related program extracurricular activities such as music lessons, sports camps, new computers and more. Students are awarded a full scholarship for college when they complete this program. Students must be nominated by their teachers for this program.

    • Red Sox Scholars: This is a special scholarship program for students. They apply in 7th grade and are mentored throughout 8th grade and high school. Students have opportunities to meet leaders around Boston, attend baseball games, get internships and more through this program. They are awarded a $10,000 scholarship for college after they complete the program. Students must be nominated by their teachers for this program.

    •  

  • 8th Grade

    College Experience:

    In the spring, 8th graders spend the night at Regis College to help them experience what it is like to live on a college campus.

    High School Transition Course:

    students engage in a once a week elective class to help students articulate what is important to them for their future, building the skills they will need for high school such as organization and time management, and providing concrete information about the role of GPA and other factors for college admissions and the financial aid process

    Outcomes:

    Every year students report that due to the trip they are more likely to go to college and speak with their families about their future. They report feeling like they would consider living at college.

    Ways to support your student:

    • Talk to your student about their experience on the trip: What was their favorite part? What was it like to sleep in the dorms and eat in the cafeteria? How did it feel to spend the night away from home?
    • Talk with your student about what they see for their future and what you envision for them. Are those the same goals or different and why?
    • Also, ask them about their favorite subjects in school.
    • If you or anyone in your family is enrolled in college encourage your student to speak with them about their experience: what classes are they taking, what are their favorite parts, how does it relate to their future goals, what is challenging?

    Scholarships and Extracurricular Programs:

    • There are many summer programs available for 8th-grade students- please click here to learn more.
    • SEED: This is a program students attend at MIT – they can apply to start in 7th or 8th grade and continue into high school. Students learn about a different STEM topic each semester- mostly focused on engineering. Students do not have to stay in the program for all of high school if they do not want to. ONLY students from Boston are eligible. Students learn from some of the best experts in the field. This is a great program for a motivated student who wants to spend time learning on the weekend and is excited about engineering.
    • MIT SPARK Classes: Each year in the spring MIT hosts 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in learning from college students about a variety of topics. The events are always on a Saturday and they usually provide food and some swag like T-Shirts. The classes are very engaging and on cool topics like dancing, cooking, engineering, brain science, careers in medicine, etc. Students from any city can sign up for these classes. Students from any city can apply.
    •  

     

Do you want to get your student involved in a program to help them in school and their future? Here is a list of programs students can apply to participate in. Email Liza Littenberg-Tobias if you need help or have questions. LTobias@excelacademy.org

Students have participated in the following programs and scholarships 
  • Achieve: Students apply in 6th grade for this 3 year program starting the summer before seventh grade. Students take academic classes over the summer and continue to attend the program on the weekends during the school year. Students from any city can apply- they will provide transportation to the school where the classes are held. Students from any city can apply.
  • TEEP: Students apply in 6th grade for this 3 year program starting the summer after 6th grade. They can also apply in 7th grade.  Students take additional academic classes and experiential learning such as rowing, sailing, yoga, creative writing, photography. Students continue to meet with the program and their peers during the school year. Students can opt to get paid in high school to be counselors for the middle school program and will be provided with additional opportunities for leadership, college counseling and more. Students from any city can apply.
  • SEED: This is a program students attend at MIT – they can apply to start in 7th or 8th grade and continue into high school. Students learn about a different STEM topic each semester- mostly focused on engineering. Students do not have to stay in the program for all of high school if they do not want to. ONLY students from Boston are eligible. Students learn from some of the best experts in the field. This is a great program for a motivated student who wants to spend time learning on the weekend and is excited about engineering.
  • MIT SPARK Classes: Each year in the spring MIT hosts 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in learning from college students about a variety of topics. The events are always on a Saturday and they usually provide food and some swag like T-Shirts. The classes are very engaging and on cool topics like dancing, cooking, engineering, brain science, careers in medicine, etc. Students from any city can sign up for these classes. Students from any city can apply.
  • Crossroads: This is a program students apply for in 7th grade. It is a5 year summer and school-year program that helps teens develop their leadership style and expand their academic, career, and civic horizons. Any students interested in becoming a leader can apply. Students from any city can apply.
  • Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship: This is a special scholarship program for students. They apply in 7th grade and are mentored throughout 8th grade and high school.  The program pays for any school-related program extracurricular activities such as music lessons, sports camps, new computers and more. Students are awarded a full scholarship for college when they complete this program. Students must be nominated by their teachers for this program.
  • Red Sox Scholars: This is a special scholarship program for students. They apply in 7th grade and are mentored throughout 8th grade and high school. Students have opportunities to meet leaders around Boston, attend baseball games, get internships and more through this program. They are awarded a $10,000 scholarship for college after they complete the program. Students must be nominated by their teachers for this program.

During the summer there are many programs, camps, jobs, and academic classes students can participate in. Here is a list of programs students can apply to participate in. Email Liza Littenberg-Tobias if you need help or have questions. LTobias@excelacademy.org

Students have participated in the following programs, jobs, camps, and sports programs. Spanish version is available.

JOBS

  • City of Boston Jobs. Students who are 15 you can apply for a job through the city of Boston.
  • ABCD Summer Works. Students who are 14 and live in Boston can apply to work at camps, offices, or with the BPD’s Police Academy.
  • ABCD YEA. This is a 3-week program for 13-year old  students to learn about financial literacy and civic engagement. Receive a gift card and priority for a job next summer when you are 14.
  • Chelsea Collaborative Students who are 14 can apply for a Summer Youth paid employment/internships for students residing in Chelsea, MA. We try our best to place the youth in fields they have interest in or are the best fit for them. 
  • Super Teens BCYF Students who are 13 and 14 can apply to work at one of the BCYF centers such as Parris St or Pino Center. They get paid to participate in this program.
  • Maverick Makers: Students who are 14 can apply to work for Maverick Makers doing different jobs in making products, advertising products, teaching younger students, or designing a park.
  • Food Project Seed Crew: Students who are 14 can apply to work for 6.5 weeks to grow vegetables and distribute thousands of pounds of produce while developing leadership, teamwork, workplace, and civic participation skills. 

PROGRAMS

  • Grub Street: There are four types of programs: free Saturday sessions, Teen Writing Classes, a three-week Summer Fellowship program, and summer-long Working in the Arts Fellowship program. 
  • Mass Art Artward Bound: This a program 8th grader can apply for. It is a free 4 year program for students interested in art and design with the artistic, academic, and life skills needed to thrive in college and beyond.  
  • Boston Architectural College. 8th Grade students can apply for a scholarship to experiment with materials, build structures, test professional design software, visit professional firms, and explore buildings like libraries and museums in Boston.
  • Coastal Ocean Science Academy (COSA)  This is a one-week, field-trip based program where students will learn how to keep a field notebook and take basic measurements of weather, water quality, and biodiversity in different coastal habitats.
  • Girls Rock Campaign Boston 1 weeklong sessions where youth learn to play instruments, form bands and perform original songs!
  • Apollinaire Play Lab We have acting, art, play production, and a variety of dance classes. We make financial assistance available to all students who need it to take part.
  • Bikes Not Bombs Earn-A-Bike participants will completely overhaul a bicycle while learning how to safely ride and navigate the city of Boston. 
  • Boston University Public Health Experience Students learn from Boston University School of Public Health faculty about a range of public health topics, participate in hands-on research activities, discover career choices, and develop leadership skills.
  • MIT Dynamit Free 1-week STEM summer program to inspire an interest in STEM and empower students to design and innovate.  
  • New England Aquarium Camp – Join us as we explore the beach, ocean, and all things Aquarium!
  • Chelsea Community Schools Summer Classes The Chelsea Youth Commission assists youth to implement projects and ideas that will benefit their community and allows for enriching leadership experience.  Take classes in any subject you are interested in!
  • Zumix   Explore our summer intensives, ranging from beat and film making to creating a radio show or going on tour with an original song or band. 

CAMPS

  • Agassiz Village Overnight Camps  We offer children the opportunity, in a summer camp environment, to develop and practice leadership and life skills.
  • Camp Hale Overnight Camp Environmental leadership through instilling values, educating, and engaging youth in the preservation of our surrounding natural resources.
  • Jordan Boys and Girls Club Chelsea We have sports camps, educational camps, Field trip camps and more recreational based ones as well.  
  • BCYF Centers Pino Summer camps and programs available for students up to age 12  
  • B-Safe Day Camp 5 week full-day academic and enrichment program. Students read, write and practice math; visual and performing art workshops; science activities; recreational activities; and many field trips. 

SPORTS

  • Tenacity Free tennis, reading, other sports and life skills development program in July and August across 23+ sites in Boston!
  • The Valeo FC Boston Summer Camp Low-pressure soccer camp to learn from professionals and improve your skills 
  • Piers Park Sailing The Science of Sailing program is a full day summer program  teaching students how to sail.      
  • YES Kids  Year-round opportunities for outdoor and enrichment programs.

MEET MS. LITTENBERG-TOBIAS (MS. LT)

Have Questions?

E-mail Ms. LT