The summer program
Our intensive six-week summer program includes four academic classes each weekday morning, afternoon elective classes, and educational field trips that take advantage of the City’s resources. The students begin their day with classes in language arts, math, science and social studies every morning. In the afternoons, students take two classes--one academic elective, such as Spanish, French or debate, and one non-academic elective, such as journalism, gymnastics or a team sport. Our students complete between one and two hours of homework every night. On average, the student to teacher ratio is 4:1, which provides each student with the necessary guidance to flourish. The summer session generates enthusiasm for learning, develops essential study skills, and provides visions of college, careers and a positive future.
The teachers and tutors are talented high school and college students recruited locally and nationally. They participate in six days of intensive teacher training prior to the start of the program, and they have full responsibility for curriculum development, classroom teaching, student evaluation, workshop design and leadership of clubs and advisories during the six-week program.
Summerbridge’s success as a teacher-training program—and in particular, its success in drawing students of color into the field of teaching—has earned national acclaim.
