O'Bryant School of Math & Science

Dear apprentices, families and volunteers,

Citizen Schools 8th Grade Academy has officially launched for the Fall of 2007.  We have an amazing group of students, staff, teachers and volunteers focusing on student achievement. Every week, students have an opportunity to foster personal and academic success by building on the community engagement and apprenticeship learning of their sixth and seventh grade experiences. 8th Grade Academy (8GA) is structured to meet the academic and social needs of eighth graders with rigorous literacy and data analysis curricula, an emphasis on high school placement and readiness, and first-hand experiences of college. 8GA works to bridge apprentices from middle school to high school, to college and beyond, keeping apprentices on a long-term trajectory of success.  If you are interested in enrolling your child in our program, learning more about how you can volunteer with or join Citizen Schools' staff please feel free to to call me. I look forward to seeing you!

Julia Sommer
Campus Director
8th Grade Academy

The writing program pairs 8th Grade Academy students with one or more lawyers from 11 of Boston's top law firms and legal agencies. Apprentices visit the law offices every other week, and write six persuasive essays with coaching from the attorneys. The WOW! that results is something to cherish: the best of the essays are published in Bridging magazine, an annual publication for apprentices that is distributed across the city.

The high school choice program takes advantage of Boston Public Schools' policy of elective high schools. 8th Grade Academy apprentices conduct research on high schools, like test scores, drop-out rates, and college matriculation rates, and analyze the data to select a high school. In addition to building their skills, investing in their educational futures, and expanding their horizons, their WOW! is a collectively created Guide to Boston High Schools that serves as a resource for middle-school students across the city.

The college experience program exposes students to opportunities awaiting them in college. Explorations take apprentices to ten institutions of higher learning, from afternoon tours of those in their neighborhood to overnight visits to great regional universities.

Alumni Services supports 8th Grade Academy graduates and their families in their transition to high school, college, and beyond. When a group of alumni attend the same high school, they form a close-knit peer group, or "crew," that meets regularly to help each crew member navigate the academic and social aspects of high school. Alumni Services enhances the connections between these alumni and educators, mentors, high performing peers and families, and the existing but often-overlooked community resources, support structures and pathways for high schoolers.

Program Schedule 
Tuesday, Thursday: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:45 - 4:00 p.m.