High School Opportunity Programs
A Better Chance
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: 4th-9th graders
Program Dates: N/A
Program Location: 253 W. 35th Street, 6th Floor. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: A Better Chance places Scholars into more than 300 college preparatory middle and high schools across the country. Schools are admitted to membership after completing an application and upon the recommendation of the College Preparatory Schools Program staff. Our goal is to increase and nurture affiliations with independent schools and Community Schools Programs that are committed to diversity, financial aid allocation, academic excellence and personal and social growth.
Eligibility Requirements: Identify as students of color; Rank in the top 10% of their class; Have an overall average of 80+; Demonstrate leadership potential
Application/Registration Process: Applying to A Better Chance is a three-step, 18-month process. Information sessions are held in February and March, and the 1st round application is due May 1st.
Application Period/Deadline: Deadline for submission of applications is May 1st.
Contact: Natasha Scott, Program Associate for the Northeast Region: or 646-346-1375
Bank Street College of Education—Liberty Leads Program
Program Website: http://www.bnkst.edu/liberty-leads/apply/
Serves Ages/Grades: 4th-9th grade
Program Dates: Varies
Program Location: Varies
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: To empower underrepresented youth to become lifelong learners and worldwide community role models by helping them attain higher education, embrace global leadership engagement and create a positive future for themselves and others.
Eligibility Requirements: Wanting to attend college, and get academic and career support
Application/Registration Process: If interested, please request an application via email or mail:
Bank Street Liberty LEADS
610 West 112th Street
New York, NY 10025
Application Period/Deadline: Fall
Contact: 212-875-4511 or
Boys’ Club of NY
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Elementary to High School
Program Dates: Varies
Program Location: 2 locations within Manhattan (one in East Harlem and one in the East Village)
Cost: $5 membership to join
Brief Description: To empower boys and young men by providing effective programs and a supportive community
Eligibility Requirements: N/A
Application/Registration Process: MUST become a member at Boy’s Club to be involved in programs. Call to inquire about specific programs
Application Period/Deadline: Varies
Contact: 212-677-1102 or
Breakthrough Collaborative
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 6th graders
Program Dates: 6th, 7th and 8th grade summers; academic year programming during 7th and 8th grade
Program Location: 55 Exchange Place, Suite 503 New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description:
BTNY is a six-year college access program committed to getting high-potential, low-income students to four-year colleges. We provide after-school tutoring and summer enrichment programs to some of the best and the brightest middle school students from New York public and parochial schools, providing them on an ongoing basis with the academic preparation, guidance and mentoring they need to be able to attend selective four-year colleges.
Eligibility Requirements: All grades are 80% or higher; top 10% of class; motivated to work hard and wants to go to college
Application/Registration Process: Application opens in late January; interested families attend Info Session in late February and Part I of application is due in the beginning of March
Application Period/Deadline: Deadline of applications is in early March
Contact: 646-747-BTNY (2869) or
Double Discovery, Columbia University
Program Website: www.columbia.edu/cu/college/ddc
Serves Ages/Grades: Ages 12-27
Program Dates: Academic programming is year-round and divided into spring, summer and fall semesters.
Program Location: 2920 Broadway, MC 2604. Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm. 306. New York, NY 10027
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: The Double Discovery Center at Columbia College works with low-income and first generation college bound Manhattan area youth from ages 12-27 to ensure high school graduation, college enrollment and completion and responsible adulthood.
Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must live in, or attend school in the Borough of Manhattan.
Preference is given to students who are low-income (as determined by Federal income guidelines) and/or of the first-generation in his or her family to attend college. Preference is also given to students attending District 5 Schools, (from Hudson River and 122nd Street, up north to 155th Street and over to the East River). Students who do not meet the low-income or first-generation eligibility may still submit an application to be considered for admission. A limited number of students outside of these guidelines are admitted.
Application/Registration Process: The completed and signed application, along with the required documents can be mailed, faxed or hand delivered to the DDC office.
Application Period/Deadline: Fall - September 15 and Spring - January 15. Priority is given to completed applications received on or before the 15th of the month prior to the start of each term:
Contact: Phone: (212) 854-3897 or
HEAF (Summer Quest and High Expectations)
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: 5-10th graders
Program Dates: Summer Quest Program: June 30th-August 1st 2014: M-F 9:30am-4:30pm
Program Location: HEAF Office: 2090 7th Avenue, 10th Floor. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: Summer Quest™ is a five-week summer enrichment program for middle school students that builds upon and extends skills, habits and attitudes cultivated during the school year. Mornings are devoted to English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics studies as well as preparation for the New York City Specialized High School Acceptance Test. Afternoons are devoted to a broad range of experiential electives. For HEAF’s rising 9th grade students, Summer Quest culminates in a week-long High School Boot Camp, the objective of which is to help students cope with challenges and pressures that are specific to first year high school students.
High Expectations™ is HEAF’s middle school program, integrating academic enrichment and experiential learning that begins the students’ preparation for acceptance into NYC’s top public high schools and introduces them to college preparation. By familiarizing students with the benefits of higher education as early as the sixth grade, HEAF focuses our participants’ long-term vision and offers them the tools, resources and social-emotional support necessary to thrive in middle school and gain acceptance to New York City’s most competitive high schools.
Eligibility Requirements: Currently attending a NYC public/parochial school with no grade below 80% in core subjects and good school attendance; Strong Desire to attend a 4 year college/university.
Application/Registration Process: Fill out application either online or submit by mail by May 1st. Submit test scores and report cards. Attend an in person interview if invited.
Application Period/Deadline: Application deadline is May 1st for Summer Quest Program.
Contact: 212-663-9732 or
MASA NY Community Center
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Elementary to High School
Program Dates: Varies
Program Location: MASA NY Community Center: Immaculate Concepion Church-389 E. 150th Street. Bronx, NY. M/W/F 6-8pm
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: At the request of Masa's parents, to ensure our middle school students are prepared to apply to local high schools, Masa now offers a series of workshops that familiarize students with City high schools and help them think about the high schools that would work for them. The workshops emphasize setting goals and creating a feasible plan for high school and beyond. We work with families and the Dept of Education to help them make the best choices. In addition, we offer SHSAT preparation classes for middle school students to prepare them for the Specialized High School exam.
Eligibility Requirements: N/A
Application/Registration Process: N/A
Application Period/Deadline:
Contact: 646-481-5890 or
SEO Scholars
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: 9th graders currently attending a NYC Public High School
Program Dates: Year Round and Summer Academic Preparation; Dates TBD
Program Location: 55 Exchange Place. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: SEO Scholars is a free eight-year academic program that prepares low-income public high school students for admission to the nation’s most competitive colleges—and supports them through college graduation.
Eligibility Requirements: 9th grader currently attending a NYC public HS; 75% GPA or above Application/Registration Process: Applications open in August and are due in October
Application Period/Deadline: Deadline for submission is in the fall.
Contact: or 212-979-2040
The Opportunity Network
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: 10th graders
Cost: Free
Brief Description: Launched in 2011, OppNet Prep is an intensive year-long program thatprovides 8th and 9th grade students with an early foundation of college and career skills, aimed at increasing their odds of long-term success. Prep serves more than 200 students using our Career Fluency® curriculum adapted to the needs of early high school students. Over the course of the year, the Prep model includes weekly workshops, monthly Saturday plenaries and a one-week summer enrichment program.
Application Period/Deadline: February
Contact: .
Opportunity Programs that Require Nominations
Oliver Scholars (Nomination Required by School/Principal)
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 7th graders attending a NYC public, charter or parochial school
Program Dates: 7th and 8th grade summers; Academic programming 7th and 8th grade
Program Location: 80 Maiden Lane. Suite 706. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: The Oliver Scholars Program identifies and engages extraordinary students of African and Latino/a descent and prepares them for success at leading independent high schools and prestigious colleges.
Eligibility Requirements: Current 7th grader; grades 90% in core subjects for both 6th and 7th grade with no score below an 85%, strong test scores and leadership potential
Application/Registration Process: Must be nominated by School Principal/Guidance Counselor in November and they must submit in test scores and report cards for the nominated students. Students attend an information session in Dec/Jan with Parent/Guardian, Complete an application with recommendation letters, grades and standardized test scores and take the SHSAT exam in February
Application Period/Deadline: Deadline for submission of the application is early March.
Contact: 212-430-5980 or
Prep for Prep/Prep 9 (Nomination Required by School/Principal)
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 5th, 6th or 7th grader attending a NYC Public, charter or parochial school
Program Dates: Summer and Academic Year programming
Program Location: 328 W. 71st Street. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: Prep for Prep is the nation’s foremost program for academically gifted African-American, Latino and Asian American students and place them into top NYC independent and boarding high schools.
Eligibility Requirements: Current 5th, 6th or 7th grader with high test scores, GPA average above 90%
Application/Registration Process: Nominations by School Principal/Guidance Counselor/Community Organizations are due in late October/Early November and need to submit in report cards and grades. The 1st round of testing for students begins in November and goes through March.
Application Period/Deadline: Deadline for taking the 1st test is March 15th. If invited to move on in the process, students will be notified via letter to your home address.
Contact: 212-579-1390 or
REACH Program @ Regis High School
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 5th grade boys. Students must be Catholic.
Program Dates: Summer and Academic Year programming
Program Location: Regis High School 55 E. 84th Street, New York, NY 10028
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: REACH is an educational and leadership program that prepares students to earn scholarships to Regis, as well as other leading Catholic high schools in New York City. REACH seeks to serve students whose families could not otherwise afford a top Catholic high school education
Eligibility Requirements: Catholic 5th grade boy with 5th grade marks and test scores above the 70th national percentile as well as leadership potential and demonstrated financial need.
Application/Registration Process: All nominations must be submitted by March 1st. All nominated students receive an application from REACH.
Application Period/Deadline: On the first Saturday in April, all applicants report to Regis to hand in their applications and to take the REACH entrance exam. All applicants will be notified of final admissions decisions by the end of May. Students who are admitted to REACH enter the first summer as candidates. Upon the successful completion of the summer program, candidates are invited to join REACH as members. Admission to REACH does not guarantee admission to Regis High School in the 9th grade. All applicants will be notified of final admissions decisions by the end of May. Students who are admitted to REACH enter the first summer as candidates. Upon the successful completion of the summer program, candidates are invited to join REACH as members. Admission to REACH does not guarantee admission to Regis High School in the 9th grade.
Contact: 212-288-1100 or
TEAK Fellowship (Nomination Required by School/Principal)
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 6th graders
Program Dates: Summer Program after 6th, 7th and 8th grades; Academic Year programming in 7th and 8th grades
Program Location: 16 W. 22nd Street. 3rd Floor. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description:
The TEAK Fellowship helps talented New York City students from low-income families gain admission to and succeed at top high schools and colleges. Along with academic support, TEAK provides leadership training, exposure to the arts and outdoors, mentoring, career experience, and assistance with the high school and college application processes.
Eligibility Requirements: 6th grader currently attending a NYC public, charter or parochial school
Application/Registration Process: All grades are 90% or higher, strong test scores, comes from a family with financial need
Application Period/Deadline: Must be nominated by School Principal/Guidance Counselor in November and must submit students’ grades and test scores at this time. Students must attend an information session in January with Parent/Guardian. In February, TEAK reviews applications and students take entrance exam. TEAK selects semi-finalists in March and students are interviewed in April.
Contact: or (212) 288-6678 x190
Wadleigh Scholars Program (Nomination Required by School/Principal)
Program Website:
Serves Ages/Grades: Current 7th graders (and some 8th graders)
Program Location: 215 W. 114th Street. New York, NY
Cost: FREE
Brief Description: Wadleigh Scholars Program Inc. (“WSP”) is a nonprofit organization established in 1964 to identify and motivate minority students who demonstrate excellent academic potential and prepare them for success at private independent boarding schools. The Program assists these students in pursuing scholarships to preparatory schools throughout the country.
Eligibility Requirements: 7th grader currently attending a NYC public, charter or parochial school
Application/Registration Process: All grades are 85% or higher, strong test scores, comes from a family with financial need. Student MUST be willing to attend boarding school.
Application Period/Deadline: Nominations by School/Principal are due into the program by December, which includes test scores and report cards. Parents must contact the Wadleigh Scholars Program in January if interested. Application and information must be submitted in by late February/early March. Interviews start in May.
Contact: Mr. Edouard Plummer at 212-582-1632 or Mr. Derrick C. Wallace at 201-356-9005
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This document is based on publicly available information and is subject to change. Please check the organization and program websites for the most complete and up-to-date information.