Houston

A Better Chance – National *
Grades: 4-9
A Better Chance seeks to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. This is done by facilitating their entry into independent college preparatory schools. Through its network of member schools, A Better Chance is able to leverage an estimated $20+ million per year in financial aid for talented, economically disadvantaged youth of color. More than 96% of A Better Chance's graduates go on to college directly after high school, a majority entering our country's most selective colleges.

Aspiring Youth
Grades: 6-8
Aspiring Youth is a non-profit organization with programs focused on middle school youth. Aspiring Youth operates the Aspiring Youth Stars 4 Tomorrow After-School Program, the Take A Student To your Employment (TASTE) Program, College for a Day Program and produces the "Positive Youth Development" and Aspiring Youth "Success Stories" television shows.

DREAM Program – Rice University
Grades: K-12
DREAM seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in STEM degree programs, particularly engineering. DREAM is structured on a foundation of long-term mentoring. Volunteer mentors (engineering students) and mentees (underrepresented, underserved K–12 students) carry out group design projects using commonly available materials to solve a series of tasks. High contact hours in small group settings are critical to the success of DREAM.

ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC)
Grades: 6-8
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC) is a two-week residential camp hosted at colleges and universities across the nation. Each camp will provide 48-54 promising middle school grade level students the opportunity to enhance their proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education while living on a college campus – all at no cost to the child or family.

The Forge
All ages
The Forge for Families is holistically addressing the needs of our community and encouraging children & adults through children’s programming (educational & athletic), practical parent training, pre-marital and marital counseling, and economic development. Youth Educational Training addresses basic, yet fundamental needs for select youth. These include but are not limited to: literacy training, ESL, elocution training via dramas and debate, apprenticeships through corporate partnerships, Agoge camps that challenge participants physically and mentally while encouraging selfless-service.

Girls Inc. of Houston – National 
Grades: 6-18
Our goal is to provide every girl with a safe after school environment where she can try new things, master physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges and develop the goals and skills that will lead her to a successful future. We do this by focusing on health and wellness, financial literacy, college preparation, career exposure, leadership development and the STEM fields.

GRADE Camp – University of Houston 
Grades: 8-12
G.R.A.D.E. (Girls Reaching and Demonstrating Excellence) CAMP is a week-long day program designed specifically for entering 8th to 12th grade girls who want to find out what engineering is all about through "hands-on" experience. G.R.A.D.E. CAMP emphasizes career exposure rather than career choice, so you can come just to experience something new.

Houston Pre-freshman Enrichment Program (Houston PREP) 
Grades: 6-12
The goal of the Houston Pre-freshman Enrichment Program (Houston PREP) is to enhance the academic backgrounds of socially and economically disadvantaged students at the middle and high school level. Our curriculum focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses in order to improve student’s comprehension in these topics and emphasize the importance of STEM fields in today’s world. Houston PREP is directed toward the reinforcement of the normal pre-college mathematics instructional program by discussing college-level topics not offered in high school or middle school. Program participants agree to commit themselves to six weeks of intellectually demanding classes.

Houston Scholar Program (HSP)
Grades: 8-12
Houston Scholar Program (HSP) began in 2003 to work with talented, college focused students to help them reach their full potential by matriculating to, and graduating from, one of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country. Traditionally HSP has worked solely with high school students. To increase the breadth and depth of HSP’s efforts, students entering 8th grade are now eligible to apply to be an HSP Junior Scholar. If an HSP Junior Scholar demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence and the HSP values during his/her 8th grade year, the student is invited to be an HSP Senior Scholar during his/her 4 years of high school.

 

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Grades: 7-12
The Young Scholars Program provides the most personalized, generous scholarship experience in the nation. The Foundation works closely with Scholars and their families to construct a tailored educational program that includes, but is not limited to, support for summer programs, distance learning courses, and music and art instruction. Some Young Scholars attend a private school if none of their public school options adequately serve their academic potential; however, many stay in their public schools.

STARTALK Chinese Program 
Grades: K-12
STARTALK will provide a rigorous and fun Chinese Student Enrichment Program at select districts and schools in the Houston area. Administered by Rice University Center for College Readiness and the Institute for Chinese Language Teaching, the classes offered will focus on language instruction and will allow students to explore the richness of Chinese culture through various activities in an interactive learning environment.

Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) 
Grades: 3-12
The Summer Engineering Experience for Kids’ program, (SEEK), is the National Society of Black Engineers’ (NSBE) premiere solution to the underrepresentation of African American students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The free, three week program is a STEM pipeline designed to expose African American children to STEM fields as early as the third grade and through the twelfth grade. In addition, this exposure will be provided by utilizing NSBE members, who are young, Black, collegiate students, majoring in STEM fields.

Summer Mathematics Research Training High School Camp (SMaRT) – Texas A&M 
Ages: 14-18
SMaRT is a National Science Foundation supported two-week summer program at Texas A&M University. It is intended to facilitate interest in mathematics of advanced high school students. The camp will provide an intensive learning environment in mathematics, where high school students will learn not only useful mathematical facts, but also how to approach mathematical problems, prove mathematical statements, and write the results.

Urban League of Houston
All ages
Education & Youth Development implements programs that embrace a “cradle-to-career” model, preparing youth to be self-sufficient adults, while supporting parental engagement throughout their educational development years. The Department provides: 1) early childhood learning applications for reading, pre-k through fourth grade; 2) academic and social development grades five through eight and, 3) college preparation and entrance grades nine through twelve. This educational support model for both children and parents is designed to expose, encourage and position the child to ultimately succeed academically at home and in a global environment.