Middle School Program

NJ LEEP's Middle School Program is designed to support students starting from the summer before 6th grade through 8th grade. The program is tailored to foster academic skill development, cultivate professional skills, nurture a college-going identity, promote family engagement, and enhance social-emotional learning.

Focused on first-generation* and low-income** students from the greater Newark area, NJ LEEP's Middle School Program includes a five-week summer program, twice monthly Saturday enrichment classes during the academic year, and monthly after-school meetings for 8th graders to help with the transition to the high school program.

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Programming by year

6th - 8th grade school year

During their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years, students participate in twice monthly Saturday programming that includes ELA and math classes, social-emotional skills development, financial literacy, and enrichment activities focused on critical thinking and STEM subjects. Additionally, 8th graders engage in monthly after-school programming. We also guide our 8th graders and their families through the high school application process in Newark.

6th - 8th grade summer

During the summers of their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years, students partake in a five-week program. This includes career and community exploration field trips, courses in math, ELA, and social-emotional learning, as well as activities to foster community and team-building skills. Each grade concludes with a final project that showcases the culmination of their learning.

6th grade summer

6th graders participate in a “Pitch Competition” to convince a company to choose Newark as the location for their new headquarters.

7th grade summer

7th graders participate in a “Game Changers” presentation where they identify an issue facing their community and work as a team to develop a proposed solution.

8th grade summer

8th graders participate in “Genius Showcase” where they complete an independent social impact project and presentation on a topic of their choice.

For more information or to apply to NJ LEEP's Middle School Program, contact us at recruiting@njleep.org

*First-generation college students are individuals whose parents did not attain a four-year degree in the United States.

**Low-income status is classified as having a household income of $80,000 or less for a family of four. For each additional household member, $5,000 is added to the threshold.

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Ways we support our students